Illinois Reading Council

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

September

September 1, 2019: IRC Councils submit the Council of Excellence Award requirements to the ILA State Coordinator.

September 1, 2019: IRC Councils submit the Membership Grant to the IRC Membership Director.

September 1, 2019: IRC Councils order supplies for the Illinois Reads Family Literacy Night.

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

September 1, 2019: IRC election ballot must be returned to the IRC Office.

September 4, 2019:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Timothy Rasinski on Why Reading Fluency Matters.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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.

September 7, 2019:  Western Illinois Reading Council will celebrate International Literacy Day from 10:00 - 11:00 am at the Libraries in Moumouth, Macomb, Galesburg, and Bushnell in Illinois.

September 8, 2019: International Literacy Day is being celebrated by IRC.

September 9, 2019:  West Suburban Reading Council will host a Meet & Greet:  Establishing a PLC for WSRC from 4:30 - 7:00 pm at Jim & Pete's Restaurant, 7806 W. North Avenue, Elmwood Park, Illinois.

September 12, 2019: Central Illinois Reading Council will host CIRC in the Spotlight from 4:30 - 6:30 pm at Cousin Eddies, 1951 W. Monroe Street, Springfield, Illinois.

September 12, 2019:  Two Rivers Reading Council will host a Dodge Ball Membership Drive at 5:00 pm at the Manteno Church of the Nazarene, 698 N Locust Street, Manteno, Illinois. The cost to register is $24 per team.  THIS EVENT WAS CANCELED!

September 12, 2019:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host a YA Roundtable Book Talk event from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Barbara’s Bookstore, 720 Center Drive, Vernon Hills, Illinois. You can register for the YA Roundtable online. See SRL’s website for more information.

September 13, 2019:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) is accepting applications for Student Conference Stipends for education majors who attend the 2019 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 13, 2019: Lake Area Reading Council will host a Membership Drive from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Vine, 101 Center St, Grayslake, Illinois.  This is a free event.

September 15, 2019: IRC Councils - Sign up for the Hall of Councils Display at the annual IRC Conference.

September 15, 2019: IRC Officers, Committee Chairs, Regional Directors - Submit Officer, Committee Chair, and Director reports for Annual Meeting to the IRC Office.

September 16, 2019:  Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host a Sample of the New Global Read Aloud Selections from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the Chicago Literacy Alliance, 641 W Lake St #200, Chicago, Illinois.  Register online today.

September 17, 2019:  East Central-EIU Reading Council will host a Classroom Management Panel from 6:00 - 7:00 pm at Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Auditorium, 1920 9th Street, Charleston, Illinois.

September 17, 2019:  MID-State Reading Council will have a board meeting at 4:30 pm, Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.

September 17, 2019:  National Road Reading Council will host You "Donut" Want to Miss at 4:30 pm at Effingham Public Library, 200 N. 3rd Street, Effingham, Illinois.

September 17, 2019: South Suburban Reading Council will host Heifer Read to Feed Program and Ice Cream Social Book Drive from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at South Cook ISC 4, 253 W Joe Orr Rd, Chicago Heights, Illinois.  Plan to bring books to exchange.

September 19, 2019:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Book Talk Fiesta beginning at 6:30 pm, Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  Cost is free for Illinois Reading Council members and $10.00 for non-members.

September 19, 2019:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will host Namaste in Bed and Read: A Night of Yoga and Literacy with Pat Braun from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Starview Vineyard, 5100 Wing Hill Road, Cobden, Illinois. A board meeting will be held prior to the event at 5:15 pm.

September 21, 2019: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Fall Book Talk with Kathleen March from Anderson's Bookshops and Bert Crossland from Heinemann Publishing.   The event will be held from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm at Williamsburg Elementary, 1812 Williamsburg Ave, Geneva, Illinois.

September 24, 2019: East Central-EIU Reading Council will host Literature and Art Paint Night with Pat Braun from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Auditorium, 1920 9th Street, Charleston, Illinois.

