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

April

April 1, 2018: IRC  Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

April 1, 2018: Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host a Twitter Chat from 7:00-8:00 pm.  The Twitter Chat will be held monthly from 7:00-8:00 pm at #SRLedChat.  The focus will be literacy in the classroom and will be relevant to elementary and secondary teachers.

April 4, 2018:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Donalyn Miller on Unlocking Opportunities with Access to Books:  Game Changer for Kids.  One clock hour can be earned.  To register, contact the IRC Office.

April 4, 2018:  Lake Area Reading Council will host Wired Wednesday with LARC to correspond with IRC's Wired Wednesday Webinar on Access Books wiht Donalynn Miller at Gavin Central School, 36414 N Ridge Ave, Ingelside, Illinois.

April 7, 2018:  East Central-EIU Reading Council will host a Literacy, Technology, and Learning Conference with Colleen Sexton from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm at Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Hall, Charleston, Illinois.

April 10, 2018: Prairie Area Reading Council (PARC) will host I See What You’re Saying with Roxanne Owens from 4:45pm – 7:00 pm at Maplebrook School, 1630 Warbler Drive, Naperville, Illinois.  Registration is $25 for PARC members and $40 for non-members.

April 11, 2018:  Lewis and Clark Reading Council will host a Spring Fling Invigorate! Inspire! Involve! Creating an Affirmative Classroom Environment through Team Building Activities Gr 2-12 with Patti Tylka at 5:30 pm at Eckerts, 951 S. Green Mt Rd, Belleville, Illinois.

April 11, 2018: Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will host a Board Meeting from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Location information will be available soon.

April 12, 2018: Two Rivers Reading Council will host Pampered Professionals at 5:00 pm at Olivet Nazarene University Weber Center, Bourbonnais, Illinois.  Free to members and $5 for non-members.

April 12, 2018: Illini Reading Council will host Abuse, Prevention, and Supporting Students in the Classroom Presentation. Information on time and location will be available soon.

April 13, 2018: IRC Executive Committee Meeting at the IRC Office.

April 14, 2018: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Holiday Inn & Suites, 3202 East Empire Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

April 14, 2018: Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will hold a Board Meeting at 1:00 pm at Holiday Inn and Suites in Bloomington, Illinois.

April 15, 2018: IRC Council Officer and Committee Representatives are due to the IRC Office.

April 17, 2018: MID-State Reading Council will host Revisiting Dyslexia with Lou Ferroli from 4:30 to 7:30 pm at Chiddix Junior High School, 300 S. Walnut Street, Normal, Illinois. 

April 19, 2018: Macon County Reading Council will host Math and Mirth with Boomer Crotty from 4:15 to 6:15 pm at Decatur Public Library, N Franklin St and E Main Street, Decatur, Illinois. Free to Members and $10 for Non Members.

April 19, 2018:  South Suburban Reading Council will host an Event with Dr. Shaniqua Jones from 5:30-8:00 pm at Papa Joe's Italian Restaurant, 14459 South La Grange Road, Orland Park, Illinois

April 21, 2018: Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host Expanding Your Literacy Toolkit, Part 3:  Engaging Students through Technology with Nick Giacobbe from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at Clissold School, 2350 W 110th Place, Chicago, Illinois.  Registration is $50 for CARA members, $75 for non-members, and $35 for Preservice Teachers.

April 21, 2018: Northern Illinois Reading Council (NIRC) will host a Board Meeting at 9:00 am at Panera, 2476 Sycamore Rd, DeKalb, Illinois.

April 21, 2018: MID-State Reading Council will host a Barnes and Noble Book Fair during Educator's Discount Week from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at Barnes and Noble Bookstore, 1701 E Empire, Bloomington, Illinois.

April 23, 2018: West Suburban Reading Council will host Personalized Learning Event by Hannah Barry from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  The event location will be available soon.

April 24, 2018: Southern Illinois Reading Council (SIRC) will host Spring Celebrations from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S Illinois Ave, Carbondale, Illinois.

April 24, 2018: Sauk Valley Reading Council will host a Book Study of Passionate Readers by Pernille Ripp from 3:30 to 4:30 pm at Sauk Valley Community College, 173 IL-2, Dixon, Illinois.

April 24, 2018: Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host the Spring YA Book Talk with Anderson's Bookstore at 5:30 pm at Lou Malnati's, 131 W. Jefferson, Naperville, Illinois. Register early as seating is limited!

