Jan. 10, 2009

AGENDA

Welcome

Attending: Viola Snow, Melisa Rutherford, Vera Lucas, Susan McDonald, Greg Moore, Caroline Self, Marvel Dickerson, Linda Williams, Sally Cooke, Paige Hawks, Norma Valley

Reading and Approval of minutes- approved as read

Membership Report as of December IRA/ARA shows that we have 41 NEARC/ARA members and 14 IRA members. We have several new members that have not yet been recorded with ARA and there is a concern with the number of new IRA members. Because we are in a higher membership bracket we are expected to have 4 new IRA members. Presently, we have two new IRA members according to the December report. Members are encouraged to join IRA and to recruit others to join ARA.

Treasurer’s report: given and filed.

Old Business:

Community Project: African American Read-In Chain, Sunday, February 1 at the Blytheville Schools Multipurpose Building, 1105 Byrum Rd. Linda Williams, chair will distribute kits calling to readers on Monday, Jan. 12. Students, Community leaders and NEARC members are asked to share a poem or short work/excerpt by an African American author. This will mark the tenth year for the African American Read-In Chain and our collaboration with the Blytheville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta and Blytheville Schools. We are planning for 200 attendees this year.

It was also noted that the NCTE website and IRA website both have materials relating to AARIC available.

Literacy Award nominees for 2009 State Award: Agency: Delta Sigma Theta Community Leader: St. Clair Parks Educator: Sally Cooke Literacy Award nominees for local recognition to include: Richard Atwill, Principal Blytheville Middle School The Action Group led by Charles Betz for their work with Central Elementary School Blytheville Chamber of Commerce for their work in building literacy through the schools and the Dolly Parton Imagination Station Project for Mississippi County John Logan for his sponsorship and leadership in the Fransan Logan Memorial Fund, which provides books to the Blytheville Kindergarten Center and Blytheville Primary School libraries.

New Business:

2009-10 Officers President: Teresa Lawrence (pending confirmation) Vice President: Caroline Self (Paige Hawks will be her assistant) Secretary: Sally Cooke (Susan McDonald will be her assistant) Treasurer/ Membership Director: Marvel Dickerson

Note: Executive Committee has decided that should Teresa resign/decline the office of president, then Melisa Rutherford will remain in office for one more year and then Caroline Self will assume the leadership.

Hostess for March 14 meeting: Norma Valley, Linda Williams and Vera Lucas

Program: Comprehension Strategies- received grant on Oct. 10. The book titled, Teaching Comprehension and Exploring Multiple Literacies, was a collection of articles previously published in The Reading Teacher. Books were distributed during our lunch allowing for everyone to read an article and share. All 18 books were distributed as attending members were allowed to take an extra copy to another member in their schools. A report will be filed with ARA fulfilling our obligation to the grant.

Lunch included Cheesy Potato Soup provided by Marvel Dickerson, Baked Bean Soup provided by Viola Snow and Chili provided by Melisa Rutherford. A wonderful assortment of vegetable trays, fruit and deserts were provided by everyone attending. Lunch was great and much appreciated by all.

Motion made/seconded and approved to release Crittenden, Clay and Jackson Counties from NEARC. Note: in a previous release Clay and Jackson had already been released. After contacting Tanna Clark it has been confirmed that Crittenden County needs to be released. The process will begin immediately so that the council can vote in the March Meeting.

Announcements:

Miss Mississippi County Black History Pageant will be held Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2:30 in Blytheville Schools Multipurpose Building. Entries for the pageant may be obtained by contacting Melisa Rutherford or going to the Northeast Arkansas Pageant website: www.missnea.org. Anyone wishing to volunteer to assist with the pageant should contact Melisa.

African American Read-In Chain will be held Sunday, Feb. 1 at 2:30 inthe Multipurpose Building; Julie Huskey, ARA Pres. Elect will be visiting and bringing official greetings from ARA.

Our next meeting will be March 14 and our program will be Newspapers in Education; attendees will receive a CD of lesson plans/ideas using newspapers.

