I'm still putting together my program on the Hello Girls, General Pershing's bilingual phone operators who went to France, but here is some of what I've found about the women of southeastern Michigan, including the only death abroad. <http://www.storytellingresearchlois.com/search/label/Hello%20Girls> I will portray Oleda Joure, a Marine City teenager who received special permission to enlist. As she looks back on those days, I can include music because she and her brother both were weekend musicians. He entertained the troops, but when she arrived in England and was asked to do the same, she had to say she couldn't because she already had taken her oath and would be court-martialed. It was only after the war the Girls learned the army considered them contractors not deserving benefits. It took until President Carter to earn their recognition. In the meantime she stayed close to her fellow Hello Girls. Like the Hello Girls, I'm currently having my uniform made, and am nearly ready to promote it, but hope these women intrigue Michiganders. -- Lois Sprengnether Keel Website:<http://www.LoiS-sez.com>, Blog:<http://www.StorytellingResearchLoiS.com>, and posting newspaper accounts of Michigan's "Fighting Fifth" Civil War Infantry at<http://mich5thinfantry.net> * Storyteller in MI Arts and Humanities Directory * In Historical Society of Michigan Directory <http://www.hsmichigan.org/resources/storytellers- speakers-musicians/storyteller- lois-sprengnether-keel/> * State Liaison for National Storytelling Network * Webmaster for<http://www.MichiganStorytelling.org> On 2/4/2016 10:55 AM, Keegan Sulecki wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Chelsea District Library is very excited about our recent grant award from the Michigan Humanities Council to support a WWI Centennial Project. In addition to an installation around town and local history research and preservation, we are interested in providing a variety of programming to commemorate WWI.

I have found a few leads on my own, but I am hoping there is more out there that I may have missed. I am interested in presenters who can talk about the war itself or also about life and culture during that time. I already have a line on some sock machine knitters who can talk about how they were used to make socks for soldiers during WWI, but other things like that would also be of interest. I would particularly like to find someone to present on Rin Tin Tin. WWI reenactors are also needed.

Any information you might have on WWI presenters that you could share would be greatly appreciated.

Thank, Keegan

-- Keegan Sulecki Head of Adult Services Chelsea District Library 221 S. Main St. Chelsea, MI 48118 734.475.8732 ext. 218 chelseadistrictlibrary.org <http://chelseadistrictlibrary.org>