Literary Society of Waterlefe's annual luncheon helps open a new chapter in literacy education

New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman has built a literary career informing people about Florida's landscape and little-known facts.

So Pittman was right at home Feb. 5 at the Literary Society of Waterlefe's 13th annual luncheon at the Waterlefe Golf & River Club.

"I love talking to a crowd like this where a lot of folks are transplants, and there’s a lot of stuff they probably don’t know,” said Pittman, who has written six books with Florida as the focus. “I feel it’s my job to educate them about what a wonderful, whacky place the state can be.”

Each year the group hosts local writing talent with a guest speaker. This time it was Pittman, a St. Petersburg resident. Pittman entertained the crowd with humorous anecdotes involving everything from python hunters to over-the-top political corruption. His talk was met with numerous laughs.

Besides being an event where people can connect and socialize, the Literary Society of Waterlefe's annual luncheon attempts to enrich young minds by raising funds to bolster the Literacy Program at Freedom Elementary.

The Literary Society of Waterlefe is comprised of eight book clubs in the Waterlefe community. As in previous years, the event will fund the Backpacks for Literacy program, which provides local students at Freedom Elementary School with meals and books.

This has been the first year in which two member book clubs (led by Becky Manning and Sue Birrell) have worked directly with Freedom teachers, carefully curating curriculums that will receive funds from the Literary Society.

Manning hosted a table at the event, displaying books that will be offered to target groups of kindergarten students and fifth graders. Titles on the table included classics by authors like A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh), as well more modern books like “I Am Malala."

“Skills and standards for children in the classroom will come from reading these books,” Manning said. “The (Freedom) assistant principal (Michele Danowski) is on board with us, and we hope it works out really well.”

Despite the serious issue of literacy, the general mood of the event was upbeat.

"People look forward to the event all year long, and we look forward to putting it on,” said Rosalynn Kiefer, president of the Literary Society of Waterlefe. “It brings the community together. It brings the book clubs together. We celebrate literacy for our youngest and most needy, and together as friends.”