Hometown Monday - S is for Scott, Sheila, Susan and more

Hometown Monday - S is for Scott, Sheila, Susan and more

We are continuing this series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Saga" family story-telling, with a new twist. We have adopted a format from the: "Blogging From A to Z Challenge." Each week we will share a published except related to a person whose name begins with that letter. 

This series of posts is to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Saga." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well. [Links in the text, below, provide more information on that person or entity]

Today we look at names beginning with the letter S.

For S, we have (with two excerpts, below):

Sandra Cooper - Social Worker - in Oregon - introduced in "Christmas at the Homeplace"

Scott Gates - son of Paul and Beverly Gates

Sean - caterer for Karen

Sheila Gates - daughter of Paul and his first wife

Steve Ingalls - director of training at the college

Susan 'Susie' (Norris) WInslow - Mrs. Matt Winslow

This excerpt is from "The Homeplace Revisited" is from Chapter 21, Tuesday, September, 1996:

In the afternoon, after classes at the college, Scott and Bart had an opportunity to discuss the farming related job description statements. Scott appreciated the opportunity of become involved and offered some useful suggestions to the statements Bart had drafted. It again reminded Bart of the many elements that were actually involved in the process, some that others would not think of if they were not directly involved in the operation. 

Scott took the opportunity to talk to Bart some more about longer-term considerations… beyond his graduation next spring from the two year Farming Operations program. He also mentioned his girl friend, Rachel, and that they were asking some of these questions, as well. Bart asked Scott about his level of interest in continuing his education beyond next year. 

Scott said he had already discussed this with his dad, Paul, and they had agreed it would be all right not to go off to further schooling if he could become more involved with actual farming operations here. He would continue to be interested in short courses and workshops to continue to keep up with new developments, but he had little interest, ‘no interest, really’ in further classroom work.

As they continued their conversation, Bart suggested that this was actually a good time to be talking about this, because some changes were likely coming along in the operations of the Bevins Trust farmlands that would provide more opportunity for Scott if he was really committed to that. They agreed to continue these discussions as the fall and winter season progressed. 

This excerpt is from "Christmas at the Homeplace" is from Chapter 10, Wednesday, November 13, 1996:

Harry Flanders at the bank, acting this time as a Bevins Trust trustee, had invited Matt and Susie Winslow to meet with him and trustee Lyle Cunningham as well as retired trustee George Chambers in the bank conference room at 1:30 in the afternoon to talk about the reorganization activities the trustees were working on. 

George took the lead in talking about the work that he, Harry and Lyle had been charged with regarding the ‘central administrative office’ concept that had been presented at the earlier trustee meetings. He summarized what they had done, to date, including conversations with both Matt and Susie, individually, over recent weeks.

“We are at a point where a more detailed, specific proposal needs to be developed. Each element needs to be explored in more depth, questions asked, answers obtained and incorporated into the proposal,” George stated. Harry and Lyle commented their concurrence and each added their own thoughts.

George then said, to Susie, directly, “We’d like to ask you, Susie, to consider a contract with us to develop this proposal in detail. We are suggesting about a ‘half-time effort’ extending over probably two or three months, as we go through the end-of-the-year processes. We want you to look at our accounting, tax work, personnel and recruiting, payroll, all human resources activities, risk management and whatever else needs to included to be comprehensive, whether we now buy these services or do them internally. This includes all these activities across all of the things The Bevins Trust is now doing and is contemplating. This would include what we are coming to call ‘The McDonald Conservancy’ concept and setting up a ‘Bevins Corporation’ of the agriculture and related for-profit businesses we conduct. It also includes the Stables, The Mill and our agreement with Matt’s ISP business, of course.”

He continued, “From what we have learned, your background actually has prepared you very well to do this, possibly better than anyone else we could ask. We are fortunate to have you available, at this time. There is one more thing to consider, which is a bit unusual, as well. We are thinking of an Executive Director to head up this new unit, under The Bevins Trust and the Board of Trustees. We assume that by the time you finish the proposal, that you would be better qualified than anyone to fill that position. So, it will be acceptable, and nearly expected, that the proposal read that way. If you feel that is inappropriate, it will be up to you to tell us that.”

George stopped for a moment, as he often did. “What do you think of this idea? Will you do it?”

She was careful to respond carefully and not too quickly. “It would be hard to turn down. I am flattered and humbled that you would make me this offer. It is far more than I had hoped for, but I do feel, as you said, that my prior work has actually well prepared me for most of the assignment. You must have talked to some of my former bosses, to even know that.” Susie smiled, and stopped to catch her breath.

“Yes, we did.” Harry said. “You were highly recommended as a matter of fact. Hearing what we did made us very proud to have you in our community, and in this family, for that matter.”

George then offered, “Shall we get into some details and get to work?”

“Yes,” Susie replied, “Let’s get to work on it.”

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill  ;-)