Workgroup: Early Childhood Literacy Coalition The Early Childhood Literacy Coalition is a volunteer action committee comprising many of the capital area’s leading literacy, education and early childhood advocates. The group gathers monthly to network, share resources and discuss ways to promote literacy among Michigan’s youngest citizens and their families. The Coalition is a sub-committee of the Ingham County 0-5 Committee. Meetings are usually held at the East Lansing Library, the third Tuesday of each month 8:45-10:30 and are open to all. There is no meeting in December. For more information contact Beany Tomber at beany@wkar.org  or Phone 517-432-3120 Ext 406 See the Early Childhood Literacy Coalition in our Early Literacy Celebrations for 2009 - Everyday Moments are Learning Moments - two weeks of free activities for children birth to five and their families - Click here to view full brochure of the 2009 events (in pdf format) See photos from the 2009 Literacy Events on the Ingham Great Start Facebook page- www.facebook.com/pages/Ingham-Great-Start/138770661675?v=photos

GSC Website Navigation   GSC, Birth to Five homepage   GSC Agenda and Minutes   GSC Workgroups   GSC Training   GSC Members   GSC Meeting Calendars   Other Resources

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition   

Minutes – May 18, 2010

Present: Mark Buzzitta, Lynn Harper, Liz Vagana, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Ronda Rucker, Eaton Great Start Collaborative; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Library; Lisa Chambers, Family Outreach Services;  Emily Baker, Parent Coalition; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Liz Vagana from the Holt Library was welcomed as a new member. The minutes of the February meeting were reviewed. . Beany Tomber announced that our meeting would end at 10 today to allow the Michigan League for Human Services and Michigan’s Children to hold a press conference highlighting the findings of the Annie E. Casey Kids Count national and Michigan reports on 3^rd grade literacy rates.

Planning for March 2011 Literacy Events

Funding

Mark Buzzitta submitted a proposal to Target for a $2000 grant to help pay for activities at the March 13, 2011, 1-4 pm kick off event.  Grants will be announced by the end of September.

Venue

Discussion followed on the place to hold the event.  At this time we have reserved both Grand River Head Start and the Hannah Community Center.  The Center would charge us about $33 an hour plus some costs for tables.  Head Start’s facility would be free. Beany Tomber will also investigate the possibility of Impression 5 as a site.  If we held our event there, we would ask that all programs be free that afternoon to those attending.  Liz Vagana will explore using Foster Community Center.

Characters

Characters will be booked to be here March 11-25 if at all possible.  Ronda Rucker working with Mark Buzzitta will again be responsible for working out the schedule for characters to appear at different sites throughout literacy weeks.  After estimating that there are 50 sites that will want appearances, it was decided to book 5 characters.  The following agencies are committed to paying for a character:  CADL, DeWitt Library, Eaton Great Start, East Lansing Library, Head Start, and WKAR.  Head Start has some costumes that can be used to fill in if necessary – cow, chicken, and Bert from Sesame Street.

We agreed to try and book the following characters.  Mark Buzzitta will do all the booking through CADL and invoice the various agencies.

Froggy, Olivia, Mittens, Maisy, Lyle Lyle Crocodile (This one is more expensive and CADL thinks they can cover it.), Sid the Science Kid or Curious George.

We discussed having the Cat in the Hat character from the new PBS series starting in the fall but decided that Jean Bolley does such a good job interacting with the children as the Cat that we would stick with her.

If I have any of these wrong, please let me know.  I can’t read some of my writing.

Performers

We discussed various ideas and agreed that Ronda Rucker would ask the local author Deb Deisen who wrote the Michigan Reads Book, Pout Pout Fish, Mark Buzzitta would ask Jean Bolley doing the Cat and the Hat and mcing the show, and Beany Tomber would ask Rob Stephenson, Michigan 2010 Teacher of the year. We would like them to do two performances at 1:30 and 3.

We would also like a musical performance if we can find an appropriate one.

I have asked Rhonda Coon who plays guitar and sings if she would perform that day doing rhymes, etc.  She has agreed to do a free performance.  If you decide against having her, it won’t be a problem but I reserved the date with her.

Other Literacy Activities

Becky Ferengich, Delta Township Library, has agreed to represent the Coalition on the Eaton Great Start Collaborative.  Karen Black is exploring a representative fro the St. Johns Library who would attend Coalition meetings and represent us at the Clinton Great Start Collaborative.

Members were asked to report events they are already attending in their areas promoting literacy and to display the Coalition sign when they attend.  We will complete the Coalition flyer that was in process and have it available for members to distribute.  Mark Buzzitta has started a face book for the ECLC and will put events of interest on it as they are planned and are reported.

Announcements

Beany Tomber announced that Super Why will be at the East Lansing Art Fair May 22 and 23.  Lisa Chambers announced that the Ingham County Health Dept. will be holding a health fair in August.  The planning meeting is May 27.  Anyone interested in working on this is invited to attend.  More later.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m. and representatives from Michigan League for Human Services, Michigan’s Children, Reach Out and Read, and Channel 10 arrived for the press conference.  Jane Zehnder Merrill presented data from Kids Count Reports and then various representatives from the other agencies were interviewed by Channel 10.  Mark Buzzitta spoke for the Coalition.  Footage of children attending story time at the library was taped to accompany the interviews on air...

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 8:45 am at East Lansing Library.

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition  

AGENDA Tuesday, May 18, 2010

East Lansing Public Library 

  I.             Welcome and Introductions Announcements     

II                Review of February 2010 Minutes 

III               Planning for 2011 Literacy Weeks Events
                             Date – March 13, 2011
                              Place – Grand River Head Start/Hannah Community Center/Other
                              Characters – see email from Mark Buzzitta
                              Performers 

 IV.             Other Literacy Activities
Representation at Clinton & Eaton Great Start Collaboratives
Community Events on your schedule
Super Why at the East Lansing Art Fair – May 22,23                       

V                Other 

VI               Regular meeting date - third Tuesday of the month
                  Next meeting – June 15, 2010
                  Adjournment

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition  

Minutes –February 16, 2010

Present: Mark Buzzitta, Lynn Harper, CADL; Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township District Library; Beth Revers, Dewitt Public Library; Ronda Rucker, Eaton Great Start Collaborative; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Library; Lisa Chambers, Family Outreach Services; Emily Baker, MC Rathhorn, Ingham Great Parent Great Start; Nora Thompson, IISD; Jan Kimble, Teen Parenting Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR;.

Lynn Harper was welcomed back and congratulated on the birth of her daughter Rachel.  The minutes from the January meeting were reviewed and clarified.  The carryover of $5,000 of emergent literacy funds for year 2 was divided.  $3000 went to the Play and Learn groups and $2000 went into the Imagination Library item and other community literacy events to support a presenter or materials to incorporate literacy activities into these events.

Beany Tomber talked with Janet Pletcher, President of CMAEYC about participation in the Coalition.  Pletcher has been added to the ECLC list serve.  She will keep CMAEYC up to date on Coalition activities until someone from that organization is able to attend meetings.

Beany Tomber will be doing a RTL literacy presentation at the Tower Garden Play Group tomorrow.  All requests for Coalition participation in Play groups will be channeled through Nora Thompson.  These take place at Summer Place, Haven House, and Tower Garden.

