SLIFF Concludes, Plus Work and Meetings

One week ago Thursday night (9 November) found me at the Tivoli Theatre (https://www.landmarktheatres.com/st-louis/tivoli-theatre) in the Delmar Loop for my second volunteer assignment of this year's St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) (http://www.cinemastlouis.org/about-festival). I handed out fan ballots and demographic surveys for the film "The Light of the Moon," a drama about a woman in New York City dealing with being raped. This screening replaced the originally scheduled film for that night, "The Upside," which was pulled before the festival due to the sexual harassment allegations against its producer, Harvey Weinstein. "The Light of the Moon" was very well done, and I stayed after the movie to catch some of the panel discussion on sexual assault, as well as helping collect ballots and surveys.

Back at work the next morning, it was a usual busy (for much of the day) Friday, but all went well.

Saturday morning (11 November), I drove to the Missouri History Museum (https://mohistory.org/) in Forest Park for my next SLIFF volunteer stint. I helped pass out ballots and surveys for two films screened there: The French (but dubbed into English) animated feature "Mune: Guardian of the Moon," a nice family-friendly film; and "Nat Bates for Mayor," a documentary about a mayor's race in Richmond, California in 2014. I was able to get a break midway through my stint, so I grabbed lunch at Bixby's restaurant (http://bixbys-mohistory.com/) and browsed through the Museum Shop (https://mohistory.org/shop). In the latter, I found copies of the book "The Aerial Crossroads of America: St. Louis's Lambert Airport," which the Museum has published and which I helped out a bit in research.

After my shift ended at the Missouri History Museum, I went to Coffee Cartel (http://www.thecoffeecartel.com/) in the Central West End for a latte. I sat in the shop for awhile enjoying my beverage and the view out the window.

After a break at home, it was on to Winifred Moore Auditorium at Webster University (http://www.webster.edu/) for my fourth SLIFF volunteer assignment. This was a screening of a restored print of "Wanda," a 1970 crime drama that was written by, directed by, and starred Barbara Loden. It was quite a good movie--very sparse dialog, no music, a basic movie that was the antithesis of Hollywood product. I enjoyed the movie, in between distributing and then collecting ballots and surveys.

Home on Sunday, I worked on the November issue of The Arch Scaler News, the newsletter of IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/). This month, I am taking over from Brad Vaughn as newsletter editor, a job I held in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, with advances in word processing and desktop publishing, I can do a much better quality newsletter than I did back then.

That night, I was at Brown Hall at Washington University (https://wustl.edu/) for my fifth and final SLIFF volunteer assignment. It was providing surveys and selling concessions at the documentary "Intent to Destroy." It was about the Armenian Genocide just over 100 years ago and the making of the 2016 feature film "The Promise," which was set during that time. I was most impressed by this film, seeing film and pictures of that period that I had never seen anywhere before. I came home tired but happy to have helped out in at least a small way in making SLIFF a success.

I followed a busy (as usual) Monday (13 November) at work with a meeting at Christian Academy of Greater of St. Louis (http://public.cagsl.net/) in Overland for the monthly board meeting of Viva Brasil STL (https://www.vivabrasilstl.org/). Carolina Holtmeyer, the board president, invited me to attend because she and other board members think I would be a great fit for their board. I went with an open mind, but came away with a good impression. I told them I would be interested in serving on their board for 2018. Elections for that will be held at next month's board meeting.

After work Tuesday and Wednesday, I came home to work on The Arch Scaler News. I assembled the articles and photos into a document that would be sent via email and US Mail.

Early yesterday morning, I drove to the corner of Bayless and Union/Weber in Lemay to buy a newspaper for Old Newsboys Day (http://www.stltoday.com/old-newsboys-day/). Held one week before Thanksgiving since 1957, this program raises money for St. Louis area children's charities by volunteers selling a special edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Articles inside the paper tell of the children impacted by these charities. People paid what they could for the newspaper--I paid $5 for my copy.

Back home after that, I finished the newsletter and printed a handful of copies at OfficeMax (https://www.officedepot.com/) in Mehlville, for those members who wanted a mailed copy. Then, I got postage on them at the Post Office and mailed them out. That night, I send the majority of members The Arch Scaler News via email, along with a copy of the revised Constitution and By-Laws, to be considered at the meeting this Tuesday night. I was very happy to get this first newsletter of my new stint done.

Last night, I was at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) for this month's Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) meeting. This event was the launch of the new book "Swift As An Arrow: The Story of Thomas Benoist, Pioneer American Aviator," by Melody Davis (grand niece of Benoist) and Gary R. Liming, a board member of the Society. I bought a copy of the book, signed by the co-authors, and watched a slideshow on Benoist that Liming presented to the audience. Several descendants of Benoist were in attendance at the meeting. I also put in my reservation for the Society's Christmas party next month, to be held at Creve Coeur Airport.

Later.