Core Issues: Literacy Today for Leaders of Tomorrow

BOARD MEMEBERS NEEDED

There will be four board member positions that need to be filled for next year. We will need a vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and a membership liaison. If you are interested, please contact a board member.

January 23, 2012, volume 15

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

Quarters For Coffee

We will be conducting a fundraiser beginning March 1st to send bags of coffee to the soldiers serving overseas. We challenge schools to collect Quarters For Coffee and to write letters to our troops. The proceeds will purchase bags of coffee that we will send with the letters created for the soldiers serving in various bases overseas. We need a rep in the schools to collect the money and the letters. Please let a board member know if you are interested.

Midland Empire Reading Council

January 29, 2013 Meeting
We will have Parmly Billings Library presenting on library and online resources for students and teachers. Door prizes will be awarded. You can pick up your OPI renewal forms for the August, November, and January meetings.

THE 2012 2013 BOARD President Janelle Wilson Vice President Katie Peila Membership Elizabeth Fellerer Treasurer Corrie Douglas Secretary Deb Powell
* Visit our website to learn more about your board members.

READERS BLEND Bold and Medium brew -1 lb. bags are available to purchase for $8

Second Annual Young Authors Conference

The MERC board is excited to begin putting together our 2012-2013 Young Authors Conference. Last year we had 27 amazing young writers who took time on their Saturday to participate in the event. We were honored to hear the creations from the very creative individuals. This years conference will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013. It will be held at Arrowhead Elementary School. Registration forms will be available to teachers, parents, and students soon. You will be able to also register online at our website. We are looking for any students you feel would be interested in participating in the conference.

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
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January 23, 2012, volume 15

Upcoming Agenda for 2013

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 MERC General Meeting with Parmly Billings Library connections @4:30 Bones Brewery Tuesday, February 26, 2013 MERC General Meeting Desiree Caskey will be presenting on technology with editing, publishing, and responding to reading and writing @ 4:30 pm Bones Brewery Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 MERC General Meeting Corrie Douglas and Elizabeth Fellerer will be sharing the Book It Explorers Program @ 4:30 Bones Brewery Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013 MERC General Meeting Young Authors Conference @ 4:30 Bones Brewery

Book It Explorers
The final Book It Explorers session will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Parmly Billings Library. We will be exploring biology and growing our own plants. Students will also research plants that are native to Montana. Students can register now at the Parmly Library Childrens Desk.

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

You will receive your OPI renewal form at the end of monthly meetings. Dont forget to turn in your pre-approval forms in order to receive Step Up credits.

February is I Love To Read Month! The Parmly library will be celebrating this with their 17th annual Family Reading Program. Family Reading encourages
families to develop the habit of reading aloud together. Studies have shown that children who are read aloud to have improved language skills and are more successful in school. During the program, families will read together for 20 minutes a day for 20 days. Families completing the program will receive a book and be entered into a

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.

MSRC 2012 2013 Grants

Classroom Teacher Project Grant: DUE March 31, 2013 June Atkins Service Award: DUE May 1, 2013 MSRC Scholarship: DUE March 31, 2013

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