Photo by Kenny Coles

KAFM Radio Station hosted a group of oral storytellers called Spellbinders as a part of the community’s Lifelong Learning Series on Thursday. Since 2002, Mesa County Spellbinders, a Colorado non-profit organization of approximately 40 Mesa County community members, have been captivating Mesa County’s kindergarten through fifth grade children with the art of oral storytelling.

Spellbinders teller Janice Koppans tells a story during a presentation at the KAFM radio station in Grand Junction Thursday.

Seven of Mesa County’s “tellers”, as they like to refer to themselves, captivated their audience with stories through the art of verbal and visual performance.

“I get more out of it than the kids do, I really do,” Anne Saunders said. Saunders has been a member of Mesa County Spellbinders since 2007.

“It’s the only time I have ever been treated like a rock star,” she said.

Saunders presented alongside fellow tellers Janice Koppang, Scott Fairbanks, Sally Matchett, Ruthmary Allison, Judi Sammons, and Chuck Korman on Thursday.

Spellbinders is an organization with chapters throughout Colorado, across the United States and in parts of Canada, with a goal of boosting literacy in children and generating an interest in reading, redefining elderhood and reintroducing older community members to the community by allowing them to mentor and befriend the youth of the community, and to build a sense of belonging in both the children and elderly in a community. Mesa County Spellbinders volunteer at 14 different schools throughout the county.

Ruthmary Allison, a member since 2004, was a music teacher for first graders and K-5 for 30 years.

“Spellbinders is a great way to become re-involved with the students,” she said.

The Mesa County Spellbinders meet the second Thursday of every month at 9:15 p.m. in the public library in Grand Junction to practice and encourage anyone and everyone who wants to become a Spellbinder, learn more about the organization, or just to listen to some wonderful stories to attend. KAFM Radio Station will be hosting future Spellbinders at the end of October and the first week of November.

krhodes2@mavs.coloradomesa.edu