“You can find magic,

wherever you look.

Sit back and relax,

All you need is a book.” – Dr. Seuss

Despite restrictions posed by the pandemic, members of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) shared their love of reading with schoolchildren in celebration of Read Across America. APSO extended the festivities of Dr. Seuss Day through March 11 to reach more classrooms through virtual programming.

Members of APSO’s Plant Gaston and Mobile Division chapters were socially distanced while sharing whimsical Dr. Seuss characters onscreen. Volunteers used computer programs to read to classes. While they were unable to be in classrooms as part of the annual project, the message was loud and clear: Reading brings joy and can transport a child into a wonderful world of make-believe.

Beloved Dr. Seuss characters brought the laughs. (Tabetha Lemonds / Gaston APSO)

‘Thing 1’ and ‘Thing 2’ delivered hilarious antics. (Tabetha Lemonds / Gaston APSO)

Fun was had by all during Gaston APSO’s Read Across America sessions. (Tabetha Lemonds / Gaston APSO)

Thanks to their new virtual capabilities, Gaston APSO members were able to entertain a class from Three Rivers Elementary School in Gulfport, Mississippi. (Tabetha Lemonds)

Using Microsoft Teams, Gaston volunteers read to 42 classes at A.H. Watwood, Chelsea Park Elementary, Coosa Valley Academy, Cornerstone Christian School, Elvin Hill, Jemison and Wilsonville Elementary schools.

“We had employees dressed up as the Cat in the Hat, Thing One and Thing Two,” said Tabetha Lemonds, Gaston APSO president. “It was a lot of participation. Everyone had the best time.”

Lemonds noted that considerable planning was needed to make Dr. Seuss Day happen during the era of COVID-19. Former Gaston APSO President Jodi Webb set up a computer station and helped with technical support as employees broadcast the readings.

“We’re learning to be more innovative and think outside the box to make the same projects we’ve done all these years work during the pandemic,” said Lemonds, administrative support specialist.

“We were nervous about something going wrong because we’d never done this before,” Lemonds said. “But we even had a teacher from Three Rivers Elementary from Gulfport, Mississippi, ask to participate. Being able to do this program this way, we were able to reach children in another state, which was really neat. We got the sweetest video message from the students in Gulfport.”

By the time of Gaston Chapter’s last reading session March 9, Lemonds said, “We were better prepared – we’d had a chance to get the kinks out.”

Employees volunteered for more than 20 hours: Gaston APSO’s Heather Uselton and Karen White read; Chris Curow, Rick Douglas, Jeff Fleming, Nick Kean, Dave Seitz and Melissa Williamson served as Cat in the Hat characters; and Thomas Coleman, Sheilah Lee, Lemonds and Webb created a colorful backdrop.

Mobile APSO brings the fun

Mobile APSO members “pulled out all the stops” to bring virtual reading sessions to schoolchildren at Craighead Elementary and Jackson Intermediate schools. Volunteers including project chair Valencia Chaney, Summer Harrell, Susie James, Clinton Johnson, Michelle McAndrews, Shanita Lucy, Sharon Murrill and Cynthia Tatum held virtual reading events from home and office.

“It worked out extremely well,” said Murrill, Community Relations manager in Mobile Division and a longtime APSO member. Murrill recently hosted an onscreen Mardi Gras celebration for a group of disabled individuals. She said that Mobile APSO volunteers have successfully used virtual programming for other projects.

Valencia Chaney took time out to read to schoolchildren while socially distancing at home. (Sharon Murrill / Mobile APSO)

While socially distancing at home, Sharon Murrill shared Dr. Seuss’s ‘ABC’ book with children. (Sharon Murrill / Mobile APSO)

While socially distancing at home, Cynthia Tatum appeared in costume to read to schoolchildren. (Sharon Murrill / Mobile APSO)

It was Tatum’s third year to volunteer in Read Across America. Using a red tablecloth as a backdrop in her living room, Tatum decorated the wall with a picture of the Cat in the Hat and Dr. Seuss alphabet cards she’d bought for the event.

“We couldn’t be there with the children, so I wanted to at least make it inviting and entertaining,” said Tatum, who has worked at Alabama Power for about 25 years and been a Mobile APSO member nearly that long.

“’The Cat in the Hat’ is my favorite story,” said Tatum, Community Relations manager for Alabama Power’s South West Operations. “I wore my Dr. Seuss hat, a red tie and white gloves. I love to play a character in ‘The Fish in the Pot.’ I change my voice with the character, and I try to drop my voice a little when I do it.”

With their recent virtual successes, many APSO members believe the future may bring similar endeavors. Lemonds said the pandemic pushed Gaston APSO to make positive changes in their Read Across America activities.

“We’ve talked about continuing our virtual program next year, maybe dedicating one day for virtual readings to allow us to reach more schools,” Lemonds said. “That’s one good thing, maybe, that came from COVID. We’re thinking about how to do things differently.”