[Michlib-l] Remembering Fran Pletz

[Metta Lansdale]

I am sorry not to have known Fran.  I look forward to more stories. More.
More.

Metta T Lansdale, Jr.
Director, Traverse Area District Library
231-313-8698

On Dec 5, 2013, at 4:51 PM, "Sally D. Arrivee" <
arrivee at madison-hgts.lib.mi.us> wrote:

I was introduced to Fran by my director, Frank Hemphill, when I was head of
Children's Services at Portage Public (now District) Library.  Her good
humor, wise council and friendship is something I've cherished all my
professional career of now 40+ years.  She mentored me in the ways of
getting a bill passed, understanding who and who not to work with in the
legislature (that after some seven years on MLA's legislative committee),
and library politics in general.  I was fortunate enough to keep in touch
with her all these years and now will regret not getting up to Charlevoix
to see her last summer.

Fran was indeed the First Lady of Libraries in Michigan and had a sterling
reputation nationally as well.  The trips to Dallas where we dubbed her
Sarge and Momma Pletz, the one trip to San Francisco where she booked the
wrong hotel, but was caught in time and saved the day, sharing Mr. Wilson's
bedroom and fabulous shower at a MLA leadership conference one year, and
learning how to get relief from sore feet after walking all over Capitol
Hill at a national Legislative Day are just some of the happy and funny
times I had with Fran Pletz.  To say that she will be missed is an
understatement.

Sally Arrivee
Head Reference Librarian
Madison Heights Public Library

------------------------------
 Indeed it is sad news.... she was an amazing lady, board member and friend
to all, and the queen of library friends and supporters.  I am not sure how
I would have managed as a board member if I had not had Fran to sit next to
and learn from at those first years of meetings.  She educated me on how to
be the best board member I could be....  but I couldn't begin to be as good
as she was.   I know that I am not the only person she mentored and
befriended either....  she will be dearly missed.

Bettina Graber


On 12/5/2013 1:23 PM, Robertson, Nancy (MDE) wrote:

_______________________________________________
Michlib-l mailing list
Michlib-l at lists.mcls.org
http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l

_______________________________________________
Michlib-l mailing list
Michlib-l at lists.mcls.org
http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20131205/fdca253b/attachment.html>