Deadlines: Literacy Award Applications to ARA: Jan. 15 Honor Council: Mar. 1 Administrator in Reading: Mar. 1 News to ARA: Mar. 15 Officer Report: Mar. 10

NEARC Oct. 11, 2008

AGENDA

Welcome

Attending: Ruth Banta, Reyna Cunningham, Viola Snow, Paige Hawks, Susan McDonald, Melisa Rutherford, Caroline Self

Reading and approval of minutes

International Literacy Day update: a small care package was sent of books and school supplies along with a birthday card and fifty dollars to Kiubindi. Viola also provided information to members present about sending items including the code number for Kiubindi.

Community Project: African American Read-In Chain, Sunday, Feb. 1 at Multipurpose building

Local Community Service Award: Submitting last year’s AARIC for this award. The deadline for submission is Oct. 15.

Literacy Award nominees for 2009 State level award: Agency: Delta Sigma Theta
Community Leader: St. Clair Parks
Educator: Sally Cooke
Note: these have each been previously recognized but for the state award. They will be resubmitted for the state award as they have continued to contribute to the literacy community. At the January meeting, additional local nominees will be selected to also be recognized and then submitted for the state award in 2010.

ARA Conference News:
Committee Breakfast- Friday morning Nov. 21 7:00-8:00 1 extra ticket available for Ken Stamatis box lunch event see Melisa Rutherford
Representatives for Delegates Assembly: Melisa Rutherford and Teresa Lawrence. NEARC members are welcomed to come to the assembly and see what is going on in ARA.

Professional Development Project: Comprehension Strategies- received grant on Oct. 10. Books have been ordered and will distribute at Souper Saturday event in January. Everyone will be asked to select an article in the book and give a thirty second most important statement about the article. Expecting ARA Officers Tina Montgomery and Julie Huskey to attend this meeting.

Officers are asked to bring a crock pot of soup and everyone else bring finger foods or drinks for the meeting on Jan. 10 at 10:00.

Next meeting: January 10, 2009 at BKC Library- 10:00-? Thanks to Reyna Cunningham and Susan McDonald for refreshments.

Program: Reading and Technology presented by NEARC Pres. Melisa Rutherford. This program will be hands-on and self paced as members will be asked to visit the BIS Library wiki and explore a selection of web sites relating to reading and literacy. Missed the meeting but want to explore? Go to www.bislibrarymedia.wikispaces.com

Door prizes courtesy of Loyd Harris and NEARC

Announcements:
ARA Fall Conference: Nov. 20-21, Little Rock Statehouse Convention Center
Miss Mississippi County Black History Pageant: Sat. Jan. 31 African American Read-In Chain: Sun. Feb. 1

Deadlines:
Oct. 15- Community Service Award
Nov. 15 Exemplary Reading Application
Jan. 15 Literacy Honoree Awards


Sept. 13, 2008
AGENDA

Welcome Attending: Melisa Rutherford, Viola Snow, Caroline Self, Linda Williams, Vera Lucas, Sally Cooke, Reyna Cunningham, Jackie Sanders, Ruth Bantas, Paige Hawks, Susan McDonald, Alicia Rose

Reading/approval of the old minutes

International Literacy Day- Care package for Kiubindi School supplies and monetary gifts were received; Viola will get this sent out this week so that it will reach Uganda by Kiubindi’s birthday.

Community Project: Periodicals for the Haven

Council voted to continue this project. Even though we will never know exactly how this project benefits the women and children of the Haven, we have been told that it is a benefit.

Literacy Project: Sharon Dennis Wyeth Jan. 22 to visit CES, BIS, BMS and TBIB.

Will be writing AR Humanities grants but would like to encourage other groups to assist and participate in this project.

Council members are excited; grants will be written and sent out ASAP.

