Take advantage of this networking opportunity and attend your local council activities! Share your expertise with other members in your area.

September

September 1, 2010: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

September 1, 2010: IRC Program Proposals for 2011 Conference due to IRC Office.

September 1, 2010: IRC deadline for submitting information for the November IRC Communicator.   Please send your information to the IRC Office.

September 7, 2010:  Prairie Area Reading Council will host To Understand New Horizons in Reading Comprehension with Ellin Oliver Keene from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Marquardt D15 District Office, 1860 North Glen Ellyn Road, Glendale Heights, Illinois.   Registration is $15 for PARC members, $18 for non-members, and $10 for students.  Registration is due by August 31, 2010. 

September 9, 2010:  Blackhawk Reading Council will host Linking Literacy and Technology from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Longfellow School, 4198 7th Avenue, Rock Island, IL  61201.  

September 9, 2010:  Chicago Area Reading Association will hold a board meeting from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Boundless Readers, 5153 N. Clark, Room 300, Chicago, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Amy Zaher. 

September 14, 2010:  Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will hold a board meeting/conference prep at 4:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact Laura Beltchenko or Jan Rashid. 

September 15, 2010: Illinois Valley Reading Council will host Live and Learn and Pass It On! from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Pekin Library, 301 S. 4th Street, Pekin, Illinois.  This a FREE event for Illinois Valley members!

September 15, 2010:  Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will host Revisiting QAR with Taffy Raphael at 4:00 p.m.  Location is to be announced soon.  Registration is $35.  For more information, please contact Laura Beltchenko or Jan Rashid. 

September 15, 2010:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) is accepting applications for two 2010 SRL Literacy Grants of $500 to develop innovative literacy projects in a school or classroom.  SRL members can download the application at www.dayofreading.org.  The winners will be announced at the 34th Day of Reading in November.  For more information, please contact Gail Huizinga, the SRL Literacy Grant chair. 

September 16, 2010:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host a Wine Social from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at It's All About Wine, 1305 Wabash Avenue, Springfield, Illinois.  This event is FREE for CIRC members and $3.00 for non-members (unless joining that night)!  Join us for appetizers, wine, and door prizes to welcome everyone back to school & celebrate our 40th Anniversary!  Bring a friend for more chances to win prizes!  Please make reservations to Terri at 483-3122 or by email. 

September 19, 2010:  Chicago Area Reading Association will participate in the 57th Street Children's Book Fair in Hyde Park from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at 57th Street between Dorchester and Kimbark Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  The event kicks off with a parade at 1:00 p.m. focused on their theme, "Mystery and Science:  What will you discover at the 57th Street Children's Book Fair?  This is a FREE event!  For more information about this event, visit www.57cbf.org! 

September 20, 2010:  Lake Area Reading Council will hold a board meeting at 4:00 p.m. at Frederick School, 595 Frederick Road, Grayslake, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Laura Kazmer or  Kira Coate. 

September 20, 2010:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting at 5:00 p.m. at Tres Hombre, 119 North Washington Street, Carbondale, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Pam Rich Gawrych. 

September 23, 2010:  Illinois Valley Reading Council will host a Make-It/Take-It Night! at 7:30 p.m. at Bradley University, 1501 W. Bradley Avenue, Peoria, Illinois.  This a FREE event for Illinois Valley members!

September 23, 2010: Northern Illinois Reading Council will host the 23rd Annual Fall Conference featuring Christine Boardman Moen from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Kishwaukee College Conference Center, Malta, Illinois.   Early registration is $15 for NIRC members and $30 for non-NIRC members and must be postmarked by September 8th.  Registration at the door is $20 for NIRC members and $35 for non-NIRC members. 

September 23, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host a Storytelling Event at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas, Freeport, Illinois. 

September 24, 2010: IRC Executive Committee Meeting, IRC Office.

September 25, 2010: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Holiday Inn & Suites, Bloomington, Illinois. For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or phone at 1-888-454-1341.

