In this February 1971 photo, Irene had stepped out of the cold to visit her friend Peggy Goldizen at Market Basket and check out her freshly made birthday cake. Thank you Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, for opening up your archive of Irene photos!
Our committee members have been busily getting out the invitation to hear about Irene in various talks around town, and donations are following. THANK YOU so much! Take a look at our Sponsors tab to see what your neighbors are up to and how momentum is gaining.
We have received a couple of major donation–$10,000 from Kinross Fort Knox and another $10,000 from Bob Eley! That kind of giving is so appreciated and worthwhile. But clearly even the grass roots efforts in town and in the Lower 48 through Facebook in particular, are gaining speed. On Feb. 1, Tricia was the guest speaker at the Downtown Rotary luncheon at the Westmark Fairbanks, and it was gratifying to see a couple of other Statue Committee members in the audience–Jeff Cook and Tania Clucas. We appreciated the warm response from so many business leaders.
Committee member Bob Eley has been knocking on doors, too. With help from Virginia Farmier and Karen Norris, he hosted the Irene Sherman Birthday Bash at a First Friday event at the Fairbanks Community & Dog Mushing Museum on February 2. The temps took a deep dive, but we still had a generous turnout and all enjoyed the spread and presentation. Great stories and the cake was delicious. Thank you for that donation, River City Cafe!
Bob was back addressing the Downtown Rotary in early March as the Museum hosted their luncheon. We’re grateful for their continuing interest, as individuals as well as jointly as a club. Thank you, folks!
Acting on a recommendation by Ron Davis months ago, Tricia Brown was invited to share research from her biography of Irene through the University of Alaska Fairbanks in an Osher class (offering lifelong learning for students fifty and older). Fifty-four people signed up for Tricia’s Zoom class, and many of them remembered Irene well; some were blown away by their first exposure to the Queen’s story. Hearing what life was like for Irene through the years, one attendee spoke of pride in his parents, who were among those looking out for her.
On April 22, from 7-8:30 p.m., Tricia will be in Fairbanks for a children’s book writing panel for the Alaska Writers Guild meeting at the Alaska Centennial Center in Pioneer Park. The next evening, on April 23, she will meet with members of the Fairbanks Genealogical Society beginning at 7 p.m. For more details on that evening, click here or find them on Facebook. Irene’s roots in Fairbanks went back as far as 1905, when her French Canadian grandmother, mother, and uncle came up from Seattle. Tricia’s PowerPoint presentation will be enlightening. We hope to see you around town!
You’ve all been asking and now we can announce that we’ll soon be posting dates and place for book release parties starting in late May!
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