Thanks to all who participated in our 2022 Joyce S. Ahern
Summer Speaker Series with Nathaniel Philbrick!
The setting was perfect at the United Theatre on Friday, June 3 as the audience enjoyed a lively and informative evening with Nathaniel Philbrick! Prompted by astute questions from fellow historian Ted Widmer, Philbrick spoke about the process of writing his most recent book, Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy, along with other related topics.
Special thanks to all who helped make this evening a success, including the Board of Trustees of LVWC, the staff of the United Theatre, especially Tony Nunes, Olivia Dodd at Savoy Booksellers, Jamie Thornton for the excellent catering, and Glenn Kendzia, Tom Gibney, and Olivia Hartley, who served at the reception.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Joyce S. Ahern Speaker Series
Joyce was a longtime member of the Literacy Volunteers of Washington County Board of Directors.
She was passionate about LVWC and could always be counted on to help students, raise funds, and recruit volunteers.
The Beginning
It all started in 2012 with a Stonington fisherman! James Arruda Henry was in his mid-nineties when he began learning to read and write. Despite living a successful life without literacy, James began studying and went on to write his first book, In a Fisherman’s Language. His life showed how the power of commitment, hard work, and
determination can redefine a person at any age—truly the mission of LVWC!
Events in 2021
Our latest Speaker Series event was held on June 24, 2021, at the Ocean House in Watch Hill and featured Deborah Goodrich Royce in conversation with Luanne Rice. It was a lively exchange as the two well-known authors spoke about writing and what it takes to create a thriller.
On January 14, 2021, we held a virtual event with Ted Widmer, the author of Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington, and former Rhode Island Chief Justice Frank J. Williams about Abraham Lincoln’s grueling and dangerous odyssey to Washington prior to his inauguration.