Planning for March 2011 Literacy Events

Members confirmed the date of Sunday, March 13, 2011, 1-4 p.m.for the Literacy Week Kick Off event. 

Discussion followed on where the event should be held.  Hannah Community Center would allow us to use the gym on that date.  There is a charge of $33 per hour and also some set up costs for tables.  The new Head Start site at Grand River Elementary School has a gym and plenty of room.  It would also be free.  The only drawback is a lack of parking.  Suggestions on how to minimize this problem, included texting residents in the area who could walk to promote the event, and encouraging biking.  All members were invited to attend an Open House at Grand River School on March 24, 2; 30-5:30 p.m. to see the new facility.

Marketing ideas included using the web, weekly newsletters, and other events to promote the Kick Off.

The new PBS character next fall will be The Cat in the Hat.  Mark Buzzitta will send out a list of storybook characters before the May meeting.  We will make some decisions at that meeting about which characters to book.  We will consider having a children’s author as the live performer.  Deb Dison (sp.), “Pop Pop” was one suggested.  Janet Sink,”Grandma Gone Fishing” was another.  We will also look at the One Book, One Read for children’s literature.  Mary Jo Gallagher will find out what the book will be in 2011.  This could drive the characters we use during Literacy weeks.

The Ingham Intermediate School District will not be able to provide $500 in printing as they have done in previous years due to budget cuts.  We will look at sending the brochure electronically to all agencies and letting them print the number they need.  We will also explore a grant from Target for possible funding.  Other sources for funding suggested were Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, Jr. League, and the Dart Foundation. 

Other Literacy Activities

Spirited discussion followed on where and how the Coalition as a group should participate in other ongoing events to raise awareness of the importance of emergent literacy skills whatever parents are doing.

Some felt that members should become part of the planning group for other events.  Others thought that members are already involved in events in their own communities.  Ronda Rucker pointed out that it is important to look at what kind of activity we are providing.  In Eaton County they attend many events and set up a sensory table, bean bag toss, and sand & rice tables.  These activities are appropriate for the age level targeted and are rich in literacy and motor skills development.  A very general version of Literacy Lotto could be made to be used at a variety of events in various counties.

There was consensus that members are already involved in many events in their own areas and they should continue to participate and provide intentional activities to help parents and families be aware of the “Everyday Moments Are Learning Moments”. experiences that are being provided.

Members further discussed that since the Coalition membership covers all three counties in our area, we should be represented at the Great Start Collaborative Groups in each county.  Members who live and work in the geographic area will be invited to be part of the Collaboratives or appropriate workgroups in each county as we already are in Ingham County.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 8:45 am at East Lansing Library.

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

AGENDA Tuesday, February 16, 2010

East Lansing Public Library

 I.             Welcome and Introductions Announcements

 II             Review of January 2010 Minutes
                Report on Carryover funds from Foundations

III             Planning for 2011 Literacy Weeks Events
                              Dates
                              Places
                              Characters

IV.             Other Literacy Activities
                 Schedule for other community events
Our Criteria for participation ◦  That the event be family friendly; That the event have an educational value not just draw a large crowd; That it be centrally located so all members feel it appropriate for their agency

V                 Other

VI              Regular meeting date - third Tuesday of the month
                 Should we continue with monthly meetings or switch to bi-monthly?
                 Next meeting –March 16, 2010?
                 Adjournment

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes –January 19, 2010 (revised)

Present: Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start; Ronda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Library; Emily Baker, Great Parent Great Start;  Nora Thompson, IISD; Jan Kimble, Teen Parenting Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR
Guests: Tammy Heilman and Nancy Sherd, OYC/Great Start Regional Child Care Resource Centers

The minutes from the November meeting were reviewed

Tammy Heilman and Nancy Shred presented information to the group about the new Great Start Connect Childcare System online.  They gave an online demonstration about how the site works and distributed packets of information.  They will also send information electronically to be distributed to all members of ECLC.  The system will provide information about available childcare resources previously provided by local 4-C offices.  They are working to promote the new online service with libraries and WorkFirst sites.

Preliminary Planning for March 2011 Literacy Events

Central Michigan Association for the Education of the Young Child (CMAEYC) normally does a family literacy event in March and their members showed some interest in collaborating with the Coalition.  They asked if our meetings could be held after 5:30 p.m. so they could attend. Coalition members were interested in working with CMAEYC but felt the meeting time needed to stay as is to accommodate the schedules of current members.  We will invite CMAEYC to try to send a representative to our meetings at this time.

Discussion began on possible dates and places to hold the March 2011 Kick Off Event.  Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13 were the dates that seemed good for all agencies. 

Suggested venues were the gym at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing, Pattengill Middle School, Lansing, Letts Community Center, and MSU Federal Credit Union.  If we can come up with a fairly central place for all sides of the area, there was strong consensus that we should hold only one event and that all member agencies should participate, regardless of their geographic location.  We will do some exploring of suggested places.  Members were encouraged to send in additional ideas.

It was also felt that Sunday might be the better day since families are not as heavily scheduled with lessons, sports, etc.

It was suggested that we begin now to look for grant money to fill the void left from grant money that will no longer be received in 2011.

It was also suggested that we book the characters as far ahead as possible so that when book discounts come along we can take advantage of them and buy books to match the characters we are bringing in.  Mark Buzzitta asked if we would consider having one character for each county so that we could cut down on the transporting from site to site.  This is something we will continue thinking about.

PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest

Beany Tomber asked the libraries present if they would be willing to be pick up and drop off sites for the contest entries.  CADL and East Lansing agreed.  Beany will do follow up calls to DeWitt and Delta Township.  She also invited all agencies to distribute forms to the parents in their programs.  The material will be sent electronically to all and the libraries will receive posters and desk signs.  Thanks to all for participating.

Other Activities

Beany Tomber announced that she is doing a literacy presentation at the Tower Garden Play and Learn Group for Mindy Smith on Feb. 17.  Other Coalition members will participate in this activity at Play and Learn Groups as their schedules permit.  We will also be looking at the schedule of community events that are already planned to see which ones might be appropriate for the Coalition to participate in.

Other

Karen Black asked what had happened to the $5000 carryover Foundation Money that had originally be planned to use for books for play groups in the three counties.  Beany thought it was part of money to start an endowment but asked Nora Thompson if she would check with Michelle Nicholson about this.

 {Michelle Nicholson responded on 2/3/10: "Since I will not be able to be at the next meeting I wanted to respond to the question about the $5000 for Emerging Literacy Activities. For Year 2 we had to collapse our budget items into the categories the funders gave us which were: Play & Learn Groups, Home Visiting, Imagination Library and Other Community Literacy Events, Scholarships, Coaching and Professional Development.  The $5000 was divided and $3000 went to Play and Learn since previously ECLC has decided to ask Play and Learn and other playgroups to incorporate the activities and materials that Karen Woodman had developed. The remaining $2000 went into IL and other community literacy events to support a presenter or materials that might be needed to incorporate literacy activities into community events.}

Members discussed meeting every other month but decided for now to hold the regular meeting in February.  We will make a decision on whether to change meeting dates at a future time.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 8:45 am at East Lansing Library.

