ALFA was designated a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in September 2003.
ALFA membership is open to all. Everyone is welcome at ALFA board meetings, the February annual meetings, community forums, and special events.
ALFA funding comes from membership dues, heritage calendar sales, special events and fundraisers, grants, donations, and memorial gifts.
Minutes of meetings as well as copies of correspondence, news clippings, and the ALFA CONNECTION newsletter are on file at the library. Space precludes keeping all those notes here at the website; the public is invited to check out the ALFA notebooks at library.
ALFA is associated with the Libraries of Eastern Oregon through the library's membership in that organization. ALFA has also joined Friends of The Library USA, the Nonprofit Associaton of Oregon, and the Oregon Historical Society.
MISSION STATEMENT
- (1) To support and expand library programs, activities, and resources.
- (2) To increase community support, appreciation, and usage of the library's materials and other resources.
- (3) To assist the Library Board and the City of Athena to build, renovate, and/or expand the physical facility of the library.
- (4) To work towards greater involvement and interactions between Athena's library and those of surrounding communities.
- (5) To increase cooperative efforts with school libraries and other cultural and historical organizations in the area.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
From 2003 until new building completion in 2008, ALFA focused its energy on the fundraising and planning for that new facility. Other accomplishments through current date include:
- Sponsorship of family and local history workshops with genealogist Connie Lenzen with the assistance of the Oregon Council for The Humanities (OCH).
- Initial sorting and indexing of local history materials ... some materials are indexed online.
- Contribution of $750 to the City of Athena's library budget to purchase more young adult materials.
- Coordination of opening day (July 14, 2008) "shower gift" event, Dedication Day (Sept. 5, 2008) ceremonies, and debt-free handover of facility and contents to City of Athena (July 2009).
- Participation in the community-wide hosting of Cycle Oregon in September 2006.
- Orientation with representatives of Union County's oral history project and start-up of similar endeavor for Athena Local History archives.
- Publication of newsletter ALFA CONNECTIONS about four times a year.
- Building relationships and coalitions with other cultural and community organizations.
- Organization of several fundraisers (summer auction, election night sausage'n'sauerkraut dinner, Fabric Faires, etc.).
- Sponsorship of an OCH Chatauqua program with quilt historian Mary Baywater Cross.
- Cooperative hosting of Wagon Wheels presentation by Sam Pambrun.
- Start-up -- in cooperation with librarian -- of a monthly book discussion group.
- Coordination of art exhibits to bring the work of area artists and artisans to library walls.
- Organization and implementation of Athena Press preservation project.
- Annual preparation and production of annual Heritage Calendars.
- Matching funds of $350 and preparation of application material for a successful Libri grant award to procure about $1500-worth of new children's books, including math and science books.
- Purchase and installation of additional furnishings to enhance library functions including ornament tree, glass doors for Watts collection shelving, digital display frame (in cooperation with Hodaka Owners Club), museum hanging display system, picture book display cart, rolling book cart, restoration of Seth Thomas clock, book drops, refurbished antique library table, etc.
- Coordination with Hodaka Owners Club in developing an archives related to Hodaka motorcycles.