September 25, 2019: Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will host a Fall Conference on Conferring with Writers featuring Carl Anderson from 4:00 – 8:15 pm at Chippewa Middle School, 123 N 8th Ave, Des Plaines, Illinois.

September 26, 2019:  South Eastern Reading Council will host Breath In-Laugh Out with Pat Braun at 5:00 pm at Coco's Cafe, 606 13th Street, Lawrenceville, Illinois.

October

October 1, 2019:  Macon County Reading Council will host the Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog Book Study until December 31, 2019.

October 3-4, 2019:  Illinois Reading Council will host the 52nd Annual IRC Conference, Literacy in the Spotlight, in Peoria, Illinois.  Please take a moment to peruse the online Conference Preview!  Registration and housing will open online on April 15, 2019.

October 3-4, 2019:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) will host the ICARE Strand at the IRC Conference at the Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, Illinois.

October 3-4, 2019: Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host an IRC Strand at the IRC Conference at the Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois.

October 3, 2019:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) will host the CIRP Reception and Board Meeting from 5:15 - 6:15 pm at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 501 Main Street, Peoria, Illinois.

October 4, 2019:  Illinois Reading Council will hold the Annual Membership Meeting at the 2019 IRC Conference.  The election results will also be announced. 

October 4, 2019: Illinois Title 1 Association (ITA) will host the ITA Strand from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm and Annual ITA Meeting from 3:45-4:45 pm at IRC Conference at the Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, Illinois.

October 6, 2019:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will host a Twitter Chat on Reflections of the IRC Conference from 8:00 - 8:30 pm online.

October 7, 2019:  West Suburban Reading Council will host Literature in Art with Pat Braun and Marianne Stremsterfer from 4:30 - 7:30 pm at St Giles Parish, McDonough Hall-2nd Floor Conference Room, 1101 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois.

October 8, 2019:  National Road Reading Council will host Guiding Readers by Interest Not Level from 4:00 to 5:30 pm at Central Grade School, 3901 South Banker, Effingham, Illinois.

October 8, 2019:  South Eastern Reading Council will hold a board meeting at 4:00 pm.  For more information, please contact the SERC President.

October 9, 2019:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Enrique Feldman on Learning Reimagined:  Embracing the Unknown to Unveil Our Potential.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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.

October 12, 2019: Vermilion Valley Reading Council will host the Author's Fair from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Danville Public Library, 319 N. Vermilion, Danville, Illinois.

October 15, 2019:  Illinois Reading Council will close registration for the Fall 2019 IRC Book Club.

October 15, 2019:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Book Study on Gamechanger by Colby Sharp and Donalynn Miller at 4:30 pm at Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  The fee is simply the cost of the book. A board meeting will be held following the book study at 5:30 pm.

October 15, 2019:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Books and Bingo from 5:30 - 7:00 PM AT Jimmy's Pizza, 379 E. Tompkins Street, Galesburg, Illinois.

October 15, 2019: Will County Reading Council will host the Fall Author Event with Author Jan Spivey Gilchrist from 5:15-8:00 pm at Lewis University, 1 University Pkwy, Romeoville, Illinois.

October 17, 2019:  Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host Reclaiming Personalized Learning featuring Paul France from 5:30 – 8:00 pm at Beethoven Elementary, 25 W 47th Street, Chicago, Illinois. Cost is $40 for members, $85 for non-members, and $20 for students.

October 17, 2019:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will host the 37th Annual NIRC Fall Conference featuring Maria Walther and Brian Tucker from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Northern Illinois University, Holmes Student Center, 340 Carroll Avenue, DeKalb, Illinois.  Prior to October 1st, registration is $45 for members, $70 for non-members, and $5 for preservice teachers.

October 17, 2019: Illinois Title 1 Association (ITA) will host Literature and Laughter Yoga with Pat Braun at 3:30 pm at Irving School, 3501 S. Clinton Avenue, Berwyn, Illinois.  The cost to register is $10.