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

AGENDA – January 19, 2010

I.          Welcome and Introductions
             Announcements

II          Review of November 2009 Minutes

  Dates
  Place
  Funding
  Other Consideration
  Collaborate with CMAEYC Event

   Participation at other community events
   Participation at Play and Learn Groups
   Other activitie

V          PBS Kids Go!Writers Contest

VII        Regular meeting date - third Tuesday of the month
                  Should we continue with monthly meetings or switch to bi-monthly?
                  Next meeting – February 16, 2010
                  Adjournment

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes – November 17, 2009

Present: Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Deb Hill, Lucy McClintic, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Ronda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township District Library; Beth Revers, DeWitt Library; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Library; Emily Baker, Jamie Yeomans, Great Parent Great Start; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Dept./Family Outreach Services; Nora Thompson, IISD; Jan Kimble, Teen Parenting Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

New members Emily Baker, Jan Kimble, and Nora Thompson were welcomed. It was announced that Lynn Harper, CADL had a new baby, Rachel and Jan Kimble has a new granddaughter.  Congratulations to both families.  The minutes of the September meeting were reviewed.

Evaluation of 2009 Literacy Events

We talked about what went well and what didn’t at the various events.  Everyone was very satisfied with the quality and variety of the performers at the kick-offs and felt that they were right on target with highlighting literacy skills and involving the children.  The total performance was longer this year and parents and children both seemed engaged.  There was some comment that the stage area was too small at Meridian. 

As usual, the characters were a huge draw.  Several parents commented that they came especially to see them.  Having the characters stay in one spot near the stage also worked well.

The literacy lotto game was enhanced this year with the tips for parents on the back on how to use it anywhere.  There were positive comments from participants about this.

The survey was not as widely used as we had hoped but the comments on those returning it were very positive.  We had 51 returned at the Lansing Mall and 27 at Meridian.  The low return at Meridian may have been because we did not have a special table set up to distribute the lotto sheets and surveys and give out books.  (There was some parent comment that they received the same book, Bob the Builder, last year.  Nice that they remembered!)  Also we did not have a display that showed what prizes they would be eligible for in the drawing if they returned the survey.

Promotion through materials distributed through agencies, newspaper articles, on WKAR, and by word of mouth were the ways people heard about the event.  There were about 200 at the  performances at the two malls.  Traffic in the malls seemed lighter than last year. (This number was down from about 500 last year.)

Finding volunteers was difficult again this year.  Karen Woodman enlisted the Maple Valley Honor Society for Lansing Mall and we had 12 volunteers.  Jill Lawler was able to bring 6 girl scouts for Meridian and they were very helpful playing the characters.  The perfect age for character volunteers is high school.  Girls seem to enjoy engaging with the children more than boys.

The two weeks of literacy events at the various agencies were very successful. The events at the agency sites are very important in helping us carry out our goals of promoting literacy in the home on a long term basis.

What Next?

Discussion then turned to the future of the current events and the participation of the Coalition in other ongoing events to promote literacy.  The total money available next year for literacy events from the Foundations is $2,000.  The Coalition will be able to request some of these funds but just a small percentage for the current format.  Four different options were laid out to guide the discussion as follows:

●  Continue with kick off events and weeks as they are now using just in-kind and cash contributions from members;
●  Continue as is with in-kind and cash contributions and request some funds from the foundation money;
●  Continue as above and add participation at another existing venue;
●  Continue Literacy weeks with no kick-off events with in-kind and cash contributions

Before we began to discuss the various options, Mark Buzzitta proposed that we consider moving any ECLC events to spring.  He pointed out that this was the time of year we originally held the events to tie in with March is Reading month.  We changed to fall to accommodate the Practical Parenting Conference which held its event a week later.  (This event is no longer in existence.)  He also thought it would make it easier to get volunteers when the schools were up and running and that families are looking for more to do at that time of year when the weather is not as good.  We would also avoid MSU football days.

The above options and ideas were thoroughly discussed.  Each member had an opportunity to give her/his opinion.  Coalition members came to the following consensus:

●  A majority of members wanted to continue to hold a kick-off event (s);
●  The characters are very important, but national entertainment is not necessary;
●  The two weeks of agency events are the most important;
●  There was unanimous agreement that Coalition event(s)should be moved to March.
●  A majority was interested in exploring participating in other community events with the following criteria to be considered:
   ◦ That the event be family friendly
   ◦ That the event have an educational value not just draw a large crowd
   ◦ That it be centrally located so all members feel it appropriate for their agency
   ◦ That we remain true to our mission of engaging children in literacy activities not just entertaining them and that we choose an event that helps us to do this..

Coalition members were also interested in going to play and learn groups as resource persons.

Beany Tomber announced that the Reading Rainbow Contest will continue but will now be called the PBS Go! Writers Contest since RR is no longer being broadcast.  She asked Coalition members to help recruit entries and receive completed ones.  More information will be coming in December.  The contest will take place January and February 2010 with national winners announced in April 2010.    

The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 8:45 am at East Lansing Library.

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes from September 15, 2009 meeting

Present: Mark Buzzitta, Lynn Harper, CADL; Jill Lawler, OYC; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Library; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township District Library; Ronda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Keri Keck, ICHD-Teen Parenting; ???

The August minutes were reviewed and the paragraph on funding was changed to:

"At the August Birth to Five meeting, it was decided that unspent funds for Year 1 could be carried over for same activities/ line-items as designated in Year 1. The 2008-09 line-item for Mall events was already spent, there is no carryover for that activity. For Year 2 it was decided to incorporate the funding for emergent literacy activities with the play and learn groups, as that was the primary way that ECLC previously discussed implementing these activities and where they fit with the funders priorities. The funders agreed that we could use some of the unspent funds from emergent literacy activities to cover any outstanding expenses for this year's Mall events. Any unspent money does not need to be spent by the end of the fiscal year. Careful consideration will be given to cover only those expenses that cannot be covered by some other source."

Mark reported that Beany is doing well and expects to be back at work in a few weeks.

Jill reported that while OYC did get funding for the year, it will not be able to go towards staffing, only programs. No layoffs are expected but some may have different job duties within the Health Department and things may still change over the next few months. Barb, Mindy, Robin and Corey will still remain with OYC.

Karen reported that the Head Start move to Grand River school is expected to take place within the next month or so.

2009 Literacy Events

Characters

All agencies received and have sent in their contracts/checks back to Costume Specialists. All will be delivered to CADL-Downtown Lansing Library and should be returned to that library at the end.

A new character contact list needs to be compiled and sent out. Mark will compile list and email to the group. We are asking sites to be responsible for transporting the character to the next person/site on the schedule. It is highly recommended to contact the next site and in some cases two parties may want to meet halfway to save long drives for some agencies.

Publicity

Four 22x28 posters were delivered to both malls on September 14; All agencies received email with the 8 ½ x 11 sheets if they want to run their own copies; 10,000 brochures were distributed to the agencies. Mark will retain remaining copies at CADL-Downtown should anyone need extra.

Bags

Jill submitted the order for 1000 yellow ECLC bags and they will be ready by our mall events.

Volunteers

Jill has not yet made contact with Lori at MSU Child Development Lab. She will do so and email us about the status of the twelve volunteers needed for the malls. If MSU is unable to provide enough students, Jill will ask some other teens she knows. Jill will be responsible for the training of the volunteers for both malls so they are clear on their roles and involvement.

