First-year students will be asked to read the book as part of their Composition One requirement. It introduces them to academic expectations, respectful discourse, and community building. The first title chosen as a Common Read is Wine to Water: How One Man Saved Himself While Trying to Save the World by Doc Hendley.
In a quote from the author, “When the idea came to me to start Wine to Water the only real job experience I had was tending bar. I dreamed of building an organization that fought water related death and disease using different methods than anyone else. So, I started raising money to fight this water epidemic the best way I knew how, by pouring wine and playing music. Wine to Water’s US staff consists of 5 full-time and 5 part-time members. We consider ourselves family but live in different parts of the country and are seldom in the same place at once. We are united by our passion for clean water and the joy we get from working with our local partners on the ground. Wine to Water has worked in 17 countries. We have ongoing projects in 8 countries on 4 continents, and support thirty international aid workers.”
Multiple copies of the book have been donated to the Mason City Public Library by the Friends of the Library to support the program and to involve community members. In conjunction with this effort, the Mason City Public Library will host book discussions, open to the public. Book Discussions will be lead by Mary Markwalter, Library Director. They will be held in the Classroom of the Library located next to the Commons on the following dates:
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 2:00 PM
Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 6:00 PM
KCMR will also broadcast a pre-recorded reading of the book in September. Contact them for times and dates.
The Common Read is supported by the Performing Arts and Leadership Series as well as the NIACC Foundation, which sponsors a keynote address by the author of the Common Read. Doc Hendley will talk about his book and his foundation, Wine to Water, in the NIACC auditorium on Wed. Nov. 4, 2015 at 7:00pm. Please contact NIACC for more information on the program.