October 18, 2019: Lake Area Reading Council will host Trivia Night from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Buffalo Wild Wings, 500 E. Rollins Rd, Round Lake Beach, Illinois.

October 18, 2019:  MID-State Reading Council will host Fabulous Favorite Things Friday at 4:00 pm, Desthil Brewery Beer Hall, 1200 Greenbriar Drive, Normal, Illinois.  Please bring a Favorite Teaching Tip/Pen/Idea.

October 19, 2019:  Macon County Reading Council will participate in the 5K Fun Run/Walk at 9:00 am at Fairview Park Pavilion, 2095 W Eldorado Street, Decatur, Illinois.

October 21, 2019: Illini Reading Council will host Playing With Words – Building Vocabulary is all Fun and Games from 4:30 – 7:00 pm at Mahomet High School, 302 W State St, Mahomet, Illinois.  Cost is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

October 2019: Starved Rock Reading Council will host Let’s “Taco” ‘Bout Books from 5:30 – 7:00 pm at the Morris Area Public Library, 604 Liberty St, Morris, Illinois.

November

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

November 6, 2019:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Timothy Shanahan on Teaching Reading with Complex Text.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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.

November 6, 2019:  East Central-EIU Reading Council will host a Family Literacy Night at Lake Crest Elementary, Oakland, Illinois.

November 6, 2019:  Illinois Valley Reading Council will host a special showing of the IRC Wednesday Webinar featuring Timothy Shanahan at 6:00 pm at Morton Cinemas, 2115 South Main Street, Morton, Illinois.

November 6, 2019:  Macon County Reading Council will host Literature and Laughter Yoga with Pat Braun from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at Decatur Public Library, 130 N. Franklin Street, Decatur, Illinois.

November 8, 2019: Prairie Area Reading Council will host Family Fort Night from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at Westmont Public Library, 428 N Cass Ave, Westmont, Illinois.

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

November 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.

November 9, 2019: Vermilion Valley Reading Council will host the Family Reading Night from 3:00 - 4:30 pm at Danville Public Library, 319 N. Vermilion, Danville, Illinois.

November 12, 2019:  South Eastern Reading Council will hold a board meeting at 4:00 pm.  For more information, please contact the SERC President.

November 14, 2019: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Family Reading Night from 6:00-7:00 pm at Aurora Public Library, 101 South River Street, Aurora, Illinois.  Families can choose books to read togetehr from this year's Illinois Reads books.  Enjoy making crafts and take home prizes!

November 14, 2019:  Two Rivers Reading Council will host Let’s Read S’More Family Reading Night at 5:00 pm at Bradley West School, 200 W. State Street, Bradley, Illinois.

November 15, 2019: IRC Councils deadline to submit the Council Audit Form.

November 15, 2019: IRC Councils deadline to submit the IRS e-Postcards.

November 18, 2019: Lake Area Reading Council will host the Disrupting Thinking Book Study until March 15, 2020 online.

November 19, 2019:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Book Study on Gamechanger by Colby Sharp and Donalynn Miller at 4:30 pm at Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  The fee is simply the cost of the book. A board meeting will be held following the book study at 5:30 pm.

November 20, 2019: Lake Area Reading Council will host Professional Book Talks from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at Round Lake Middle School, 2000 Lotus Drive, Round Lake Heights, Illinois.

November 21, 2019:  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 21, 2019:  Sauk Valley Reading Council will host a Family Reading Night at the Dixon Public Library, 221 S. Hennepin Avenue, Dixon, Illinois.

November 22, 2019:  MID-State Reading Council will host Carnival of Reading/Illinois Reads at 6:00 pm.  Location TBD.

November 22, 2019:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host the 43rd Day of Reading featuring Troy Hicks speaking on Digital Diligence:  Building Mindful Practices into a Crowded Curriculum.  The event will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18501 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, Illinois. You can register for the Day of Reading online. See SRL’s website for more information.

