Professional Porch Sitters Union, Crooked Road Local 1895

"I believe all that is wrong with the world can be attributed to the shortage of front porches and the talks we had on them. Somewhere around 1950, builders left off the front porch to save money, and we've had nothing but problems ever since." Philip Gulley from Porch Talk

Professional Porch Sitters (PPS) is an informal organization with a large and growing grassroots membership. To become a member you simply need to say you are a member and agree to sit around with friends and neighbors shooting the breeze as often as possible or practical.

Preferably on a porch but that's not critical. There are no dues, no membership requirements, no mailings, no agenda, no committees, no worries. PPS believes that the radical act of sitting around sharing stories with no specific agenda is critical to building sustainable communities.

Television and air-conditioning have moved far too many people off their porches and into their homes where they quickly become isolated from their communities. We believe that sometimes the most effective course of action is to sit down and relax while sipping iced tea and sharing stories.

PPS only has one rule but it's more like a suggestion. "Sit down a spell. That can wait."

Starting your own chapter of PPS is simple. You simply declare yourself a local chapter, pick a number to represent your Local Chapter identity and then sit back with friends and neighbors to celebrate with an interesting story or two. Meetings can be called at any time by any member and attendance is optional. You are invited to communicate with PPS Headquarters but that is voluntary since no records are kept. PPS was founded on a porch in Louisville, Kentucky in 1999 but many additional chapters have been founded since then.

By staying at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast, and spending some quiet moment on our 130 foot wrap around porch you will automatically become a member of Professional Porch Sitters Union. Crooked Road Local 1895. The Claiborne House was built in 1895, so it sounded like a good figure!

After staying with us, and becoming a member, if you start up a chapter, but don't sweat it if you don't. Inquiries can be addressed to:
PPS Local 1339
1339 Hull Street
Louisville KY, 40204
Or email crowblackcrow@yahoo.com

Please send Shellie any anectdotes or favorite front porch stories - should ya feel a hankerin to - Innkeeper@ClaiborneHouse.net

Some of my favorite books:

Porch Talk by Philip Gulley (Shellie's all time favorite author) http://www.philipgulleybooks.com/

INFO: Welcome back to the front porch—that quintessentially American place where friends gather, stories are told, and small moments take on large meaning.

Philip Gulley has become the voice of small-town American life and an observer of humanity without match. Filled with moments of both lump-in-the-throat poignancy and laugh-out-loud humor, this collection of heartwarming stories from real-life situations offers musings on leisure, marriage, faith, family, and enjoying the little things.

Porching: A Humorous Look at America's Favorite Pastime by John Buchino, M.D.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972399267/ref=sr_11_1/104-9653054-4479926ie=UTF8 INFO: This quirky cultural criticism extols the value of relaxing, retreating, and watching the world whiz by from a specific vantage point: the American porch. While taking life a little slower offers such medical rewards as lowering blood pressure and regulating serotonin levels, "porching" is also presented as a lifestyle that draws from past days of old-fashioned hospitality and neighborly banter. The ironic and tongue-in-cheek tone provides an eccentric and inspirational perspective on contemporary life.

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, Virginia www.ClaiborneHouse.net