April 26, 2018: Starved Rock Reading Council will host a Young Authors Event at Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Lodge, 2643 IL Rt 178 Grand Bear, North Utica, Illinois.  The event will feature Illinois Reads Authors Julia Durango, Janet Nolan, and Peter Kujawinski.

April 28, 2018: College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) will host Preparing Today's Students and Ourselves for Tomorrow's World of Education with Laura Beltchenko from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at Roosevelt University Schaumburg Campus, Room 126, 1400 North Roosevelt Boulevard, Schaumburg, Illinois.

May

May 1, 2018: IRC Literacy Support Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2018: IRC International Literacy Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2018:  IRC Early-Career Teacher Recruitment Program applications are due.

May 1, 2018: IRC Council Relief Grants are due.

May 2, 2018:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Marilee Sprenger on Unlocking Opportunities through Direct Vocabulary Instruction.  One clock hour can be earned.  To register, contact the IRC Office.

May 5, 2018:  Lake Area Reading Council will host Lit Camp for Teachers from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm at Woodland Intermediate School, 1115 N Hunt Club Road, Gurnee, Illinois.

May 6, 2018: Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host a Twitter Chat from 7:00-8:00 pm.  The Twitter Chat will be held monthly from 7:00-8:00 pm at #SRLedChat.  The focus will be literacy in the classroom and will be relevant to elementary and secondary teachers.

May 10, 2018: Macon County Reading Council will host Member Appreciation and Networking Event from 4:15 pm– 6:15 pm at Lock, Stock, and Barrel, 129 S Oakland St, Decatur, Illinois.  This is a free event.

May 14, 2018: Central Illinois Reading Council (CIRC) will host a Board Meeting from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Location information will be available soon.

May 19, 2018: Illinois Language and Literacy Council (ILLC) will host a Illinois Young Author’s Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Normal Community West High School, Normal, Illinois.  Registration and event information is available on the ILLC webpage. 

May 22, 2018: Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will host a Board Meeting from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.  Location information will be available soon.

May 2018: National Road Reading Council will host a Wine Down Book Talk at the Tuscan Hills Winery,  2200 Historic Hills Drive, in Effingham, Illinois.

May 2018: Starved Rock Reading Council will host a PARCC Night in the LaSalle Peru area.  Exact location and time available soon.

June

June 1, 2018: IRC Council Program (Speaker) Grant applications are due.

June 1, 2018: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Fall IRC Communicator. Please submit your information to the IRC Office. 

June 1 – July 30: National Road Reading Council will host an Online Summer Book Club.

June 6, 2018:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Lori Stevens on Unlocking Opportunities to Support Early Literacy Learners.  One clock hour can be earned.  To register, contact the IRC Office.

June 6, 2018: Southern Illinois Reading Council (SIRC) will host a Board Meeting at 5:30 pm at Tres Hombres, 119 N Washington St, Carbondale, Illinois.

June 7, 2018: Lewis and Clark Reading Council will host an Executive Board Meeting.  More details to follow.

June 11-16, 2018: Northern Illinois Reading Council (NIRC) will host a Sycamore Pop-Up Library in Sycamore Park.  Time will be available soon.

June 14, 2018: Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host Wired Wednesdays with Wine, Cheese, and Conversation to correspond to IRC’s Wired Wednesday Webinars, from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm at Grace Educational Resources, 2705 North Ave, Chicago, Illinois.

June 14, 2018: Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will host a Summer Conference featuring Kylene Beers and Bob Probst from 7:30 am – 3:15 pm at the Holiday Inn Skokie, 5300 Touhy Avenue, Skokie, Illinois.  Cost is $125 for SCIRA members, $170 for non-members, $75 for Preservice Teachers.

June 27, 2018: Lewis and Clark Reading Council will host EdCamp from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm at Lindenwood University-Belleville, 2600 W. Main Street, Belleville, Illinois.

June 27, 2018: Lewis and Clark Reading Council will host an Executive Board Meeting following EdCamp.

June, 2018: Will County Reading Council will host Wine and Pine, a Post PARCC Party at 2401 Joliet Highway, New Lenox, Illinois.  Cost will be $60 and time will be available soon.

July

July 1, 2018: IRC Officers take office.

July 10 2018: IRC Executive Committee Meeting is scheduled. For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or phone at 1-888-454-1341.

July 11, 2018: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, I Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

July 11-12, 2018: IRC Leadership Retreat at I Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois. Local Council Officers, State Committee Chairs, Regional Directors, and Executive Officers will attend a comprehensive training and team-building workshop.  Please watch your email for registration materials.  Contact your local council leaders for information on how you can be more involved in your local council.