November 28, 2019: ILA Exemplary Reading Program Award deadline.

November 2019: Starved Rock Reading Council will host a Book & Wine Tasting from 5:30 – 7:00 pm at the August Hill Winery, 106 Mill St, Utica, Illinois.

November 2019:  West Suburban Reading Council will host a Book Gossip from 4:30 - 8:00 pm at Concordia University-Chicago, 7400 Augusta Street, River Forest, Illinois.

December

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

December 1, 2019: IRC deadline for Council Program (Speakers) Grant applications.

December 4, 2019:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Carol Jago on The Book in Question:  Why and How Reading Is in Crisis.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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.

December 5, 2019:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will host Play with Poetry Holiday Gathering at 6:00 pm at Hunan Village, 710 E. Main Street, Carbondale, Illinois. A board meeting will be held prior to the event at 5:15 pm.

December 7, 2019: Northwestern Illinois Reading Council will host an event at 10:30 am at Mt. Carroll Township Library, 208 N. Main Street, Mt. Carroll, Illinois.

December 10-11, 2019:  Will County Reading Council will host Santa Reads Partnership with the Joliet Public Library – Black Road Branch, 3395 Black Road, Joliet, Illinois from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on December 10 and 9:00 am – 11:00 am on December 11.  This event is free.

December 14, 2019:  National Road Reading Council will host Stories with Santa from 10:00 to 11:00 am at Effingham Public Library, 200 N. 3rd Street, Effingham, Illinois.

December 15, 2019: ILA Honor Council materials are due electronically to ILA. 

December 15, 2019: ILA Local Council Community Service Award submissions are due.

December 2019:  MID-State Reading Council will host Book Showers for Literacy/Toys for Tots.  Date, time and location TBD.  Fee is your time.


 January

January 5, 2020:  Two Rivers Reading Council will host The Wild Card Book Club.  This will be an online format book club.  Cost is the purchase price of the book.

January 12, 2020:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will host a Twitter Chat on Reading Resolutions from 8:00 - 8:30 pm online.

January 13, 2020: South Suburban Reading Council will host GiGi's Playhouse at 4:00 pm in Tinley Park, Illinois. This is an open seminar to share books and programs for children with special needs.

January 14, 2020:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host Student Engagement and Beyond from 6:00 - 8:30 pm at Bella Milano Italian Restaurant, 4525 Wabash Avenue, Springfield, Illinois.

January 15, 2020:  National Road Reading Council will host Membership Perks-Grants and Awards at 4:00 pm on a Facebook Live Event. 

January 21, 2020:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Book Study on Gamechanger by Colby Sharp and Donalynn Miller at 4:30 pm at Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  The fee is simply the cost of the book. A board meeting will be held following the book study at 5:30 pm.

January 22, 2020:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Cornelius Minor on How to Listen to What Students Are Really Communicating.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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 24-25, 2020:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host the 1/2 Price Book Sale at the Capital Area Career Center, 2201 Toronto Road, Springfield, Illinois.  The sale will run from 4:00 - 7:00 pm on Friday and from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday.

January 25, 2020: Suburban Council of IRA (SCIRA) will host a Winter Conference with Maria Nichols from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Chippewa Middle School, 123 N 8th Ave, Des Plaines, Illinois.

January 25, 2020:  Will County Reading Council will host Bowling for Books from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Strike and Spare, 811 Northern Drive, Lockport, Illinois.  Cost is $10.

January 28, 2020: Prairie Area Reading Council will host a Book Gossip with Kathleen March from 5:45 – 8:00 pm at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main St, Downers Grove, Illinois. Cost is free for members and $45 for nonmembers, which includes membership.

January 2020: Starved Rock Reading Council will host Implementing March Madness at Your School.  More details will follow.

February

February 1, 2020: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

February 1, 2020: Lake Area Reading Council will host Speed-Dating Book Talks with the Illinois Reads Books from 9:00 - 11:00 am at Lake Zurich District Administration Center, 832 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, Illinois.

