Valley residents host Douglas County Reads: 'Three Cups of Tea'

by Kurt Hildebrand

khildebrand@recordcourier.com

Foothill residents Jim and Barbara Slade are co-chairing an effort to encourage Douglas County residents to read the book, "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time," by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

The Slades' mission is to promote the book's message by encouraging residents to read it.

"We're calling the whole thing 'Douglas County Reads: Three Cups of Tea,'" Jim Slade said. "We have the enthusiastic support of the library, the school district, the Carson Valley Arts Council and the Angwin Foundation."

As part of the effort, the foundation purchased 800 copies of the book in three editions. Of those, 300 will go to the library and the high school, 400 of the young readers' edition will go to the middle and upper elementary school grades and another 100 of the children's picture book will be distributed to children in kindergarten to third grade.

A book rack will be established in the library with copies for free distribution.

"People won't even have to check them out," Slade said. "They'll have a book plate inside that says, 'Douglas County Reads. Please read, enjoy, discuss and pass on to someone else or return to the library.' The idea is to encourage a community wide discussion of the book."

Slade said Douglas County Reads continues during the Carson City Reads event, running through April 13.

"The three lessons we take from the book are the importance of education and how important education is to every individual. Secondly, equal opportunity for education, particularly for young girls, which is an issue in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the author has done most of his work. Thankfully it's not so much of an issue here in Douglas County. The third thing is tolerance and understanding of other peoples and other cultures and other religions help foster a healthier, saner, more peaceful world."

The book has fans in the military, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, who mentioned it in an Aug. 28, 2009, speech.

"Part of the message of the book is that an important part of being successful is to win the hearts and minds of citizens there through education and building schools," Slade said.

The only event planned for Douglas County is a community book club in April.

"The arts council has offered their facility to do a community book club for whoever reads the book and cares to come to the venue to discuss the relevance of the book, and what it means to Douglas County," he said.

Slade said he hoped readers could also discuss efforts to make the county, country and world a better place.

Barbara Slade said the Angwin Family Foundation has been key to establishing Douglas County Reads.

"They've been an integral part of the process," she said. "It's a local nonprofit with the same philosophies as those behind 'Three Cups of Tea.' I think it's a great thing to help the community. We're not going to be able to keep depending on government funding."