Mall Set Up

Mark requested help in setting up tables/chairs at Lansing Mall. Ideally we could use 3-4 people to meet at 10 am on Oct 17 in front of Barnes & Noble. Karen volunteered. If others are available, it would be greatly appreciated. Meridian Mall tables will already be set up for us.

Literacy Lotto

This is not yet done. This year's will be simplified and more general. A laminated poster may also be made.

Toolkits

Kits were distributed to everyone in attendance. Head Start has extras for anyone that didn't get one. The kits are wonderful as always and offer tips and ideas that agencies can use during their character site visits.

Books

Ronda asked if we would like to use Bob the Builder books instead of the Friends of Library titles. All were in favor. Books will be given out after families do the Literacy Lotto.

Survey

Karen and Deb will create a quarter-size sheet cardstock survey with the questions:

1. How did you hear about this event?
2. Age(s) of child(ren)?
3. Did you learn anything new today?
4. Would you come back next year?
5. Name, Zip Code and Phone Number (if you wish to be entered into prize drawing)

Jill will make survey boxes and bring to malls. Drawings will take place the week following mall shows. Winners will be contacted by phone.

Performers & Mall Characters

Rob is confirmed and will do a 10-15 minute presentation possibly incorporating a projector/screen and patch into Trish's sound system. Mark will check with Rob & Trish about these plans and see about borrowing a screen if necessary. Performance times are 12:30-1:15 pm and 2-2:45 pm.

Jill has pawprints and a 'hydrant' for decoration that can be placed by the stage when the characters are out.

Jill noted that at the Jim Gill show at Hannah Center, kids and parents were encouraged to sit on blankets on the floor. It helped to set the stage for preschool/parent engagement. It was decided to ask everyone that could to bring some blankets with them and we will set them up in front of the stage and encourage those who can to sit on the floor. We will still set up as many chairs as we can behind the blankets.

Barnes & Noble office will be used as dressing room at Lansing Mall. Spot not yet selected for Meridian Mall.

It was suggested to skip our October meeting as we will be right in the middle of the literacy weeks. Our next meeting will be on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 8:45 am, East Lansing Public Library. 

Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:50 am.

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

AGENDA – September 15, 2009

I. Welcome and Introductions; Review of August minutes

II. Literacy Event Updates & Final Plans

Costumed Characters
Have all agencies received, paid and mailed back their contracts?

Publicity
Distribution of brochures; 22x28 posters are at the malls;
Did everyone receive the reproducible 8½x11 sheets via email?

Volunteers
Meet at 11:30 am; Who will do training?

Literacy Lotto
Bags
Surveys
Mall Setup
Budget

III. Other
NEXT MEETING:Scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, 8:45 am but do we want to skip this meeting and meet early in November to review literacy weeks?

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes (corrected)– August 18, 2009

2009 Literacy Events

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

AGENDA Tuesday, August 18, 2009

East Lansing Public Library

                 Announcements 

II                Review of May 2009 Minutes                         

III               2009 Literacy Events

                  Funding – New priorities for United Way/Foundation Funders for 2010

How does this affect Coalition plans for events and emergent literacy?

Budget for 2009 Mall Events (see attached)

                  Mall events schedule – time 12-3, performance times

Performers – Tunes by Tricia, Jean Bolley, Rob Stephenson, Michigan Teacher of the Year

                  Promotion – event name, flyers/brochures, bags, on air, other

                  Volunteers – for characters, literacy activity, general

Evaluation – survey for those attending, other methods, counting attendance

                  Other

 1V.             Other

 V               Regular meeting date - third Tuesday of the month

                  Next meeting – September 15, 2009

                  Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA May 19, 2009

I.          Welcome and Introductions; Review of April minutes

II.        Literacy Events Update

Costumed Characters
Franklin ($60)
Danny’s Dinosaur ($140)
Biscuit ($140)
Martha ($140)
Very Hungry Caterpillar ($250)
Wild Thing ($140)

Which agencies are paying for which character?
Scheduling of characters – finalized by June 30
Patricia Kjolhede (Tunes by Tricia) - contract signed and received
Jean Bolley – confirmed but we need to finalize details for her

Publicity
Do we want to use a name for publicity? Ex: “PBS Kids Day at the Mall”
What printed piece(s) do we want? Can we cut back and just do brochures?

Funding/Budget update
Tunes by Tricia - $400
Jean Bolley - $400 (not official)
Stage Rental - $300 (not official)

III.       Emergent Literacy Workshops Update

How much $ is needed for each county?
Evaluation – MSU Outreach/Evaluation Unit ideas
Next steps

IV.       Other

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 16, 8:45 am – East Lansing Public Library

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

May 19, 2009 Meeting Announcement

Minutes of the April meeting are attached (below). I will be out of town for this meeting. Mark Buzzitta will do his usual very able job of chairing it. The agenda will be sent before the meeting.

Beany Tomber
Ready to Learn Coordinator, WKAR
283 Communication Arts Building, MSU
East Lansing, MI 48824-1212
Phone 517-432-3120 Ext 406
Fax 517-353-4359

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

Minutes April 21, 2009

Present: Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, Head Start; Ronda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Jill Lawler, OYC; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township Library; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Library; Beth Revers, DeWitt Library; Michelle Nicolson, IISD; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

The March minutes were reviewed.  Mark Buzzitta announced that Nichole Welz is no longer at CADL.  Her position will be posted and filled within the next few months.  It includes continued participation on the Coalition.

2009 Literacy Events

Mark Buzzitta is continuing to work with both malls.  Contracts will be signed by the end of summer.  He has been assured that although the managing company for the Lansing Mall is in bankruptcy there is no danger of the mall closing

Funding

There was discussion about applying for a grant from Target.  In order to meet the criteria for evaluation, several very simple ways of evaluating were suggested - have you learned something new today about literacy skills, have we created awareness?  We could have a form to be filled out along with the raffle form.  We could also ask for names, requests for more information on the same form with a tear off section.  Deb Hill and Karen Woodman from Head Start will take a look at the grant proposal form.

Performers

Mary Jo Gallagher has contacted Tricia of Tunes and Tales from Laingsburg, in keeping with our decision to look for local performers, both because of cost and also to use local talent when possible.  Tricia is very interested in performing at our events and has those dates available.  She has been a kindergarten teacher, has a degree in early childhood and a masters in reading.  She has been recommended by both the East Lansing Library and Head Start.  If Coalition members would like to see her performance she will be at the Okemos Library on May 2.  It was agreed that we did not need to wait to see her May 2.  Gallagher was authorized to negotiate with Tricia for two performances at each event of 20-30 minutes and get a final cost.  She will also check on what might be needed in a sound system in addition to what Tricia has.  Jean Bolley has indicated she is interested in continuing to participate again in some way.  We will discuss at a future meeting what her role will be.

Michelle Nicholson asked that we try to add some multi-cultural/diversity in performances and characters to the event.  After discussion, it was decided that we will ask a storyteller to read nursery rhymes in different languages throughout the day.  Mary Hennessey from the East Lansing Library may have suggestions for whom to invite to do this.  We will also have handouts of the rhymes in different languages.