February 1, 2020:  National Road Reading Council will host National Read Aloud Day at 10:00 am at Effingham Public Library, 200 N. 3rd Street, Effingham, Illinois.

February 5, 2020:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Becky Anderson on Discovering the 2020 Illinois Reads Books.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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.

February 7, 2020: IRC Executive Committee Meeting at the IRC Office.

February 8, 2020: 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 11, 2020:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Book Study on Gamechanger by Colby Sharp and Donalynn Miller at 4:30 pm at Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  The fee is simply the cost of the book. A board meeting will be held following the book study at 5:30 pm.

February 11, 2020:  Southern Illinois Reading Council will host Picture Book Palooza from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Mackie's Pizza, 2704 Walton Way, Marion, Illinois. A board meeting will be held following the event at 7:30 pm.

February 13, 2020: Illini Reading Council and Vermilion Valley Reading Council will co-host Maslow Meet Bloom: Bridging SEL Needs and Literacy Standards from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Edison Middle School, 306 W Green St, Champaign, Illinois. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

February 13, 2020:  MID-State Reading Council will host Teacher Trivia at 4:00 pm, Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  Cost is $5.00 per person.

February 22, 2020: Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host ABCs of Social Emotional Learning with Linda Pincham from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Chicago Literacy Alliance, 641 W Lake St #200, Chicago, Illinois.

February 22, 2020:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Developing A Love of Literacy from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at Western Illinois University, Horrabin Hall, 1 Univeristy Circle, Macomb, Illinois.

February 26, 2020:  Macon County Reading Council will host Guided Drama by Drama Donna from from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at Decatur Public Library, 130 N. Franklin Street, Decatur, Illinois.

February 29, 2020:  East Central-EIU Reading Council and National Road Reading Councill will host the Leap into Literacy and Learning Conference featuring Barb Rosenstock from 8:15 am to 12:20 pm at Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Auditorium, 1920 9th Street, Charleston, Illinois.

February 29, 2020: Fox Valley Reading Council will host Beat the Winter Blues with Our Literature & Art Paint Night with Pat Braun & Marianne Stremsterfer from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm at Williamsburg Elementary, 1812 Williamsburg Ave, Geneva, Illinois.

March

March 1, 2020: IRC Program Proposals for IRC Conference due to IRC Office.

March 1, 2020: IRC Nomination for IRC Vice President & Tresurer due to Priscilla Dwyer, Nominating Chair.

March 1, 2020: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Summer IRC Communicator. Please send your information to the IRC Office.

March 1, 2020: IRC nominations for Hall of Fame Award and IRC Service Award are due.

March 1, 2020: IRC applications for Barack Obama Library Award are due.

March 1, 2020: IRC deadline for Family Literacy Award and R.E.A.D. Grant applications. 

March 1, 2020: IRC deadline for Jerry Johns Reading Educator of the Year Award application. 

March 1, 2020: IRC deadline for Pamela J. Farris Rural Library Award application.

March 1, 2020: IRC deadline for Taglieri Boys Classroom Library Award application.

March 1, 2020:  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, 2020:  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, 2020: ILA Celebrate Literacy Award verifications are due.

March 4, 2020:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Maria Walther on A Workshop Where Innovation & Imagination Intersect.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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 5, 2020:  Illinois Valley Reading Council will host an event with Anderson's Bookshops at 5:30 So Chic, 111 W. Washington Street, Morton, Illinois.

March 5, 2020:  Will County Reading Council will host PD Event with Laurie Elish Piper from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Lewis University, 1 University Pkwy, Romeoville, Illinois.

March 7, 2020: Lake Area Reading Council will host Literature and Laughter Yoga from 9:00 - 11:00 am at at Lake Zurich District Administration Center, 832 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, Illinois.

March 14, 2020:  Illinois Reads Book Festival will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Illinois Valley Community College, 815 North Orlando Smith Road, Oglesby, Illinois.  Everyone is invited to the celebration of the 2020 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.

