Literacy Without Borders

MERC has teamed up with City Brew in an incredible fundraising opportunity. Donate a minimum of $10.00 and receive a bag of medium or bold roast coffee. A portion of all donations is being made to the Hearts and Hands for Haiti project. PLEASE help support both organizations by making a donation and spreading the word to your fellow literacy advocates. Montana Treasure State Award Nominees for 2012 1. Alfred Zector, Book Collector by Kelly DiPucchio 2. Joha Makes A Wish: A Middle Eastern Tale adapted by Eric A. Kimmel 3. Oscar and the Very Hungry Dragon by Ute Krause 4. 'Wonder Horse: the True Story of the World's Smartest Horse by Emily Arnold McCully 5. Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Janelle and Corrie will be presenting on this fun and educational ONLINE resource that you can use to help motivate and stimulate your children to write on Tuesday, November 15th. PLEASE BRING YOUR LAPTOPS so you can play as we instruct how to navigate the site!!

November 9, 2011 THE BOARD:

President
Ruth Ferris

volume 7

Midland Empire Reading Council

ferrisr@billingsschools.org

Vice President
Janelle Wilson

Secretary
Joanne King

Treasurer
Corrie Douglas

Membership
Elizabeth Fellerer

MERC PO Box 87 Billings, MT 59103

We want to thank our volunteers for helping stuff bags for the Montana State Reading Council!

THANK YOU needs to be given to the following amazing businesses that donated items for door prizes at the Reading Conference. Without such incredible community members, we would not be such a HUGE success!
- City Brew - Yellowstone Family Dental - Gainans - Rituals Day Spa - Tire Rama - Sun Haven Tanning - Marys Health Food - Thomas Books - Kings Ace Hardware - Vickie Swander - Party America gift basket with coffee, tea, & mugs electric toothbrush plant arrangement $60 gift certificate $69.95 gift certificate $30 gift certificate 2 gift baskets w/ gift certificate gift basket w/ various books gift baskets 10 gift bags of educational books teacher gift basket

Literacy Without Borders

Book It With a Buddy We are
working with the Parmly Billings Library. Check out upcoming dates and books being featured this year.
- December 1st Sounder by William H. Armstrong - January 19th The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkein - March 1 Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen - April 19th Counting Coup by Joseph Medicine Crow
st

November 9, 2011

volume 7

Upcoming Agenda for 2011 - 2012

- NOVEMBER 15th MERC general meeting on NaNoWriMo at Bones Brewery from 4:30 5:30. - NOVEMBER 17th Jan Barrett is visiting Barnes and Noble at 10 am - NOVEMBER 25th Christopher Paolini will be the Grand Marshall at Billings Winter Parade. Following the parade, Mr. Paolini will be signing books at Barjons downtown. - DECEMBER 13th MERC general meeting on Military in Education at Bones Brewery from 4:30 to 5:30.

Visitustoseethemostupto dateinformationinliteracy andMERC. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pa ges/MERC/115775974728 Website: www.mercbillings.weebly.com Twitter:mercbillings

ALL GENERAL MEETINGS WILL BEGIN WITH A NO HOST SOCIAL FROM 3:30 TO 4:30.

MEET OUR SPONSORS

Thomas Books Bones Brewery Kings Ace Hardware Great Northern Books The Yellow Bus City Brew

Dues for 2011 2012

Educators - $20.00 Students / Parents - $10.00 Retired Teachers / Community Members $10.00 WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR FIRST MEETING SO SUCCESSFUL! Make sure you bring your friends and colleagues to our November 15th meeting at Bones Brewery. Thomas Books in Billings, Montana has great holiday ideas for your young at heart book lovers. Go visit them at 209 North 29th Street, or you can call them at 245 6754.
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm; Sat 10am-4pm

* If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor,

contact us at mercbillings@gmail.com

THANK YOU TO CITY BREW! Enjoy a nice hot cup of coffe or tea at one of the eight Billings locations.

November is Picture Book Month Go to www.picturebookmonth.com to check out the latest books.