Characters

Martha from Martha Reads will be a character at the mall events along with the live performers.  CADL will book her along with the other storybook characters.  We will also try to book The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the malls only at a cost of $250.  All other characters will be booked from Oct. 23-Nov. 2, if possible, so they will be available for agency site visits.  We will try for four or five additional characters including:  Little Nut Brown, Franklin, Biscuit, Danny’s Dinosaur, and Mittens.  The Libraries and WKAR will pay for characters.

We will ask the parent coalitions from the Great Start Collaboratives to work with the characters the day of the events, helping to guide the characters, keep track of when they are out, and wear the costume.

Emergent Literacy Workshops

It had been decided that we would use the Great Start Play Groups as the vehicle to promote emergent literacy.  The agendas and handouts prepared by Karen Woodman from Head Start have been sent electronically to all Coalition members.  (These are wonderful!) They are also available for use by any other parent educators who wish to use them, i.e. Early On home visitors, and Ingham Birth to Five special Parent Education sessions.  The messages are familiar to early childhood educators but what we hope to do is present them to parents in an intentional way, so they see why these doing these things are effective strategies for helping their children learn to read.

We have $5000 to spend on these sessions from the Foundation/United Way grant funders to Ingham Great Start Birth to Five Collaborative.  We will use the money to buy books for parents attending play groups.  It will be apportioned by county according to the numbers that each serve.  Eaton – 250 per month, Ingham – 692, and Clinton – 60.  This is a total of 1002 per month.  Decisions will be made on how many months we can afford to give books depending on the cost of the books we order.  This can vary from $3- $1.98per book.

We talked about the need for evaluating the success of this project.  We hope that the MSU Outreach and Evaluation Unit may be able to help us with this piece.  We hope to have some ideas from them by the May meeting.

Until all the elements are in place, we will not begin to use the literacy materials at play groups.  However we will proceed to work with the libraries to provide information to the play groups about the summer reading programs and library services.  Michelle Nicolson will be in touch with the CADL Libraries (Buzzitta and Tomber will halp with contact information), Ronda Rucker the Eaton County Libraries, and Karen Black will be asked to communicate directly with the Clinton County Libraries, to provide this information.

The meeting was adjourned at 11 a.m.

NEXT MEETING: May 19, 2009 at East Lansing Library.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA Tuesday, April 21, 2009

East Lansing Public Library

I. Welcome and Introductions, Announcements

II Review of March 2009 Minutes

III 2009 Literacy Events
Budget for 2009 Mall Events
Funding – Additional from CRCF and Great Start Collaboratives?
Performers for Mall Events
Characters – for both mall and agency events – 2 or 3 for Malls
Great Start Collaboratives in charge of staffing the day of events?
Stationary position for characters?
Other

1V. Emergent Literacy Play Group Sessions
Trainer and Parent Tips for Additional Literacy Topics (Sent by separate attachment)
Meeting with Great Start Parent Educators to share topics/strategy ideas
Schedule for first session in May and throughout the summer

5. Other

VI. Regular meeting date - third Tuesday of the month
Next meeting – May 19, 2009
Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

Minutes – March 17, 2009

Present: Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Karen Woodman, Head Start; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Jill Lawler, OYC; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Department; Becky Fermanich, Delta Library; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Library; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start; Beth Revers, DeWitt Library; Mischele McManus, IISD.

February Minutes were approved.

2009 Literacy Events

Mark has dates confirmed with both malls.

Funding: We have $2700 confirmed. Various members reported that: the application is not yet posted on Target’s website; Staples is not accepting unsolicited applications for funding; each WalMart has a short application we could apply for each for $50-$100. CADL may be able to provide some additional small funding. It was decided at the April meeting we will lay out projected budget and that will give us a better idea if we should try and continue to solicit for additional money.

Mischele reported that the Capital Area Community Foundation approached Michele Nicholson about applying for up to 4 small grants. The Great Start Collaborative, Birth to 5 Committee decided that one of the four should be used to request additional funding for the Literacy Events. Each of the four is for up to $15,000 but we’ve been advised to ask for smaller amounts. Mischele will consult the November 2008 minutes for details about the costs for last year’s literacy events and use the additional information from these minutes to help develop the application. Another suggestion to save money, if necessary, is to ask each agency to print or copy their own fliers.

Performers: Mary Jo passed around a flier for Trisha from Tunes N’ Tales, a local performer from Laingsburg. She has performed at the EL Library for the past few summers. She brings a guitar and sings and plays, tells stories and interacts with the audience. She does a reading theme for the library. She charges the library $200 for a 45 minute performance. The Coalition members agreed that was a very reasonable cost. Mary Jo will discuss the Literacy Events with Trisha to get a better idea of the charge for two days with 2 20- minute shows each day. Her website is: www.tunesntales.com .

There was a suggestion that we may be able to get a local celebrity to be a guest reader or MC for the event. Tom Izzo and Jason Colthorp were suggested. We would still like to have Jean Bolley as either a storyteller or in some other capacity. Mark will contact her to see if she has some ideas.

Other suggestions include having a stationary position set at the malls for the characters – maybe even the stage as the characters wouldn’t be out during the performers. Families could form a line and maybe the parent coalition members could help make sure that the characters were not crowded. That would help parents get pictures with them.

Last year there was discussion about needing a space for parking strollers at the Meridian Mall. There is a lot of congestion there. We need to look for other ideas for setting up the tables and chairs there. Mark will look at other possibilities including using an empty store front or another open area.

Emergent Literacy Play Group Sessions

Karen asked for input on the handouts she had developed. Members commented on the nice format. Suggestions included: including adaptations to the activities for younger children, preparing some materials for use at the playgroups to go along with the handouts/topic, including a list of alphabet books parents could either borrow at a library or buy. Mischele will help Karen adapt the activities for younger children.

Seniors Helping Young Children with Reading

Rhonda talked about some information she had seen about seniors becoming book buddies for young children and the benefits for everyone involved. Everyone is going to ask around for examples of this happening in our communities.

Other

Jill Lawler announced that the Ingham GSC, B – 5 Committee is going to participate in the Lansing 150^th Birthday parade on May 16. All early childhood agencies are welcome to walk in the parade representing the youngest generation. Permission was given to use the ECLC banner.

April 18 is the Head Start Miles for Smiles walk at Hawk Island. They need more walkers to raise funds.

April 17 – 18 for Month of the Young Child, Debra D—will be at the Dart Bank in Grand Ledge on Friday night and at Eaton ISD on Saturday.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, April 21, 8:45 am at East Lansing Library.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA Tuesday, March17, 2009

East Lansing Public Library

Announcements

II           Review of February 2009 Minutes

III          2009 Literacy Events
                  Funding – report on Target, Stables, Wal Mart, other possible sources
                  Performers
                  Characters – for both mall and agency events

Suggested topics/books/activity ideas – see separate email for ideas
Meeting with Great Start Parent Educators to share topics/strategy ideas
Schedule for first session in May and throughout the summer

Idea from Tulsa

VI.                Other

VII.              Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

Minutes February 17, 2009

Members Present:  Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Dee Clark, Capital Area Literacy Coalition; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start Collaborative;  Ronda Rucker, Early childhood Connections; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township District Library;  Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Public Library; Mischele McManus, IISD; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Dept.; Jill Lawler, OYC; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.  The minutes of the January meeting were reviewed and a correction was made from Valentine Stepping Stones to Ballentine Stepping Stones.

