Every May the SLO Friends of the Library holds a luncheon and Annual meeting for members and guests, highlighting a local author as speaker.
The 2024 Annual Meeting and Luncheon was held on Thursday, May 9, at the Madonna Inn, featuring Greg Smith, photographer and nature tour guide
After working many years locally as a biologist and Park Superintendent for Cal Trans and California State Parks, Greg retired in 2007 and within three days embarked on a second career leading world-wide nature tours. He’s visited seven continents, seen some wonderful scenery, viewed wildlife in their most intimate settings, all while experiencing many of the world’s varied cultures.
Previous guest speakers have included:
2023 Victoria Kastner, author of Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect.
2022 Matt Ritter, Cal Poly Botany Professor and author of California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora and A Californian’s Guide to the Trees among Us
2019 Joe Carotenuti, local historian, on the 100th anniversary of the county libraries
2018 Jim Gregory – author of Central Coast Aviators in World War II, and other books on Central Coast history
2017 Jeff Wheelwright – author of The Wandering Gene and the Indian Princess
2016 Franz Wisner – author of Honeymoon with my Brother
2015 Sue McGinty – author of several murder mysteries set in a fictitious local area
2014 Felicia Prekeris Brown – author of God, Give us Wings
2013 Leigh Rubin – cartoonist, author and speaker
2012 Mike Cowdrey – author of Horses and Bridles of the American Indians
2011 Liu Yu – author of Awakening the Sleeping Tiger
2010 Gordon Snider – author of Sigourney’s Quest
2009 Sue McKee – author of Days like Floating Water
2008 Gale McNeely – author of Archie and Mehitabel
2007 Roderic (Rick) Schmidt – author of Out of Bodie and other books
2006 Barbara Wolcott – author of David, Goliath and the Beach Cleaning Machine
2005 Pam Taylor Copeland – author of I liked you at Ten I’ll like you again and other poetry books
2004 Jodi Compton – author of The 37th Hour, and others
2003 Carol Hoffman – author of The Barrymores: Hollywood’s First Family
2002 Ingrid Teri – author of Steinbeck Country Revisited
2001 Catherine Ryan Hyde – author of Pay it Forward and many more