September 25, 2010:  Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will hold a board meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 3202 East Empire, Bloomington, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Susanne Riddell or Ann Peters. 

September 27, 2010:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting at Alfano's Pizzeria & Italian, 801 S. 4th Street, Oregon, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

September 27, 2010:  South Eastern Reading Council will host Foldables for Literacy with Ronda Brown from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Holiday, 1300 South West Street, Olney, Illinois.  This is a FREE event for SERC members and $10 for non-members. 

September 27, 2010:  West Suburban Reading Council will host a Membership Rally from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.  The location will be announced soon.  This is a FREE event!  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco. 

September 30, 2010:  Lake Area Reading Council will host a Fall Social from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Vine, 101 Center Street, Grayslake, Illinois.  Join us for Free Food and Fun!  Bring your friends and co-workers!  2 for 1 (or 1/2 price) Membership Drive (includes renewals).  LARC members attend all LARC events for FREE!  For more information and to RSVP for this event, visit the LARC website at lakeareareadingcouncil.wordpress.com. 

September 30, 2010:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Meet and Greet Happy Hour from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Station 220, 220 E. Front Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  Come enjoy appetizers and drinks (cash bar provided) with other professionals while learning how to earn $ for your classroom, earn CPDUs, and learn more about MID-State.  This is an "open house format,"  feel free to come and go and bring your friends! 

September 30, 2010:  South Suburban Reading Council will host Keep Your Writers (And You!) Writing with Illinois Authors Esther Hershenhorn and Carmela Martino at 5:00 p.m. at the Silver Lakes Country Club, 14700 S. 82nd Avenue, Orland Park, Illinois.  Registration is $22 for SSRC members, $27 for non-members, and $12 for Preservice Teachers.  Reservations are due by September 9th! 

October

October 1, 2010: IRC Nominations for IRC Vice President & Secretary due to Chris Boardman Moen, Nominating Chair.

October 1, 2010: IRC Membership Grants due to Karen Ringas, Director of Membership Development.

October 1, 2010:  South Suburban Reading Council is accepting presentation proposals for SSRC members to share your favorite strategies and ideas at the Share Fair cosponsored by SSRC and Saint Xavier University.  For more information, please contact Megan Wrzesinski by email or by phone at (708) 275-1615. 

October 2, 2010:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host RtI from the Teacher View from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel, 7800 South Kingery Highway, Willowbrook, Illinois.  Speakers will include Deb Hayes, Laura Beltchenko, and Rebecca Binks. 

October 5, 2010:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will host the TAR - Teachers as Readers book discussion group.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

October 6, 2010:  Starved Rock Reading Council will host the Annual Fall Program and Meeting:  The Last Dinner on the Titanic from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Reddick Mansion, 100 West Lafayette Street, Ottawa, Illinois. 

October 7, 2010:  Two Rivers Reading Council will host a Foldables Workshop with Ronda Brown from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Aurelia's Pizza, 1600 W. Covent Street, Bourbonnais, Illinois. 

October 9, 2010:  Two Rivers Reading Council will participate in the Barnes and Noble Teacher Appreciation-Membership Drive from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 1577 N. State Route 50, Bourbonnais, Illinois. 

October 9, 2010:  Mississippi Valley Reading Council will host a Fall Special from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at The Village Vineyard, 337 North Vermont Street, Camp Point, Illinois. 

October 12, 2010:  East Central-EIU Reading Council will host Grab Your Suitcase for a Poetry Get-Away at 7:00 p.m. at Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, Illinois.  This is a FREE event! 

October 12, 2010:  Vermilion Valley Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Five Star Family Restaurant, 3216 N. Vermilion Street, Danville, Illinois. 

October 13, 2010:  Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will hold a board meeting at 5:30 p.m.  For more information, please contact Laura Beltchenko or Jan Rashid. 

October 14, 2010:  Chicago Area Reading Association will hold a board meeting from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Beverly Branch Chicago Public Library, 1945 W. 95th Street, Chicago, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Amy Zaher. 