Mary Jo Gallagher thanked CADL for helping to sponsor the Women’s Expo this past weekend and commented on how much she liked it.

Literacy Events 2009

Dates and Places

Both Malls are eager to have us back again next fall for our events.  We chose Saturday Oct. 17 at the Lansing Mall and Sunday Oct. 18 at the Meridian Mall for dates.  We will keep the theme “Everyday Moments are Learning Moments.”

Agency events will be Monday, Oct. 19- Saturday, Oct. 31.

Funding

Our request for funding from Accident Fund has been turned down.  They are getting more into underwriting and away from community events.  Jill Lawler will explore a grant from Staples; Ronda Rucker with Target, and Karen black with Wal Mart in St. Johns.  Mark Buzzitta will send the letter he wrote Accident Fund electronically to all to be used as a template for future requests.

All agencies will check with their management on maintaining last year’s amount of their contribution to the events

Performers

It was agreed that because of the expected lower level of funding for 2009, we should look for local/Michigan performers.  We would want them to do 20-30 minutes twice at each event.  They must not be too subtle and low key because of the mall noise and traffic.  We also want the performance to be geared to birth to five.  Several suggestions were made of performers who have been involved with the library summer reading programs, Tricia who sings, plays the guitar and does storytelling (Laingsburg) and Acting Up, a puppet show.  We will look at additional names on the library lists.  All suggestions from members are welcome.

Characters

We may decide to have more characters at the events if we are having fewer live performers.

Emergent Literacy Events

Members discussed and confirmed that we would use Great Start Collaborative Play groups in Clinton (5), Eaton (8) and Ingham (21) Counties as the vehicle for proving emergent literacy education for parents.  This use of groups already attracting parents on a regular basis was very attractive.  The Coalition will provide outlines, and suggested books and activities to Great Start parent educators for these sessions.

Capital Area Literacy Coalition, Early Childhood Connections and WKAR provided materials and activity folders from their literacy sessions to Karen Woodman.  All are encouraged to send their ideas to Karen.   Karen, working with Beany Tomber, will pull from all of these and from Head Start resources and come up with some suggested topic outlines, books, and activities for Play Groups.  These outlines will be shared at the next Coalition meeting.

The aim is to help parents understand the “intentionality” of what they’re doing and the role they play in building literacy skills with their children as they use books and activities.  (Thanks to Ronda Rucker for her discussion of how this concept is used in ECC Toddler Time groups.)  We will look at using the same topic over several weeks of a Play Group so that information can be shared in small segments and not be overwhelming to parents.  The target age range will be 1- 4yrs.

We will try to start the first sessions in May with library information about the summer reading programs.  Librarians will be asked, when possible, to attend and present.  They will also help families sign up for library cards.

Ronda Rucker announced that Eaton County will be using a grant from Target to bring the children’s author Debbie Dassan to Charlotte and Grand Ledge in April.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA Tuesday, February 17, 2009

East Lansing Public Library

               Announcements

II             Review of January 2009 Minutes                   

III            2009 Literacy Events
               Family Activity Events – dates, places, performers, finances

1V.         Proposed Emergent Literacy Event
              Timetable
              Which GS Play Groups?
              Dates for first Session?
              Training Session for GS educators?

V.           Other

VII.         Regular meeting date - third Tuesday of the month
              Next meeting –March 17, 2009
              Adjournment      

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

Minutes January 20, 2009

East Lansing Public Library

Members Present:  Dawn Mitzel, Birth to Five parent; Jamie Yeomans, Birth to Five Parent Coordinator; Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Dee Clark, Capital Area Literacy Coalition; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start Collaborative; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township District Library; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Julie Pierce, East Lansing Public Library; Mischelle McManus, IISD; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Dept.; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.  The minutes of the November meeting were reviewed and corrected to show that Deb Hill and Karen Woodman from CACS Head Start were present at the meeting.

Beany Tomber thanked those libraries that were serving as distribution sites for the WKAR Reading Rainbow Writers Contest.

Literacy Events 2009

Mark Buzzitta will contact both malls and check out the availability of the dates of Oct. 17 &18 and 24 & 25.  There are football games both those Saturdays.  We will avoid the Michigan game and hold the Saturday event at the Lansing Mall which worked well last year.

Mark reminded us that next year we will not have the $500 from the Library of Michigan Foundation or the $4000 from CADL and the Friends of CADL.  We can plan on $2700 from our Foundation/United Way funders.  We hope that we can continue to receive $500 from IISD.  Karen Black suggested that we ask the other ISDs to share the cost of the events and provide additional funds.

Mark also suggested that we begin to seek funding from corporate sponsors.  The group agreed and gave Mark the go ahead to proceed.  He will talk with CADL’s marketing director and ask for guidance on applying to the Accident Fund Foundation.

Emergent Literacy Event

There was discussion about trying to provide an event(s) that would be ongoing for both parents and children and that we would be able to evaluate.  It was first suggested that we do one kick-off event and then follow up with sessions, possibly at the libraries.  The Library members thought these could be integrated into their current story times.  They did not feel that parents were eager to come to separate sessions “to be educated.”

Discussion then moved to the idea of doing literacy sessions with a prescribed agenda/curriculum at the Great Start Collaborative Play groups in Clinton (5), Eaton (lots) and Ingham (21) Counties.  This use of groups already attracting parents on a regular basis was very attractive.  The Coalition would provide tools and books for these sessions.  It was agreed that this would be the format used for developing emergent literacy education for parents.

Dawn Mitzel suggested other possible sites for the literacy sessions including Valentine Stepping Stones which is a transitional program for single parents.  They hold a mandatory education session one night a week.  The Family Growth Center at CAPS also holds a parent meeting every Wednesday morning and would be a good site.  Others suggested were the teen parent programs, Advent House, and the City Rescue Mission.

Coalition members were asked to bring any literacy curriculums/agendas that they use for parent literacy education to the next meeting.  Beany Tomber asked Karen Woodman to serve as a coordinator to pull together all the various formats.  Karen agreed.  Beany will also work with her on doing this.

Future meetings

We will stay with our meeting date of the third Tuesday of each month, 8:45-10:30 a.m. at the East Lansing Library.  The next meeting will be February 17, 2009.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 am so the Library could use the room for public viewing of the Inauguration Ceremonies.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA  Tuesday, January 20, 2009

 East Lansing Public Library

I.             Welcome and Introductions Announcements

II                Review of November 2008 Minutes                       

III                  2009 Literacy Events
                 Family Activity Events – dates, places

1V.                        Proposed Emergent Literacy Event

What type of event can we plan that could be ongoing for both parents and children?
How can we evaluate the success of such event(s)?
Should we work with a current planned activity to reach our target audience, i.e. Kith and Kin Conference?
Where and When should such an event be held?
(See attached minutes of first planning meeting held.)

VII.              Regular meeting date - third Tuesday of the month
                  Next meeting – February 17, 2009
                  Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

 Minutes Emergent Literacy Event November 10, 2008

 
Members present:  Deb Hill, Lucy McClintic, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Mischele McManus, IISD GPGS; Judy Goth-Owens, LCC; Kathy Debnar, Volunteer; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves and welcomed Mischele McManus, a new employee with GPGS and Early On at the IISD, and Kathy Debnar, a recently retired elementary school teacher  Kathy worked at the Black Child and Family Institute and created the original literacy center there.  She has also worked for the Lansing School District, the State Dept. of Education, and Houghton Mifflin, Publishers.

