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

 January

January 6, 2021:  IRC Webinar on Dark, Absurd Humor...for Dark, Absurd Times with Crystal Chan.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

January  12, 2021:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host Making Assessments that Matter with Kim Marshall from 4:00 to 6:00 pm via Zoom.  Register today to join SRL as they discuss how using assessments and assessment data correctly is the key to addressing three equity isues.

January 14, 2021:  Will County Reading Council will host an Author Discussion with Joelle Charbonneau on her latest book, Disclose, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via a virtual platform.  Register today.

January 15, 2021: IRC election ballot sent to IRC members.

January 15, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will close registration for the IRC Book Club.

January 15, 2021:  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.

January 20, 2021:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host the monthly CIRC Book Chats on alternating professional books and literature topics from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via Zoom.  Following the discussion, participants are asked to share a reflective response of the topic.

January 21, 2021:  Prairie Area Reading Council will host the Book Gossip with Kathleen March from 6:15 to 7:30 pm via Zoom.

January 25, 2021:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Maslow Before Bloom - Whatever It Takes with Bryan Pearlman from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.

January 29, 2021: IRC Executive Committee Meeting will be held online via Go to Meeting.

January 30, 2021: IRC Board of Directors Meeting will be held online via Go to Meeting.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

February

February 1, 2021: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

March

March 1, 2021: ILA Celebrate Literacy Award verifications are due.

March 1, 2021: IRC Officers, Committee Chairs, Regional Directors - Submit Officer, Committee Chair, and Director reports for Annual Meeting to the IRC Office.

March 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021: Macon County Reading Council will host Literacy and Technology Lesson Sharing via Google Classroom.

March 3, 2021:  IRC Webinar on The Power of Wordless Picture Books with Matthew Cordell.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

March 11, 2021:  Will County Reading Council will host the Spring PD Event from 5:00 to 8:30 pm at Lewis University, 1 University Parkway, University Dining Room, Romeoville, Illinois.

March 13, 2021:  Illinois Reads Book Festival is currently being planned as a virtual event.  Final plans will be coming soon.

March 17, 2021:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host the monthly CIRC Book Chats on alternating professional books and literature topics from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via Zoom.  Following the discussion, participants are asked to share a reflective response of the topic.

March 22, 2021:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host A Fresh Look at Phonics with Wiley Belvins from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.

April

April 1, 2021: IRC  Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

April 7, 2021:  IRC Webinar on The Literacy Lessons I Learned from Hamilton with Penny Kittle.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

April 15, 2021: IRC Council Officer and Committee Representatives are due to the IRC Office.

May

May 1, 2021: IRC Literacy Support Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2021: IRC International Literacy Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2021:  IRC Early-Career Teacher Recruitment Program applications are due.

May 1, 2021: IRC Council Relief Grants are due.

June

June 1, 2021: IRC Council Program (Speaker) Grant applications are due.

June 2, 2021:  IRC Webinar on Literacy as the Foundation of Democracy and Justice with Samira Ahmed.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

June 15, 2021: IRC Prairie State Award nominations are due.

June 15, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will close registration for the IRC Book Club.

July

July 1, 2021: IRC Officers take office.

July 6, 2021: IRC Executive Committee Meeting will be held at the IRC Leadership Retreat. For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or phone at 1-888-454-1341.

July 7, 2021: IRC Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the IRC Leadership Retreat.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

July 7-8, 2021: IRC Leadership Retreat will be held at the Grand Bear Resort in Utica, Illinois.  Local Council Officers, State Committee Chairs, Regional Directors, and Executive Officers will have access to a comprehensive training and team-building workshop series.  Please watch your email for more information.  Contact your local council leaders for information on how you can be more involved in your local council.

August

September

September 1, 2021: IRC Program Proposals for 2022 IRC Conference due to IRC Office.

September 1, 2021: IRC Councils submit the Membership Grant to the IRC Membership Director.

September 1, 2021: IRC Councils order supplies for the Illinois Reads Family Literacy Night.

September 1, 2021: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Fall IRC Communicator.   Please send your information to the IRC Office.

September 8, 2021: International Literacy Day is being celebrated by IRC.

October

October 1, 2021: IRC Nomination for IRC Vice President, Secretary, & Director of Membership due to the IRC Past President.

October 1, 2021: IRC Councils submit the Council of Excellence Award requirements to the ILA State Coordinator.

October 4, 2021:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) is accepting applications for Student Conference Stipends for education majors who attend the 2021 IRC Conference.  Applicants must be full-time education majors attending a college or university in Illinois.  Winners will be notified by email by October 11th.

October 15, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will close registration for the IRC Book Club.

October 19-20, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will host the 53rd Annual IRC Conference, Rockin' Through the Pages, in Springfield, Illinois.  Please take a moment to peruse the online Conference Preview!  Registration and housing will reopen online on August 15, 2020.

October 19-20, 2021:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) will host the ICARE Strand at the IRC Conference.

October 19-20, 2021: Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host an IRC Strand at the IRC Conference.

October 19, 2021:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) will host the CIRP Reception and Board Meeting at the IRC Conference.

October 20, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will hold the Annual Membership Meeting at the IRC Conference.

November

November 1, 2021: IRC nominations for Hall of Fame Award and IRC Service Award are due.

November 1, 2021: IRC applications for Barack Obama Library Award are due.

November 1, 2021: IRC deadline for Family Literacy Award and R.E.A.D. Grant applications. 

November 1, 2021: IRC deadline for Jerry Johns Reading Educator of the Year Award application. 

November 1, 2021: IRC deadline for Pamela J. Farris Rural Library Award application.

November 1, 2021: IRC deadline for Taglieri Boys Classroom Library Award application.

November 1, 2021: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

November 1, 2021: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Winter IRC Communicator. Please submit your information to the IRC Office.

November 12, 2021: IRC Executive Committee Meeting will be held online via Go to Meeting.

November 13, 2021: IRC Board of Directors Meeting will be held online via Go to Meeting.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

November 15, 2021: IRC Councils deadline to submit the Council Audit Form.

November 15, 2021: IRC Councils deadline to submit the IRS e-Postcards.

November 18, 2021:  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, 2021: ILA Exemplary Reading Program Award deadline.

December

December 1, 2021: IRC deadline for Council Program (Speakers) Grant applications.

December 15, 2021: ILA Honor Council materials are due electronically to ILA. 

December 15, 2021: ILA Local Council Community Service Award submissions are due.

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.