Membership Drive: Current roll, need for members to renew and for new members to join IRA Goals: 30 IRA members, 59 ARA/NEARC members

Had 1 person join new and 3 renew at this meeting. Everyone is encouraged to renew membership or join before Oct. 15. Those who wish to renew from the Blytheville school district can interoffice mail their forms and dues to Melisa Rutherford at BIS.

Professional Development Project: Comprehension strategies, awaiting grant approval for publication for Souper Saturday but also want everyone to be looking for articles and research based information on building comprehension.

Next meeting: Oct. 11, 10:00 BKC Computer Lab- Program Technology and Reading- exploring resources

Program: Mini Overview of the Simon/Diamond Nominees presented by Loyd Harris Loyd had a mishap and actually forgot about the meeting. Viola Snow and Melisa Rutherford along with a power point that had been shared by a library media specialist in the state reviewed the Simon and Diamond nominees. We also provided a list of the nominees for everyone. Loyd called and felt terrible about not being at the meeting, he is sending a copy of the Simon/ Diamond Overview and a new book for each person who attended today’s meeting.

April 12, 2008 Literacy Lunch at Grecian went very well. We were a small group, but we celebrated a large number of successes. Check out the lunch program file: download Literacy Lunch Program file

March 29, 2008 The last meeting was canceled due to snow. We now look forward to our Literacy Luncheon. This year we will meet at the Grecian Resturant at 11:30 and will honor our Literacy Award winners and recognize the accomplishments of our council. We have had a very successful year and I'm thrilled to have been a part of it. In other news, got a letter from the ARA Nominating Committee that the new state officers for 2008-2009 are: President, Tina Montgomery; President-Elect, Julie Huskey; Vice President, Linda Eilers; Secretary, Vanessa Hendrix; Treasurer, Jeannine Shirley; Historian, Paula Finley; Parliamentarian, Patricia Finch and Past President Glenda Nugent. Congratulations to all and we look forward working with these officers.

March 2, 2008 The paperwork has been filed and verified, we are once again being recognized as an HONOR COUNCIL. Thanks to all of you and the work you do. Our membership is at its highest with 57 members and 27 IRA members. WOW! This puts us in a new bracket. Our African American Read-In Chain had a large audience this year. I requested 150 chairs set up for this event and almost every one of them was filled. Our last regular meeting will be Saturday, March 8. Our program will be Newspapers in Education. Make plans to be there.

Jan. 12, 2008 Souper Saturday as we have come to call this meeting. This meeting included a crock pot luck of soups and chili along with some wonderful desserts and other goodies. ARA President Elect, Tina Montgomery, was our guest today. Our program was a sharing and refection of the IRA publication, Responses to Literature. Participation was great and there were several ideas and reading successes shared within the group.

We now have 54 members with 28 also being IRA members. This is great!! We have exceeded our goals in membership this year.

Linda Williams reported that plans for the African American Read-In Chain are under way. Materials and information will be distributed to area schools this coming week along with a press release calling for readers. This event will take place on Feb. 3 at 2:30 in the Blytheville Kindergarten/Primary Multi-Purpose Building 1105 Byrum Rd.

Viola Snow introduced us to the child we have sponsored through the Terri Clark Ministries. Viola also reported that civil unrest in Uganda continues and that we should pray for the safety of the children and Terri Clark Ministeries. Check out our new page, International Projects for updates and photos.

Officer elections will be coming up in March. Anyone interested in serving needs to contact Melisa Rutherford as soon as possible.

In other business, many of our members have been struck by tragedy in recent weeks. Prayer has been requested for Phyllis Bloodworth and her family as they grieve over the loss of her husband, Larry Bloodworth; Caroline Self whose mother passed this past week; Richard Atwill and family as they continue after the loss of Richard's daughter Alexis and Teresa Lawrence and her brother Brian who has entered into hospice with a rapid and terminal cancer. Please continue to remember these in your thoughts and prayers.