Background

An emergent literacy event was approved as part of ECLC action plan for the coming year.  The Birth- Five funders (CRCF &CAUW) allocated $5000 from the grant for such an event.

 Goals and Target Audience

Members reviewed and discussed the original goals for the Coalition (see below)

To create awareness of early childhood literacy and what it is;
To promote collaboration between, libraries, schools, other agencies, and early childhood care and education providers;
To have fun with literacy activities.
The long-term goal is to increase literacy in homes of 0-5 year olds by giving them the tools needed to accomplish this.
It was agreed that the first and last goals would be appropriate to focus on and could be attained by working through caregivers and parents.  Tools would be strategies provided to help build emergent literacy skills.

Discussion then turned to who was the target audience we were trying to reach and where would be the best place to engage them.  There was consensus that we wanted to reach those families who were not aware of the importance of early literacy skills and their role in helping their children acquire these skills. These could be low-income, low literacy families but this lack of awareness could also be found in high income, highly educated parents.

Next topic discussed was where best to reach our target audience.  One possible place would be at employers.  It was suggested that we get parent feedback by talking with the Head Start Family Advocates about where the parents they serve work (Deb Hill and Karen Woodman); talking with LCC students (Judy Goth-Owens); and parents on the Head Start and Early On Policy Councils (Lucy McClintic, Mischele McManus) 

It was also suggested that we could use the work environment to provide tips for “Everyday Moments Are Learning Moments” at a variety of locations around a place of business and reinforce our message.  One employer who seemed a good possibility for such a strategy was Meijer.  There are a number of stores in our area, many parents both work and shop there, and the employer could be encouraged to help design an event that would benefit both their employees, their customers, and their management. 

There was concern that when parents come to shop, they want to get in and out as soon as possible, especially if they have a child with them, and are not very receptive to messages. 

Another idea that was discussed was to piggy back on an established group where an already identified population needing literacy awareness training was gathered  This could be the Kinship Conference for relative and aide day care providers put on by the MSU School of Social Work.  This idea seemed popular the more the group discussed it.

The following assignments, in addition to the ones noted above in bold, were made to be completed before the December meeting.  A decision of where, for whom, and when to hold a Spring emergent literacy event will be discussed after we have reports back from our fact finding assignments.

Talk with OYC about the numbers of relative and aide providers and how to access their lists and get background from them about their experience at Baker/Donora – Beany Tomber;

Talk with the Kinship Conference chairperson about our being a part of their conference – Deb Hill

Other questions raised for discussion at future meetings were:
What’s the message we are trying to deliver?
How do we get people to hear the message?
How do we evaluate success?

It was thought we could make better use of Literacy Lotto by making it generic, not just for malls.

The minutes of this meeting and notices of future meetings will be sent to the Coalition and the Parent Education workgroup  All are invited to attend future meetings of this work group.  The meeting was adjourned at noon.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

 Minutes November 4, 2008

Members Present:  Jamie Yeomans, Birth to Five Parent Coordinator; Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start Collaborative; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township District Library; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library;  Ronda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Public Library; Michelle Nicholson, IISD; Jill Lawler, OYC; Keri Keck, Teen Parent Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.  The minutes of the September meeting were reviewed. 

Evaluation of Literacy Weeks Events

Mall Events

Arrangements – In general the set up arrangements all worked pretty well.  There were a few problems.  The Lansing Mall did not set up the tables and chairs and when Mark Buzzitta arrived this all had to be done.  Meridian Mall did not have us on their calendar.  It would have been better there to have the Kiosks moved back some and free up some space.  Strollers took up a lot of space right around the stage area.  It was suggested that next year we have a place to leave strollers and a volunteer to watch them.

Promotion – DeWitt and Charlotte had articles in their community newspapers.  WKAR ran spots on air.  About 3,000 flyers and brochures were not picked up at the pick up point at the EL Library.  (This was probably the number that last year went to the Lansing schools and this year did not get distributed there.)  Everyone liked having the mall events two days in a row even though it was a lot of work.  We must not leave before the times stated on our flyers.  Maybe the answer is to make the time 12-3. 

Performers/Character – It was agreed that Gordon (Roscoe Orman) was well worth the money.  He gave a very good performance and involved the audience.  The parents were as excited as the children to see him.  He stayed for meet and great after each performance and gave out signed pictures that he brought with him.  Clifford was well received but caused some problems because of a faulty zipper.  We punted with safety pins and tape and were able to keep him out most of the time.  The Cat and the Hat (Jean Bolley) did a very good job as a storyteller and as MC.

Literacy Activity- The lotto idea is a good one but we need to give more directions of what to do and explain it better.  We should try to have a separate table set up with a large poster of the lotto card.  We should simplify the game and just have them find a letter or a number, not a store name.  It would be easier to explain and it would also be an open ended game that you could play anywhere.  We need to connect the dots for parents on what they are helping their child learn by putting a parent education component on the back of the sheet.

Volunteers – We need an adult Coalition member in charge of volunteers.  We need an adult supervisor and two teen volunteers for the character.  We need 2 volunteers at the stage entry.  points giving out stickers. We should try to recruit some older volunteers, i.e. LCC students.  .

Several members commented that they made some good contacts with people stopping by their tables and heard good comments about the event.  Any anecdotal remarks would be helpful for Michelle Nicholson to give to the funders.  Please send any you have to her.

Budget 2008

Mall Event Expenses

Roscoe Orman Performance Fee                                          $5000
Roscoe Orman Airfare/Bus/Parking                                          $381.49
Roscoe Orman Hotel - Radisson                                               $404.54
Local Travel/Grand Rapids Airport – Kathy Johnson                   $86.50
Capital City Grill – Breakfast                                                       $44.52
Jean Bolley Performance Fee                                                    $500
A1 Rental Stage Rental – 2007 & 2008                                     $634.45
Capital Imaging – ECLC stickers                                               $181.75
BRD Printing    - brochures, fliers, posters, table tents             $939.16
Sound System rental – Mark Buzzitta (paid from B&N fair)          $89.00
Olive Garden dinner – Roscoe Orman                                          $66.67
Clifford rental                                                                            $100.00
Literacy Lotto                                                                            $100.00

Total                                                                                       $8528.08

 Mall Events Income

Library of Michigan Mahoney Grant                                                 $500
Friends of Lansing Libraries                                                           $2000
CADL Marketing                                                                              $2472.22
Capital Region Community Foundation Grant                                 $2700
Ingham ISD Printing                                                                       $500
Barnes & Noble Book Fair (paid to Mark Buzzitta)                         $89.19
WKAR (Dinner Roscoe Orman, Clifford)                                          $166.67
Head Start (Literacy Lotto)                                                            $100.00

Total                                                                                           $8528.08

Agency Events In-Kind and Cash

Books from Eaton Early Childhood Connections           518 books @6.99 –$ 3620

Costumed Characters    approx $120 each x 5  - $600 
Paid by Delta Library, DeWitt Library, Head Start, Early Childhood Connections, CADL

Total                                                                                       $4221.00

A1 Rental was never paid last year for the stage rental.  (We paid Lansing Mall and it was not passed on.)  It was agreed we should pay them for this. 