October 14, 2010:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will host Educators Evening with Candace Fleming from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The location is to be announced soon.  Registration is $5 for SIRC members and $10 for non-members. 

October 15, 2010: IRA Honor Council Intent to Participate Form is due.

October 15, 2010:  Fox Valley Reading Council and National Louis University will co-host the third annual Western Suburban Literacy Initiative Conference "Teaching with Diversity in Mind" from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at National-Louis University, Lisle Campus, 850 Warrenville Road, Lisle, Illinois.  A special focus will be on meeting the needs of boys in the K-12 classroom.  Registration is $150.  More information and online registration is available.   

October 16, 2010:  Chicago Area Reading Association will host the Chicago Foundation for Education Annual Workshop from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Whitney Young High School, 211 South Laflin Street, Chicago, Illinois.  This is a FREE event!

October 16, 2010:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Kappa Delta Pi/WIRC Carousel of Educational Essentials Conference from 8:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.  at Western Illinois University, Horrabin Hall Rm. 1, Macomb, Illinois.  Registration is $15 and $10 for students. 

October 20, 2010:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host a Preservice Teacher Mini-Workshop from 5:30 to 8:30 .m. at the University of Illinois-Springfield, Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, Springfield, Illinois.  This event is FREE for all!

October 20, 2010:  Will County Reading Council and Lewis University College of Education will co-sponsor a Fall Author Visit with Gary Moore, author of Playing with the Enemy, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Lewis University, De LaSalle Room 250, One University Parkway, Romeoville, Illinois.  There is no admission fee!  Suggested admission donation of one gently used book to support school classroom libraries.

October 21, 2010:  Lake Area Reading Council will host a Family Literacy Night with Crystal Anderson from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Frederick School, 595 Frederick Road, Grayslake, Illinois.  This event is FREE for LARC members and $15 for non-members. 

October 23, 2010:  Chicago Area Reading Association will host a Fall Breakfast Conference with Steven Layne from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Midway Marriott, 6520 South Cicero Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  Registration is $30 for CARA members, $35 for non-members, and $40 after October 1st or at the door. 

October 25, 2010:  West Suburban Reading Council will host Daily Five in the Classroom:  Adapting the work of the Two Sisters from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 17W350 22nd Street, Oak Brook Terrace, Illinois.  Registration is $15 per person. 

October 29, 2010:  MID-State Reading Council will host the Carnival of Reading from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Bloomington Junior High School, 901 North Colton Avenue, Bloomington, Illinois.  Chicago Storyteller, Chris Fascione, will be featured at the carnival.  Refreshments, a Book Walk, balloons, and lots of other surprises are planned for this fun, free, family event!

October 30, 2010:  Will County Reading Council will host a Babies and Books event.  The location will be announced soon.  For more information, please contact Deborah Augsburger. 

October 31, 2010: IRA Local Council Community Service Award submissions are due.

November

November 1, 2010: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

November 1, 2010: IRC nominations for Hall of Fame and Certificate of Recognition Award are due.

November 1, 2010: IRC applications for Barack Obama Library Award are due. 

November 1, 2010: IRC nominations for Legislator of the Year Award are due.

November 1, 2010: IRC deadline for Parents and Reading Award application.

November 1, 2010: IRC deadline for Illinois Reading Educator of the Year Award application.

November 1, 2010: IRC deadline for Adult & Family Literacy Grant application.

November 3, 2010:  South Suburban Reading Council and Saint Xavier University will co-host a Share Fair at 5:00 p.m. at the St. Xavier Orland Park Campus, 18230 Orland Parkway, Orland Park, Illinois.  Registration will be $15 per person. 

November 4, 2010:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Fall Festival of Literacy from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Northpoint Elementary School, 2602 E. College, Bloomington, Illinois. 

