Discussing and Remembering Dewey

[Maw Books]

It is a sad week within the book blogging community. Dewey from Hidden Side of a Leaf passed away this past week. To say that she leaves behind a huge void is a understatement. Not only was she a prolific reader, reviewer and blogger but she was also the founder and organizer of Weekly Geeks, the Bookworms Carnival, and the 24 Hour Read-a-Thon. And I'm sure I'm unaware of many others. We have all been influenced by her amazing energy, creative juices and bringing the community together. She was a wonderful friend. Florinda at The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness perhaps summed everything up best on this well thought out post. She already has a list of bloggers willing to help.

There has been a lot of discussion on many blogs and twitter about how to cope with that loss.

Some of that discussion has included:

1 - How to best express our condolences to Dewey's family. Many of us have her address in which to send cards/packages. It's been mentioned to donate money/books to her local library, donate money to have her family plant a tree in her name, gather all the online tributes to make sure that Dewey's family doesn't miss them all, send flowers, etc.

2. - How to best carry on the amazing community building events that Dewey started. Many have already expressed interest in taking up some of these projects, includes challenges, Weekly Geeks, the 24 Hour Read-a-thon (this has gotten so big, it probably should have a dedicated blog), secret santa (with Nymeth), and the Bookworms Carnival. Dewey already had a lot of help on many of these projects so I'm sure many feel more prepared than others to step up to the plate.

3 - Raych from Books I Done Read has asked for a RIP button to place on our blogs.

4 - Keeping Dewey's husband in the loop. He mentioned that he would like to either see Dewey's blog continue or just let it rest. Either way, I think he should be in the know how.

So what now? Let's figure it out! Ideas, like to help, etc? I thought that we should get a discussion going in just one place, so it's not spread out among everybody. This certainly doesn't make me the "moderator" here. I just want to be able to talk amongst ourselves. What have I missed?

And if you're reading this discussion that get the word out and direct traffic over here. I'll set up another discussion to list links of our remembrance posts.

[Terri]

Thanks! Where would we find the posts?

[Literary Escapism]

Once it's been settled where the Read-a-thon, Bookworms Carnival, and Weekly Geeks are going to move to, we should have Dewey's husband do a post at her site so people will be able to find the new sites. This way too, it'll help from having multiple people thinking they are taking it over and having multiple sites for it.

[Florinda]

At this stage, I think it would be a good idea to start summarizing names into lists, particularly for those who have already stated interest in continuing a specific project/event. I agree with Jackie's point about trying to avoid multiple people taking things over - if each project will have its own blog, we'd want just ONE for each, although it sounds like each blog will have a team working on it. Great!

Since some people had already given me their names, I'd be willing to assemble the list if no one minds my doing so. Even if you've already stated it, please send me a message through Book Blogs or e-mail me at 3.rsblog AT Gmail dot com if you already know which of Dewey's events you want to commit to helping with.

For list-making purposes, it will be MUCH easier for me to keep track of things if you would please send me that info DIRECTLY rather than post it here - I will come back periodically and update the group!

Thanks, y'all!

[Shawnee]

I read about this discussion on twitter. I will miss Dewey and I so enjoyed participating in Weekly Geeks and the Read-A-Thon. I would be willing to help out with WG if there is room and of course I will help with the RAT too. I think the library memorial sounds great and would also like to know if that gets worked out so that I could donate to it. Has there been a memorial button chosen yet from the submissions or are people just picking the one they want to use from the submissions?
I will keep up with this discussion post but a personal reply would be caught quicker if sent to my email-
waitmantwillie (at) hotmail (dot) com

[Wendy]

I've posted on my blog today directing people here...and also giving information about what we are doing so far. I posted all of the buttons on my blog for people to choose from...

[Michele]

I had not yet gotten very involved with any of the events, but just this last carnival. However I was heartbroken when I read of Dewey's passing as I had been reading her blog for a long while now. I am not sure where help is still needed, but I am definitely willing to help out wherever. Someone just holler.

[Becky]

I'm happy to help with anything--weekly geeks or the challenges--if I am needed. If I'm not...that's fine too. I'm fine just being a participant. I just want to make sure her projects continue on.

[Literary Escapism]

I so agree with you Becky. Dewey wouldn't want us to forget about any of it.

[tanabata]

I think it's so wonderful how the community is coming together to keep Dewey's many projects alive. Wherever she is I'm sure she's pleased. I'm not sure where or what exactly I could do to help out. I haven't been a very good Weekly Geeker, but I joined the Read-a-thon for the first time in October and might be able to help with that. Just let me know if you can you use someone else. I agree that setting up separate blogs for the different events is a good idea. Dewey really did have an amazing amount of energy to maintain all that she did. Frankly I'm in awe! Oh and I do like the idea of a memorial, something to do with books, the library or a charity.

[Ali]

Should we go ahead and set up Yahoogroups for each project now? I'm finding the format on this site a little tricky to keep up with.

The Read-a-thon, I'm hearing, is somewhat on hiatus until after the holidays, but if the group were set up now, then those who are interested in helping would know when Trish, WordLily, and Nymeth are ready to start working.

The Carnivals are already set up for the next 6 months but there are people (myself included) who signed up for later months and Dewey didn't have a chance to update the webpage--it'd be good to get that sorted out sooner rather than later.

WeeklyGeeks could start up any time, or could take a brief hiatus--sort of a "moment of silence" for Dewey--and start up again after the holidays. But those who are interested in helping need to talk specifics between now and then.

Challenges--I'm not sure how many there are, I know she had passed some of them to others already. Do the others need a group, or just a raised hand to pass them along to?

I'm willing to set up groups for any or all of these, but I dont' want to be presumptuous, kwim?

[Florinda]

I'm finding this tricky to follow as well, which is why I offered to compile lists. However, opening up Yahoo groups now might be easier than that - one for each project, and people would join the group(s) for the project(s) they want to work on?

One way or another, it's time to start organizing, methinks :-).

[Becky]

I agree. These discussions are good but very confusing to sort through.