Core Issues: Literacy Today for Leaders of Tomorrow WELCOME BACK!

We hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing, revitalizing summer. We are excited to share the upcoming year with you.

August 1, 2012

volume 12

Midland Empire Reading Council

Montana State Reading Conference
This years conference will be held in Great Falls, Montana October 18th and 19th. There will only be one luncheon with two incredible speakers, Janet Stevens, author of Tops & Bottoms and Jackalope, and Susan Crummel, author of Help Me, Mr. Mutt! and The Great Fuzz Frenzy. Prepaid registration is $75 or $100 at the door. The luncheon cost is $18. Register online at www.montanareads.org or see your MERC school representative for a registration form.

MERC PO Box 87 Billings, MT mercbillings@gmail.com3

THE 2012 2013 BOARD President

Janelle Wilson

Vice President
Katie Peila

Membership
Elizabeth Fellerer

SATURDAY LIVE
Saturday Live will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2012. We are excited to have the same booths as last year. (sucker pull, mystery door, and the wheel spin) All three were very successful last year. We are looking for volunteers and donations of ANY childrens books to give as prizes. There will be signup sheets at our kick-off celebration.

Treasurer
Corrie Douglas

Secretary
Deb Powell
* Visit our website to learn more about your board members.

All meetings will again be held at Bones Brewery. A nohost social will begin at 3:30 and the meetings will begin promptly at 4:30. See our website for directions and map.

2012 2013 MERC REP KICKOFF EXTRAVAGANZA

Join us on Tuesday, August 28th at Bones Brewery, 1425 Broadwater Avenue promptly at 4:30. (A no-host social will begin at 3:30) Come and peruse the latest and greatest books presented by Ron and Barb Scherry of Great Northern Books. (Discount given on purchases) Enjoy refreshments and cake and converse with friends. Enter to win one of 5 door prizes. Learn about the upcoming year with MERC (raffles, outreach events, and educational opportunities) Receive a discounted membership when you bring a new member. (2 memberships for $30 regularly $20 each) Sign-up to be a school MERC representative and earn entries into our raffle for a Nexus Tablet.

Core Issues: Literacy Today for Leaders of Tomorrow

Dues for 2011 2012
Educators - $20.00 Students / Parents $10.00 Retired Teachers / Community Members $10.00

August 1, 2012

volume 12

Upcoming Agenda for 2012-2013

Tuesday, August 28 , 2012 MERC Kickoff Meeting @4:30 Bones Brewery Thursday, September 13th, 2012 Book It Explorers Astronomy @6:00 Parmly Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 MERC meeting (Newspapers in Education / NaNoWriMo) Begin raffle for a Kindle Fire - @4:30 Bones Brewery Saturday, September 29th, 2012 SATURDAY LIVE Thursday / Friday October 18th 19th 2012, MSRC Reading Conference in Great Falls Thursday, November 8th, 2012 Book It Explorers Electricity @6:00 Parmly Tuesday, November 27th, 2012 MERC meeting Susan Irion reading curriculum We will be drawing for a Kindle Fire @ 4:30 Bones Brewery
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Book It Explorers
MERC was awarded the Creative Assistance Grant from MSRC for the upcoming year. We have designed a program titled Book It Explorers. This program will be held five times over the year and consists of nonfiction reading skills and scientific research abilities. We will be focusing on astronomy, biology of plants, chemistry, and physics applications. Children will receive a book in one of the areas and will be allowed to perform experiments during the allotted class sessions. Any students, grades 3rd 6th are welcome to sign up. Contact the childrens desk at the Billings Parmly Library.

Visitustoseethemostupto dateinformationinliteracy andMERC. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/page s/MERC/115775974728 Website: www.mercbillings.weebly.com Twitter:mercbillings *Wehopetopostavideoofour monthlymeetingsonour website.

We will begin sales for a Kindle Fire raffle at our September 25th meeting. Tickets will be $2 each or 3 for $5. The drawing will be held at our November 27th meeting. READERS BLEND Bold and Medium brew -1 lb. bags are available to purchase for $8 each.

MSRC 2012 2013 Grants

Classroom Teacher Project Grant: DUE March 31, 2013 Administrators Reading Award: DUE December 1, 2012 June Atkins Service Award: DUE May 1, 2013 Pam Atchinson Memorial Reading Award: DUE August, 15th, 2012 MSRC Scholarship: DUE March 31, 2013

** For applications and more detailed information on each award, go to http://www.montanareads.org/grants-andscholarships.html