November 5-6, 2010:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host the 34th Day of Reading featuring Neal Shusterman and Judith Irvin from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 at the Holiday Inn Select Hotel and Convention Center, 185th & Harlem Avenue, Tinley Park, Illinois.  A new pre-conference workshop will be held on November 5th.  For more information and registration details, please visit www.dayofreading.org. 

November 6, 2010:  Illini Reading Council and Vermilion Valley Reading Council will co-host the Daily 5 in the Classroom:  Adapting the Work of the 2 Sisters from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Parish Center, 405 W. Clark, Champaign, Illinois. 

November 9, 2010:  Macon County Reading Council will host Intellectual Freedom and Challenged Books at 4:15 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main Street, Decatur, Illinois. 

November 10, 2010:  Illinois Valley Reading Council will host Leave a Cookie for Santa! from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Dunlap Library, 302 S. 1st Street, Dunlap, Illinois.  This a FREE event for Illinois Valley members!

November 12, 2010:  Two Rivers Reading Council will host a Kids Night Owl from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Exploration Station, 1095 W. Perry Drive, Bourbonnais, Illinois.  Registration is $10.

November 13, 2010:  Starved Rock Reading Council will host the Snuggle Up event from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Book Mouse, 820 La Salle St, Ottawa, Illinois.  This is a FREE event! 

November 15, 2010: IRA Exemplary Reading Program Award deadline.

November 15, 2010:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting/Holiday Party at 6:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact Pam Rich Gawrych. 

November 15, 2010:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Piecing Together a New Normal with Asperger Syndrome from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Monmouth College, Huff Recreation Center, Lower Level, Monmouth, Illinois. Registration is $2 for WIRC members, $5 for non-members, and $2 for students. 

November 15, 2010:  West Suburban Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco.

November 18, 2010:  Chicago Area Reading Association will host a Membership Social Event from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Midway Marriott, 6520 South Cicero Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  Registration is $10.

November 18, 2010:  South Eastern Reading Council will host Newspapers:  Not Just For Current Events with Boomer Crotty from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Olney Public Library, 400 W. Main, Olney, Illinois.  This is a FREE event for SERC members and $10 for non-members. 

November 19, 2010: IRC Executive Committee Meeting, IRC Office.

November 19, 2010:  Chicago Area Reading Association will hold an Executive Board Mini-Retreat at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 3202 East Empire, Bloomington, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Amy Zaher. 

November 20, 2010: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Holiday Inn & Suites, Bloomington, Illinois. For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or phone at 1-888-454-1341.

November 20, 2010:  Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will hold a board meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 3202 East Empire, Bloomington, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Susanne Riddell or Ann Peters.

November 29, 2010:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting at Alfano's Pizzeria & Italian, 801 S. 4th Street, Oregon, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

November 30, 2010:  Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will hold a board meeting at 5:30 p.m.  For more information, please contact Laura Beltchenko or Jan Rashid. 

November 30, 2010:  Central Illinois Reading Council is accepting applications for the CIRC Grants for CIRC members.  The CIRC grant application and rubric is available online.  For more information, please contact Terri Colyer.

December

December 1, 2010: IRC deadline for submitting information for the February IRC Communicator. Please send your information to the IRC Office.

December 1, 2010: IRC deadline for Council Program (Speakers) Grant applications.

December 2, 2010:  Chicago Area Reading Association will hold a Holiday Dinner/board meeting from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Location is to be announced at a later date.  For more information, please contact Amy Zaher. 

December 2, 2010:  East Central-EIU Reading Council will host an event with Storyteller Michael Lockett at 6:00 p.m. at Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, Illinois.  This is a FREE event!

December 3, 2010:  Two Rivers Reading Council will participate in the Festival of Trees Gala at the Kankakee County Historical Society, 801 S. 8th Avenue, Kankakee, Illinois. 

December 4, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Read with Santa at 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Carroll Public Library, 208 N. Main, Mt. Carroll, Illinois. 

December 4, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Read with Santa at 10:00 a.m. at Savanna Public Library, 326 Third Street, Savanna, Illinois. 

