Message from ACTSA: Container send-off - Sat. 18th July.  Volunteers needed to help with loading the book container on Mandela Day - Sat. 18th July (10am - 12 noon approx, at back door of Hillhead Library, Burgh Lane, Glasgow), We had about 50 people last time, which worked fine, and hope for a similar number this time to make a human chain workable.

The formal send-off will be from the front of the City Chambers at 2pm, followed by a reception in the Chambers with some speeches and a young jazz band.  If you would like to attend the reception please let us know so that we can give the Council a reasonably accurate estimate of numbers. This will be the celebration part of Mandela Day for ACTSA Scotland We are still working on gathering and sorting books to make up the full load by Mandela Day.   Glasgow Libraries are again holding  an appeal for children's books for us over the period up to 18th July, which is now up and running.  Books can be handed in at the Mitchell Library or at any of six local libraries - Hillhead, Maryhill, Dennistoun, Shettleston, Langside and Cardonald.  I have a supply of the Libraries' publicity leaflets and small posters (up to A3) which I would be glad to supply to anyone who could distribute or make use of them. Email John Nelson for more info. We hope most of the books generated will reach us in time to be sorted and packed for this present container.  A dozen secondary school libraries ran the same appeal for us for the last couple of weeks of term, with a good response. The STUC have also appealed to trade union contacts to donate books at their headquarters at 333, Woodlands Road, Glasgow before Mandela Day. Mandela Day in Ayr.  The local ACTSA group in Ayrshire are holding a celebration coffee afternoon on Sat. 18th July in Holy Trinity Church, Fullarton Street,  Ayr at 2pm, with the support of some other organisations.  For more information email Arthur West

8th July - Nelson Mandela's birthday - was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009 as Nelson Mandela International Day, when people are encouraged to help change the world for the better through voluntary service to the community.  The distinctive call is for 67 minutes of voluntary effort to mark the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent in public service, but no one has ever suggested that 67 minutes is a maximum. For more information see mandeladayscotland.org