Make plans to be at the African American Read-In Chain on Sunday, Feb. 3 at 2:30 at the BKC/BPS Multi-Purpose Building. It's next door to the kindergarten center, 1105 Byrum Rd. Our next regular meeting will be Sat. March 8, this will be the last regular meeting for the year. Our Literacy Luncheon will be Sat. April 12 at 12:00 at the Grecian Resturant. This is a Dutch treat luncheon honoring our Celebrate Literacy honorees: St. Clare Parks, Community Leader Honoree; Mrs. Geneva A. Harris, Educator in Literacy Honoree and the Blytheville Rotary Club our Agency in Literacy Honoree.

Nov. 24, 2007 The Southwest Regional Conference is over and what a conference it was. The sessions were WONDERFUL. Many of our members were there and even volunteering. Check out the photo gallery. I attended all three general sessions and several sessions and workshops as well as volunteered at the registration desk and assisted with decorating for the book and author luncheon. Many thanks to those of you who volunteered, many of our NEARC family pitched in and assisted throughout the conference. Mark you calendars for January when we have our pot luck and book share. We will also have a special guest, Tina Montgomery.

Oct. 13, 2007 We had a small group attend today but we did a lot of great things. First Viola gave report of possible projects from the International Committee. The result is that we voted to adopt a child, that is provide the financial support for a child's education, through the Terri Clark Ministeries. More information will be provided later. But please start saving your change to bring at our next meeting. Next, Caroline reported on our magazine subscriptions to the Haven. We voted to continue to renew the subscriptions and Caroline will get an update as to how this meets needs of the shelter. Everyone received a copy of the Responses to Literature book from IRA. This book will be discussed at our January meeting. Members who did not make it can contact Melisa Rutherford and she will see that you get a copy. This IRA publication was made available through a ARA literacy grant. Speaking of the January meeting, officers will be bringing their crockpots with soup/chili and everyone else is asked to bring finger foods. Tina Montgomery, ARA Pres. Elect. will be joining us for this meeting. The Northeast Arkansas Pageant Association will be hosting a "Miss Black History" Pageant on Feb. 2. Winners of this pageant will be invited to the African American Read-in Chain to share a poem and be presented on stage. Linda Williams, chair of this event is planning to send out information in the near future and hopes to have guest readers secured by the end of December. We won't have a meeting until January 12. So make plans to meet at the Southwest Regional Conference in Little Rock Nov. 14-16. You can register online at www.reading.org. Finally, we selected our honorees for the Celebrate Literacy Awards. They are: Blytheville Rotary Club for agency. Their work with placing dictionaries and thesauruses to third/fourth graders is only the beginning of the list of projects they provide in support of literacy. Mr. Sinclair Lewis for community leader. Mr. Lewis' work with Boys and Girls Club is truly an act of love. And finally, Mrs. Geneva Harris as our educator in literacy. Mrs. Harris has several projects to create well-educated, well-rounded students. Our program this month was presented by Diana Holmes, Blytheville Rotary Club. Diana gave us insight into what Rotary does and has done for literacy as well as introduced us to some projects that we could participate in the future. Gregg Moore received an IRA membership courtesy of ARA. Marvel reported our membership is at 50 members. I hope to see you all in January.

Sept. 8, 2007 Our first meeting was held at the Blytheville Kindergarten Center. Mr. Loyd Harris, Perma Bound Representative and long time friend of the council, presented a review of the 2008 Arkansas Diamond and Charlie Mae Simon Award nominees. Loyd gave each of us a new book and presented us with some books to donate to the Wiley Headstart Center. In other business, Caroline Self, Chair of the Community Projects committee has asked that the renewal of magazine subscriptions be tabled until next meeting when she would like to bring in a representive of The Haven to let us know if the periodicals have been a positive and if there are other things we can do to promote literacy with their organization. Membership Director, Marvel Dickerson reports that membership is coming in but we still have several who need to renew there state and local dues for this year. We have approxiamiately 35 members to date. The goal the state sets for us is 47 for this year. Our next meeting is Sat. Oct. 13 at 10am. FCCLA will be providing child care at the kindergarten center.