December 4, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Read with Santa from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Stockton Public Library, 140 W. Benton, Stockton, Illinois. 

December 6, 2010:  West Suburban Reading Council will host Read Alouds and Christmas Educational Gift Giving Suggestions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois.  This is a FREE event! 

December 7, 2010:  South Suburban Reading Council will host To Understand:  Exploring New Horizons in Comprehension Teaching and Learning with Ellin Keene, author of Mosaic of Thought, at 5:00 p.m. at Dinolfo's Banquets, 9425 W. 191st Street, Mokena, Illinois.  Registration will be $21.95 per person. 

December 8, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Read with Mrs. Claus from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the York Township Library, Thomson, Illinois. 

December 9, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Read with Santa from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Pearl City Library, 221 South Main Street, Pearl City, Illinois. 

December 11, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Read with Santa from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Elizabeth Township Library, 210 Myrtle Street, Elizabeth, Illinois. 

December 12, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Read with Santa from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas, Freeport, Illinois. 

December 13, 2010:  West Suburban Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco. 

December 15, 2010:  Will County Reading Council will host Santa Reads at the Joliet Library, 3395 Black Road, Joliet, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Deborah Augsburger.

December 17, 2010:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) is accepting original manuscripts About the Beautiful Communities of Illinois, an ABC Book Created for Illinois Students, By Illinois Students.  The specifications and timeline for the project are available online.  Please notify Roxanne Owens if you plan to submit a manuscript and for further details about the project.

December 18, 2010:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Read with Santa from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Warren Township Public Library, 210 Burnett Avenue, Warren, Illinois. 

January

January 1, 2011:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) is accepting nominations for the  Gene Cramer ICARE for Reading Award for an outstanding educatior who shows concern for the affective domain of reading and who strives to promote lifelong reading habits among students.  The award will be presented at the IRC Conference in March 2011. 

January 10, 2011:  South Eastern Reading Council will host an IRC Grant Writing Workshop and Conference Preview Pizza Party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the at the Olney Public Library, 400 W. Main, Olney, Illinois.  This is a FREE event for SERC members and $5 for non-members.

January 11, 2011:  Illinois Valley Reading Council will host Thinking Outside the Box! from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Alpha Park Library, 3527 S. Airport Road, Bartonville, Illinois.  This a FREE event for Illinois Valley members!

January 13, 2011:  Chicago Area Reading Association will hold a board meeting from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  The meeting will be a conference call-in meeting.  For more information, please contact Amy Zaher.

January 14, 2011: IRC Executive Committee Meeting, IRC Office.

January 15, 2011: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Holiday Inn & Suites, Bloomington, Illinois. For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or phone at 1-888-454-1341.

January 15, 2011: IRC deadline for Static Stick Decal Contest application.

January 15, 2011: IRC ballots are mailed to IRC members.

January 15, 2011:  Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will hold a board meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 3202 East Empire, Bloomington, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Susanne Riddell or Ann Peters. 

January 19, 2011:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will host the Writing Extended Response for Math & Reading with Patricia Braun at 6:00 p.m. at the Carterville Public Library, 117 South Division Street, Carterville, Illinois.  This is a FREE event! 

January 24, 2011:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

January 24, 2011:  West Suburban Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco. 

January 26, 2011:  South Suburban Reading Council will host All Things Literacy with Kellie Doubek at 5:00 p.m. at Orland Chateau, 14500 LaGrange Road, Orland Park, Illinois.  Registration will be $22 per person. 

January 27, 2011:  Prairie Area Reading Council will host a Wine Tasting and Book Talk with Anderson's Bookshop from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Lisle Hilton Hotel, 3003 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, Illinois. Registration is $15 for PARC members, $18 for non-members, and $10 for students. 

January 27-28, 2011:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host a Scholastic 1/2 Price Book Sale at the Capital Area Career Center, 2201 Toronto Road, Springfield, Illinois.  On Thursday and Friday, the book sale will be open from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This event is FREE for all! CIRC is looking for volunteers to work at the book sale and these volunteers are paid $10 an hour in books! If you are interested, please contact us at circ@illinoisreadingcouncil.org.