July 21-23, 2018: International Literacy Association will host the 63rd Annual Convention in Austin, Texas.  To find out more about this convention, check out the Annual Convention section at www.reading.org.

August

September

September 1, 2018: IRC Councils submit the Council of Excellence Award requirements to the ILA State Coordinator.

September 1, 2018: IRC Councils submit the Membership Grant to the IRC Membership Director.

September 1, 2018: IRC Councils order supplies for the Illinois Reads Family Literacy Night.

September 1, 2018: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Winter IRC Communicator.   Please send your information to the IRC Office.

September 1, 2018: IRC election ballot must be returned to the IRC Office.

September 8, 2018: International Literacy Day is being celebrated by IRC and the International Literacy Association.

September 14, 2018:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) is accepting applications for Student Conference Stipends for education majors who attend the 2018 IRC Conference.  Applicants must be full-time education majors attending a college or university in Illinois.  Up to ten $100 stipends will be awarded.  Winners will be notified by email by September 19th

September 15, 2018: IRC Councils - Sign up for the Hall of Councils Display at the annual IRC Conference.

September 15, 2018: IRC Officers, Committee Chairs, Regional Directors - Submit Officer, Committee Chair, and Director reports for Annual Meeting to the IRC Office.

October

November

November 1, 2018: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

November 9, 2018: IRC Executive Committee Meeting at the IRC Office.

November 10, 2018: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 8 Traders Circle, Normal, Illinois.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

November 10, 2018: Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will hold a Board Meeting at 1:00 pm at Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 8 Traders Circle, Normal, Illinois.

November 15, 2018: IRC Councils deadline to submit the Council Audit Form.

November 15, 2018: IRC Councils deadline to submit the IRS e-Postcards.

November 15, 2018:  Family Reading Night is an annual statewide event sponsored by Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian, and the Illinois Center for the Book at the Illinois State Library that encourages families to spend quality time reading together.  Free bookmarks and posters are available to participating organizations. The IRC’s ILLINOIS READS Program has partnered  with the Secretary of State’s Family Reading Night since 2013.  Plan now to create a Family Reading night program in your area.  For the annual theme, material order forms and programming ideas, visit the Family Reading Night webpage.

November 28, 2018: ILA Exemplary Reading Program Award deadline.

November 30, 2018: Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host the 42nd Day of Reading with Cris Tovani from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, Illinois.

December

December 1, 2018: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Spring IRC Communicator. Please send your information to the IRC Office.

December 1, 2018: IRC deadline for Council Program (Speakers) Grant applications.

December 15, 2018: ILA Honor Council materials are due electronically to ILA. 

December 15, 2018: ILA Local Council Community Service Award submissions are due.

 January

January 15, 2019: IRC Prairie State Award nominations are due.

February

February 1, 2019: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

February 8, 2019: IRC Executive Committee Meeting at the IRC Office.

February 9, 2019: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 8 Traders Circle, Normal, Illinois.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

February 9, 2019: Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will hold a Board Meeting at 1:00 pm at Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 8 Traders Circle, Normal, Illinois.

March

March 1, 2019: IRC Program Proposals for 2019 IRC Conference due to IRC Office.

March 1, 2019: IRC Nomination for IRC Vice President & Secretary due to Janel Sebeny, Nominating Chair.

March 1, 2019: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Summer IRC Communicator. Please send your information to the IRC Office.

March 1, 2019: IRC nominations for Hall of Fame Award and IRC Service Award are due.

March 1, 2019: IRC applications for Barack Obama Library Award are due.

March 1, 2019: IRC deadline for Family Literacy Award application. 

March 1, 2019: IRC deadline for Jerry Johns Reading Educator of the Year Award application. 

March 1, 2019: IRC deadline for Pamela J. Farris Rural Library Award application.

March 1, 2019:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) and IRC are accepting submissions for the Static Stick Decal Design Contest.  Students in grade 4, 5, and 6 are encouraged to create an original design promoting reading.  The winning design is printed on static stick decals.

March 1, 2019:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) is accepting nominations for the Gene Cramer ICARE for Reading Award to honor an outstanding educator who shows concern for the affective domain of reading and who strives to promote lifelong reading habits among students.  The award will be given at the annual IRC conference.

March 1, 2019: ILA Celebrate Literacy Award verifications are due

March 2019:  Illinois Reads Launch and Book Festival will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Waukegan High School, 2325 Brookside Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois.  Everyone is invited to the launch of the 2019 Illinois Reads program.  Many authors will be present, bring your books, and have them autographed at this event!  Books will also be available for purchase from Anderson's Bookshops.

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.