March 24, 2020: Prairie Area Reading Council will host a STEM Make & Take at Meadowview Elementary, 2525 Mitchell Dr, Woodridge, Illinois.  Cost is free for members and $45 for non members, which includes membership.  Time is TBD.

April

April 1, 2020: IRC  Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

April 14, 2020:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Book Study on Gamechanger by Colby Sharp and Donalynn Miller at 4:30 pm at Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  The fee is simply the cost of the book. A board meeting will be held following the book study at 5:30 pm.

April 15, 2020: IRC Council Officer and Committee Representatives are due to the IRC Office.

April 15, 2020:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Barb Rosenstock on Beyond the Biography Project:  Using Picture Books Biographies Through the Curriculum.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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 17, 2020: IRC Executive Committee Meeting at the IRC Office.

April 18, 2020: 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.

April 23, 2020: Southern Illinois Reading Council will host the Spring Celebration Short Story Contest from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois. .A board meeting will be held following the event at 8:00 pm

April 25, 2020: Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host Strengthening the Core with Fluency Matters featuring Tim Rasinksi followed by breakout sessions on Vocabulary Instruction with Char Cobb and Literacy Instruction for English Learners with Kristin Lems.  This event will be from 8:30 am – 3:30 pmat Roosevelt University, Schaumburg Campus, 1400 N.  Roosevelt Blvd, Schaumburg.

April 25, 2020: Fox Valley Reading Council will host an event with Maria Walther from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm at Williamsburg Elementary, 1812 Williamsburg Ave, Geneva, Illinois.

April 25, 2020:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host a Young Authors Celebration from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at Western Illinois University, Horrabin Hall, 1 Univeristy Circle, Macomb, Illinois.

April 28, 2020: South Suburban Reading Council will host 21st Century Literacy at 4:30 pm at Aurelio's, 18162 Harwood Avenue, Homewood, Illinois.

April 2020:  MID-State Reading Council will host a Barnes and Noble Book Fair from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at Barnes and Noble Bookstore, 1701 E. Empire Street, Bloomington, IL.  Exact date TBD.

April 2020:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host the Anderson's Book Talk from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Anderson's Bookshops, 123 West Jefferson, Naperville, Illinois.

April 2020:  Will County Reading Council will host Global Classroom Celebration of Learning with Sherry Sejnost and Sheila Ruh at Lewis University, 1 University Pkwy, Romeoville, Illinois.

May

May 1, 2020: IRC Literacy Support Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2020: IRC International Literacy Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2020:  IRC Early-Career Teacher Recruitment Program applications are due.

May 1, 2020: IRC Council Relief Grants are due.

May 6, 2020:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Georgia Heard on Growing Readers and Writers Who Love Poetry.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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.

May 7, 2020:  Macon County Reading Council will participate in the 5K Fun Run/Walk at 6:00 pm at Fairview Park Pavilion, 2095 W Eldorado Street, Decatur, Illinois.

May 19, 2020:  MID-State Reading Council will host a book study, Gamechanger by Colby Sharp and Donalynn Miller at 4:30 pm at Gill Street Sports Bar, 3002B Gill Street, Bloomington, Illinois.  The fee is simply the cost of the book. A board meeting will be held following the book study at 5:30 pm.

May 2020: Starved Rock Reading Council will host a Young Author Celebration from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort, 2643 IL Rt 178, North Utica, Illinois

June

June 1, 2020: IRC Council Program (Speaker) Grant applications are due.

June 1, 2020: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Fall IRC Communicator. Please submit your information to the IRC Office.

June 3, 2020:  IRC will sponsor the Wired Wednesday Webinar with Sunday Cummins on Students Writing in Response to Informational Sources.  IRC will be offering the 2019-2020 Webinars 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 9, 2020: Southern Illinois Reading Council will hold a board meeting from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Blue Sky Winery, 3150 Rocky Comfort Rd, Makanda, Illinois.