January 31, 2011:  Illini Reading Council will host Books and Technology for the Reluctant Reader from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green Street, Champaign, Illinois. 

February

February 1, 2011:  Macon County Reading Council will host Independent Reading:  What Really Matters to Struggling Readers with Crystal Anderson at 4:15 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main Street, Decatur, Illinois. 

February 5, 2011:  West Suburban Reading Council and Concordia University will co-sponsor the 35th Annual Reading Conference from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Concordia University, 7400 Augusta Street, River Forest, Illinois.  

February 8, 2011:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will host the TAR - Teachers as Readers book discussion group.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

February 8, 2011:  Vermilion Valley Reading Council will host Tradebooks for Social Studies with Ronda Brown from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Jocko's, 305 W. Williams Street, Danville, Illinois. 

February 10, 2011:  Chicago Area Reading Association will hold a board meeting from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Boundless Readers, 5153 N. Clark, Room 300, Chicago, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Amy Zaher. 

February 15, 2011: IRC Officers, Committee Chairs, Regional Directors submit reports for the Annual Meeting to IRC Office.

February 15, 2011: IRC ballots must be returned to IRC Office.

February 19, 2011:  Blackhawk Reading Council will host Wine, Dine, Share A Line at 11:00 a.m. at the Lavender Crest Winery, 5401 US Highway 6, Colona, Illinois. 

February 19, 2011:  Chicago Area Reading Association will host a Winter Conference, Charting Our Own Path to Literacy, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Cuffe Elementary School, 8324 S. Racine, Chicago, Illinois.  Registration is $25. 

February 22, 2011:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting at 5:00 p.m. at Mackie's Pizza, 2704 Walton Way, Marion, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Pam Rich Gawrych.  

February 26, 2011:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host QAR is for Adolescents, Too! with Taffy Raphael from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel, 7800 South Kingery Highway, Willowbrook, Illinois.

February 28, 2011:  West Suburban Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco. 

March

March 1, 2011: IRC deadline for submitting information for the May IRC Communicator. Please send your information to the IRC Office.

March 1, 2011: IRA Celebrate Literacy Award verifications are due.

March 1, 2011: IRA Award of Excellence materials to IRA are due.

March 1, 2011: IRC Council of Excellence Award requirements are due to Roberta Sejnost, IRA State Coordinator.

March 1, 2011: IRA Honor Council materials are due to IRA.

March 1, 2011: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

March 3, 2011:  Vermilion Valley Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Red Lobster, 3217 Vermilion Street, Danville, Illinois. 

March 5, 2011:  Starved Rock Reading Council will participate in the Dr. Suess-a-thon from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Peru Mall, 1607 36th Street, Peru, Illinois.  This is a FREE event! 

March 10, 2011:  Lake Area Reading Council will host an event with Donald Bear.  More details will be available soon.  For more information, please contact Laura Kazmer or  Kira Coate.

March 14, 2011:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host 6+1 Trait Writing from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at King School, 1018 S. Farnham Street, Galesburg, Illinois.  Registration is $2 for WIRC members, $5 for non-members, and $2 for students.

March 15, 2011:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host an Author Visit with David Schwartz from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  More details will be available soon. This event is FREE for CIRC members and $5.00 for non-members (unless joining that night)!

March 17-19, 2011: IRC Conference in Springfield, Illinois. Come explore Literacy Outside the Box! in the 2011 Conference Preview with the many award-winning authors and prominent literacy leaders who will help you find literacy in new places.  Registration and housing will be available in October 2010!

March 17, 2011:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) will host the ICARE Strand at the 2011 IRC Conference, Springfield, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Roxanne Owens. 

March 18, 2011: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Springfield, Illinois.

March 18, 2011: IRC will announce election results.

