LAOS update

So it is official, I am on the LAOS Board.

LAOS is the Lay Academy for Oecumenical Studies. Interesting spelling for ecumenical. I'll have to find out more about that. Any-who.... the physical manefestation of LAOS is the bookstore, formerly at Grace Church and for 3 years now, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, just north of campus (in Jess and Ben's new neighborhood). The idea is to be an interfaith organization, educating about and creating communication and understanding between the various faith gorups (ie Christian, Muslim, Jewish primarily). Most people invovled are from some form of a Christian background. There is one Muslim woman and one Jewish man on the Board, tho the organization would like to see more diversity in that way. They sponsor talks, and book groups etc. They have a lot of heart and vision but barely stay alive financially. The book store, of course, has been hard hit by chains and the web. In fact they almost closed the book store last year. It stayed open by ONE vote! The vision is broader than a bookstore and so they need to build up their communications, membership and donation base.

But, things are in forward motion. This is a time of re-visioning and re-organizing things. A new book store manager was hired in recent months. She is part of the Qyaker community. She has major experience to lend and a lot of ideas as well. Many of the old timers went off the board this year and three new people came on (now 15 of us total). There are new by-laws and new energy. So we'll see where it leads.

They need volunteers for all kinds of things so.....let me know if you are interested or know others who might be. They would love to have college students invovled. They need book table tenders, book reviewers, help choosing books on various topics, help with PR materials and more. It is also a good place to host book groups etc if anyone is interested. The store space can be used after hours and sometimes even during hours. Space at the church can also be used for LAOS sponsored events (ie related to topics in line with the LAOS mission). I was part of a God's Politics (Jim Wallace) book group there this Spring. So, it might be a place to launch some new things that are not affiliated with any specific church.

This could well be an answer... or at least part of one, I think......