Delegates' Meeting International Reading Conference

May 5, 2008, Atlanta, Georgia

Report by Shelley Stagg Peterson,
President-Elect, Toronto Reading Council

Linda Gambrell, President of the International Reading Association, chaired the meeting. In attendance were all the IRA board members and executive, as well as delegates from provincial, local, and state reading councils from the United States, Canada, and countries with IRA membership. The reading councils are given delegate spaces for every 100 IRA members on their council. In Canada, Ontario has the greatest number of IRA members, 677. British Columbia has the next largest number of delegates, 326.

New By-Laws

The proposed bylaws that all IRA members are asked to vote on were the hot topic of the meeting. The bylaws have been updated (after more than 50 years) because the Board found out that the IRA, incorporated originally in Pennsylvania, is legally obligated to be incorporated in Delaware, the state in which it is headquartered. The bylaws were amended to reflect its membership and the services it offers today. The major changes include:

• Article XI: The Delegates Assembly will no longer vote on issues – it will be an advisory body only; members can bring issues to the board at IRA annual conventions.
• Article XII: Teacher Advisory Panel created – composed of 9 classroom teachers from various US regions, 1 teacher from Canada, and 2 from outside Canada and the United States. The teachers will be nominated by state and provincial reading associations and appointed by the Board. Meetings of this panel will take place via conference call and e-mail.
• A Conflict of Interest motion made on behalf of the Wisconsin Research Association at last year's Delegates' Assembly was approved by the Board and is now IRA policy. This policy states that IRA directors, officers and employees must disclose financial or other relationships with an organization or business that competes with the IRA in the provision of services. IRA publications should not appear to endorse commercial products or services other than those offered by the IRA.

Would you like to be an IRA Award Winner?
It's Time for Some Toronto Reading Council Recipients!

Information about IRA awards was handed out at the Delegates meeting. Toronto Reading Council members should check out the IRA website (www.reading.org) for information about the following awards. All award members must be members of the IRA.

Excellent Teaching
• Eleanor M. Johnson Award – up to US$1000 to recognize a current outstanding grades K-6 classroom teacher of reading/language arts. Deadline is November 15, 2008. Email exec@reading.org for more information.
• Nila Banton Smith Award – up to US$1000 to recognize a current outstanding grades 7-12 classroom teacher of reading/language arts. Deadline is November 15, 2008. Email exec@reading.org for more information.

  Professional Development and Travel

• Ronald W. Mitchell Convention Travel Grant – up to US$1500 to all grades 106 teachers to attend an IRA annual convention who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Two grants are awarded each year for teachers who are first time IRA convention attendees. Email exec@reading.org for more information.
• Gertrude Whipple Professional Development Grant – US$5000 for planning professional development projects, producing high-quality materials, marketing and scheduling meetings and workshops, and logistic support for conducting them. Proposals are reviewed by a committee throughout the year. Email exec@reading.org for information.

  Research

• Elva Knight Research Grant – up to US$10,000 for research in literacy. Email research@reading.org for more information.
• Teacher as Researcher Grant – up US$5000 to support teachers’ inquiries about literacy and instruction. Priority is given to smaller grants in order to provide support for as many teachers as possible. Email research@reading.org for more information.

Next year’s IRA convention dates (there are two!):

• Phoenix, Arizona – February 21-25, 2009
• Minneapolis, Minnesota – May 3-7, 2009