March 18, 2011:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) will hold the CIRP Breakfast Meeting from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. at the 2011 IRC Conference, Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Freeport C, 701 East Adams Street Springfield, Illinois. 

March 18, 2011:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) will hold a Business Meeting followed by a speaker from ISBE from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. at the 2011 IRC Conference, Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Freeport B, 701 East Adams Street Springfield, Illinois. 

March 18, 2011:  Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will host the ITA Strand from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the 2011 IRC Conference, Springfield Hilton Hotel, Vista 123 Rooms, Springfield, Illinois. For more information, please contact Susanne Riddell or Ann Peters. 

March 18, 2011:  Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will hold a board meeting from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the at the 2011 IRC Conference, Springfield Hilton Hotel, Vista 2-3 Room, Springfield, Illinois. For more information, please contact Susanne Riddell or Ann Peters. 

March 18, 2011:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host a Secondary Strand of Literacy Presentations at the 2011 IRC Conference, Springfield Hilton Hotel, 700 East Adams Street, Springfield, Illinois. For more information, please contact Donna Monti. 

March 18, 2011:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) and the Illinois Reading Council are co-hosting Barry Lane's Literacy Cabaret:  An Inspiring Night of Singing, Dancing, and Clean, Comic Fun that Celebrates Teachers from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m. at the 2011 IRC Conference at the Springfield Hilton Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 700 East Adams Street, Springfield, Illinois.   The cost will be $10 with your IRC Conference Early Registration or $15 at the door/after February 1, 2011. 

March 22, 2011:  Macon County Reading Council will host an event with Illinois Author Kim Hutmacher at 4:15 p.m. at 4:15 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main Street, Decatur, Illinois.

March 22, 2011:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting at 5:00 p.m. at Tres Hombre, 119 North Washington Street, Carbondale, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Pam Rich Gawrych.

March 22, 2011:  South Suburban Reading Council will host Help Readers Love Reading with Brian Wilhorn at 5:00 p.m. at Balagio's Restaurant, 17501 Dixie Highway, Homewood, Illinois.  Registration will be $26 per person.  

April

April 1, 2011: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

April 7, 2011:  Chicago Area Reading Association will host a Spring Dinner Conference from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Midway Marriott, 6520 South Cicero Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  Registration is $40 for CARA members and $45 for non-members.  

April 7, 2011:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Spring Fling from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Kingsley Junior High School, 303 Kingsley, Normal, Illinois.

April 7, 2011:  Mississippi Valley Reading Council will host Laugh(ture) and Literature with Boomer Crotty from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Quincy University, 1800 College Avenue, Quincy, Illinois. 

April 9, 2011:  Illini Reading Council and Vermilion Valley Reading Council will co-host the Academic Vocabulary and Comprehension Strategies in the Content area Classroom from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois.  

April 9, 2011:  West Suburban Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco. 

April 9, 2011:  West Suburban Reading Council will host Fairytale Legal Eagle with Donna Stone from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  The location will be announced soon.  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco. 

April 11, 2011:  South Eastern Reading Council will host a Membership Appreciation and Stop that Summer Slide event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Ophelia's Cup, 205 S. Whittle Avenue, Olney, Illinois. This is a FREE event for SERC members and $5 for non-members.

April 12, 2011:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will host the TAR - Teachers as Readers book discussion group.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

April 12, 2011:  Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host Famous Fossil Vineyard Spring Meeting at 6:00 p.m. at the Famous Fossil Vineyard, 395 West Cedarville Road, Freeport, Illinois.

April 13, 2011:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host a Member Appreciation Day:  Book Talk with Pamela Godt from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the New Copperfield's Bookstore, 120 North Side Square, Macomb, Illinois.  Registration is $2 for WIRC members, $5 for non-members, and $2 for students. 

April 15, 2011: IRC Council Officer lists are due to the IRC Office and the International Reading Association. 

