Report on Seattle visit for CS outreach “boot camp”
By Judy Carlson
I had a two-fold motive to travel to Seattle this fall. One was to see my long-time friend, Cindy, and the other was to help the Joint Literature Distribution Committee as a volunteer. I have received many, many books and other items from the used book exchange based in Bothell over the years, for my own use, for church (and reading room), and for friends and family. Most of all, I wanted to learn how to do outreach with CS literature, and with that in mind, Cindy offered an outline for an outreach “boot camp” covering a wide range of methods, something different for every day of my 5-day visit from Wednesday to Sunday.
Here we go!
Day 1 (Wednesday): Free Literature Table outside CSRR
After a hearty salad for dinner at Cindy’s, I met the CS Reading Room staff at Third Church of Christ, Scientist, Seattle, and was introduced to the 3’ x 3’ folding table just outside along the busy sidewalk. I got to select pamphlets to add to their free literature table outside — pamphlets provided by the Christian Science Literature Joint Distribution Committee. I decided to read one of the pamphlets myself and found it directly met my thinking to prepare for the coming days.
Day 2 (Thursday): Monitor Weekly samples to Main Street
With Cindy to train and accompany me, and following the format for the “Compass the City” outreach project that the Joint Committee has been doing in recent years, I had a 1-day internship distributing free sample issues of the Christian Science Monitor Weekly news magazine. We packed up three different recent issues, plus a handful of the Climate Change Generation issue, 120 copies in total, into day packs. The last preparation before heading out, was to read aloud, without comment, Matthew 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount).
We traveled on Seattle’s efficient public transportation - by light rail to downtown, then by bus up the very steep Queen Anne Avenue. (Going back, we took the Monorail!)
Cindy pointed out the iconic Space Needle along the way. She also pointed out that many organizations offer shops and restaurants free literature, so the owners and managers are used to being approached. They can appreciate fresh and interesting reading material for their customers (and employee break room).
We arrived at the Upper Queen Anne shopping district just in time to have lunch. Just outside our burger joint, they were setting up for the Queen Anne farmer’s market.
I would have 6 or 8 issues in hand with a cover photo of an interesting issue facing in the direction of the person and approach them: “Hi, I have a question – We’re giving away free copies of this weekly news magazine and would like to offer a few here.” And the question: “Is it OK to put a few on your lounge table? On the shelf here? Where do you usually put things like this? How about the staff break area?”
Most of the time, there was acceptance – we distributed all 120 copies. When we crossed paths with 2 workers from Greenpeace, it was great to pull out fresh copies of the Climate Change Generation issue (an “evergreen” cover story). My favorite encounter was with the owner of an Italian restaurant who understood the message and asked for all the copies I was holding (including duplicates). He purposefully placed them at the bar, clearly expecting individual diners to appreciate them while waiting for their meal or friends to join.
This day helped me see the fruitful possibilities of such an activity where I live!
We ended the day at the Seattle Space Needle during sunset! Cindy showed me the location of the Christian Science Pavilion during the 1962 World’s Fair, (next to the Space Needle) and talked about connections between Christian Scientists and the World’s Fair organizers. Later, I found a relevant article in the CS Sentinel about the 1962 CS Exhibit.
Day 3 (Friday a.m.): Little Free Libraries distribution
The morning was filled with sharing biographies of Mary Baker Eddy, books of poetry, and other suitable books at several Little Free Library boxes. Many, but not all LLFs are “on the map” . Cindy drove along a pre-planned route. I jumped out of the car and put books in the boxes. I was also glad to pick up a title along the lines of “What I Learned in Little League.” We got to 9 Little Free Libraries in an hour, and put at least one and as many as 3 books in each one — Mary Baker Eddy biographies, “Spiritual Healing in the Scientific Age,” the Monitor
Weekly, etc.
Our driving route in the Ravenna neighborhood. We reached 9 "Little Free Libraries” in one hour
Day 3 (Friday p.m.): County Jails mailings
We spent the afternoon at the main office for the Christian Science Literature Joint Distribution Committee in the daylight basement of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Bothell, the main hub for the literature distribution activity. I enjoyed a detailed tour of the space which, though abundantly supplied, is well organized by category (so many) and condition (all levels).
I assisted with a regular mailing to about 10 area jails. Great care is given to make sure all of the items mailed are in very good condition, including brand new paperback copies of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The Monitors, Sentinels, and full texts (Spanish and English) come largely from Reading Room overstock that is donated to the committee.
Note to Self: If a Monitor has an address label, it can be peeled off pretty cleanly, especially from the more recent issues.
Day 4 (Saturday): Monitor Weekly table at UD Farmer’s Market
I’ve enjoyed Izzy’s blogs about taking the CS Monitor Weekly to farmers markets all around the Seattle area, so was glad to try that out at the University District Farmers Market. Cindy and I set multiple copies of eight different issues across a portable table with a chair for each of us casually nearby.
The care people gave when choosing which issue(s) to take appealed to me. All who stopped by were appreciative of the moment to consider the main story on the covers and learn about this publication – maybe for the first time, maybe a reminder of it. Some asked if they could take more than one issue – for a friend (or themselves) – and of course it was. When someone looked uncertain, deciding between two cover stories that spoke to them, it was rewarding to suggest “both” as an option. The dialogue was more than small talk and the curiosity was mutual. What interested them? What was inside the cover?
Day 5 (Sunday): Sea-Tac Airport “Little Free Library”
Church was followed by lunch and an afternoon enjoying a Puget Sound beach in a neighborhood park. Time to leave, but not until I packed a few books to drop off at the Little Free Libraries at Sea-Tac airport.
See this blog article to learn more about this airport literature distribution opportunity.
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Thank you Cindy and Ross; thank you new friends; thank you Bothell Church, Third Church Seattle, and CSJLDC staff, volunteers, and Board.