April 16, 2011:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will host a Spring Membership Event.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

April 20, 2011:  Prairie Area Reading Council with host Fluency:  How We Went Wrong and Differentiated Interventions for Six Reader Types with Jerry Johns from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Marquardt D15 District Office, 1860 North Glen Ellyn Road, Glendale Heights, Illinois.   Registration is $15 for PARC members, $18 for non-members, and $10 for students.

April 20, 2011:  Starved Rock Reading Council will host the Young Authors Celebration from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort, 2643 North IL Route 178, Utica, Illinois.  Registration is $15 per attendee. 

April 20, 2011:  Starved Rock Reading Council will host the Spring Dinner and Meeting from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort, 2643 North IL Route 178, Utica, Illinois.

April 26, 2011:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will host a Spring Celebration at 6:00 p.m. at the Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois.  This is a FREE event!

April 29, 2011: IRC Executive Committee Meeting, IRC Office.

April 30, 2011: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Holiday Inn & Suites, Bloomington, Illinois. For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or phone at 1-888-454-1341.

April 30, 2011:  Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will hold a board meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 3202 East Empire, Bloomington, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Susanne Riddell or Ann Peters. 

April 2011:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host a Book Talk with Jan Dundon from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, 131 W. Jefferson Avenue, Naperville, Illinois.  Registration is $20 for SRL members, $30 for non-members, and $35 at the door.   

May

May 1, 2011: IRC Literacy Support Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2011: IRC International Literacy Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2011: IRC Council Relief Grants are due.

May 2, 2011:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

May 7, 2011:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host a Young Author's Celebration from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Western Illinois University, Horrabin Hall, Macomb, Illinois. Registration is $2 for WIRC members, $5 for non-members, and $2 for students. 

May 8-11, 2011: International Reading Association will host the 56th Annual IRA Convention, The Power of Literacy, in Orlando, Florida.  To find out more about this exciting convention, check out the Annual Convention section at www.reading.org.

May 14, 2011:  West Suburban Reading Council will host Read Alouds and Summer Reading Sugguestions and Local Summer Excursions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.   The location will be announced soon.  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco.

May 21, 2011:  Illinois Language & Literacy Council (ILLC), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and IRC will cosponsor the 37th Annual Illinois Young Authors' Conference at Illinois Statue University in Normal, Illinois.  The 2011 Guidelines and Registration packets will be available in late October/November.  For more information or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Christina Podraza.

June

June 1, 2011: IRC Committee members submission of names are due to Cindy Wilson, President-Elect.

June 1, 2011: IRC Council Program (Speaker) Grant applications are due.

June 1, 2011: IRC deadline for submitting information for the August IRC Communicator. Please submit your information to the IRC Office.

June 9, 2011:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Summer Conference with Candace Fleming & Cindy Georgis.  More details will be available at a later date.  For more information, please contact Liz Luering. 

June 10, 2011: IRC Prairie State Award nominations are due.

June 10, 2011:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will host a Summer Conference.  For more information, please contact Kim McKenna. 

June 13, 2011:  West Suburban Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact Marlene Panebianco.

June 23-24, 2011:  Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will host the Summer Teacher Renewal Conference on RtI with Richard Allington from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Chicago North Shore, 5300 West Touhy Avenue, Skokie, Illinois.

July

July 1, 2011: IRC Officers take office.

July 5, 2011: IRC Executive Committee Meeting is tentatively scheduled. For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or phone at 1-888-454-1341.

July 6-8, 2011: IRC Leadership Retreat at Grand Bear Lodge & Resort in Starved Rock, Utica. Local Council Officers, State Committee Chairs, Regional Directors, and Executive Officers will attend a comprehensive training and team-building workshop. Please watch your mail for registration materials. Contact your local council leaders for information on how you can be more involved in your local council.

August

Submit your activities to the Illinois Reading Council at:  webmaster@illinoisreadingcouncil.org.  

If you host an event and would like to share IRC informational brochures and/or other materials, please contact the IRC at:  IRCmaterials@illinoisreadingcouncil.org.