Agency Events Attendance

Head Start – over 2,000 the highest for all years
Libraries – figures not in yet
Early Childhood Connections – figures not in yet
Delta Township District Library – first grades – 58, regular story time – 55
East Lansing Public Library- 40

Everyone thought Little Critter was very cute.

General Comments

Eaton County did not receive any acknowledgement in the promotion for their very large donation of books.  The “powers that be” were not happy!  All agreed this was an oversight and should not happen again. 

Coalition members want to continue to provide literacy events again next year and they liked two days in a row instead of two separate weekends.  They do not want to participate in a book fair again

Other

A flyer inviting participation in this year’s WKAR Reading Rainbow story contest was distributed.  Jill Lawler invited Coalition members to submit applications for workshops at the February 7 Coming Together for Children Conference.  It was announced that the first meeting to brainstorm ideas for a spring emergent literacy event would be held Nov. 10, 10 am at the East Lansing Library.  All interested are invited to attend.

Future meetings

There will not be a December meeting.  We will stay with our meeting date of the third Tuesday of each month, 8:45-10:30 a.m. at the East Lansing Library.  The next meeting will be January 20, 2009.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

Meeting Reminder - 12/10/2008

East Lansing Public Library

The next meeting of the Spring Emergent Literacy Event planning subcommittee will be Wednesday, December 10, 10-noon. I have confirmed a room at the East Lansing Library. This is a change from the original date we set at the meeting of Dec. 3. I hope this is still good for everyone.
Reminder that all Birth to Five members, and anyone else who is interested, are invited to attend.

The Early Childhood Literacy Coalition will not have a meeting in December. Our next meeting will be at our regular time and place, Tuesday, January 20, 8:45-10:30 a.m. at the East Lansing Public Library. Minutes of the November evaluation meeting will be coming soon.

Beany Tomber, Ready to Learn Coordinator WKAR
283 Communication Arts Building, MSU
East Lansing, MI 48824-1212
Phone 517-432-3120 Ext 406
Fax 517-353-4359
beany@wkar.org

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA Tuesday, November 4, 2008

East Lansing Public Library

                  Mall Events
                              Arrangements
                              Promotion
                              Performances, characters
                              Times
                              Activity/theme- Literacy Lotto
                              Attendance/traffic
                              Volunteers
                              Barnes & Noble Book Fair
                              Other

                  Partner Events
                              Numbers
                              Characters
                              Other

1V.     WKAR 2009 Reading Rainbow Contest

V.       Planning Sub Committee for Parent Literacy Event
                      First meeting – Nov. 10, 10 am –noon - CACS Head Start Willow Office

VI.     Other

VII.     Regular meeting date
                  Next meeting
                  Adjournment             

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

Minutes – September 23, 2008

Members present: Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz CADL; Beth Revers, DeWitt Library; Karen Black Clinton County Great Start Collaborative; Mischele McManus, Michelle Nicholson, Ingham ISD; Deb Hill, Head Start; Keri Keck, Teen Parenting Network; Lisa Chambers. Jump Start; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Public Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Jill Lawlor, Office for Young Children; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township District Library; Jamie Yeomans, Birth to Five Parent

Barnes & Noble

After we discussed issues and concerns relating to the B&N event including too much focus on B&N vs. ECLC it was decided to move ahead with the following:

-B&N will set up tables in their Children's area. They will be covered in plastic tablecloths (they will provide) and "named" for Sesame Street characters. On each table B&N will supply a few boxes of crayons.  Mark will provide coloring sheets.

-Display areas with age-appropriate recommended reads

-Raffles in several areas throughout the store. At least two baskets of prizes will be provided by ECLC members including ELPL, CADL, etc. and may include books and ECLC merchandise.  Send prizes to Mark or bring directly to B&N at least 1 week before the event.

-Special cookie packets will be made for our event in their café area.

-Mary Jo Gallagher volunteered to do a storytime from 11:30am-12 pm in the Children’s area. This will give us time to get tables set up inside mall. Clifford will appear at the end and wave to kids then go out to the mall area to meet and greet his fans.

-Beth Revers volunteered to do a PJ Storytime from 7-7:30 pm that evening in the Children’s area to help promote the literacy weeks and Sunday’s shows.

-Mary Jo will remain in the store from 12-4 pm helping B&N, letting parents know about the stage shows, etc.

Volunteers

Lansing Mall: Jill will have 6 girls; Deb will have 2 volunteers; Meridian Mall: Jamie will have 7-8 students. Volunteers will be used for handing out ECLC stickers, promoting stage shows & tables, and escorting Clifford. Volunteer hours are 11:30 am – 4 pm.

Update:

Lisa Chambers has been in contact with the Youth Commission Coordinator through MSU Extension. She has teens who are very interested in volunteering at the event. Lisa will know how many at the date approaches 

Costumed Characters

Checks and contacts have been sent in to Costume Specialists from DeWitt Library, Delta Library, ELPL, Head Start, and Early Childhood Connections. All costumes will be sent to and returned from CADL.

Gordon

Roscoe Orman’s plane arrives in Detroit very early Saturday morning. He will arrive in Lansing around 8:30 am. Mark will arrange transportation for him while in town. 

Publicity

Mark has extra brochures if needed. Beany sent out press release that can be customized for your local event. 

Budget

We are about $329 over budget as of now. The breakdown is as follows:

Expenses
Roscoe Orman (estimate includes airfare, hotel, food, etc.           $6000
Jean Bolley                                                                                    $500
A1 Rental Staging                                                                         $376.60
Capital Imaging – ECLC stickers                                                   $181.75
BRD Printing - brochures, fliers, posters, table tents                    $970.65
            TOTAL                                                                              $ 8029.00

Income
Friends of Lansing Libraries                                                           $2000
CADL Marketing                                                                              $2000
Library of Michigan Mahoney Grant                                                $500
Capital Region Community Foundation Grant                                 $2700
Ingham ISD Printing – invoice them for printing                             $500
TOTAL                                                                                           $7700.00

Banner/Sound System

No money left to do a vertical banner. Rhonda will check about using Great Start money to get the ECLC/Great Start logos on a horizontal banner that could be taped to the front of the stage. She will go ahead with that option if she is able. Otherwise Head Start offered to do something with their poster/banner maker. At the very least we still have those mounted ECLC table signs.
A portion of the sound system may have to be rented. Mark will pursue. 

Toolkits

Deb distributed the 2008 Literacy Toolkits. The library page has be revised and was redistributed electronically.

Other

Winter Literacy Event – Beany will call a meeting in November for anyone interested in working on a subcommittee to plan a winter event of some kind.
501 (C) 3 – this may not be an option as we are already a subcommittee of Birth-to-Five and. We may need to consider other ways of handling bills, etc. in the future.

NEXT MEETING SPECIAL DATE:

Tuesday, November 4, 8:45 am at East Lansing Public Library.
There will be no meeting in October. And the Nov 4 meeting replaces our regular November date. We will most likely not meet in December.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA - September 23, 2008

 East Lansing Public Library

I.         Welcome and Introductions; Review of August minutes

II.        Barnes & Noble Discussion
            Discussion & options for Lansing Mall event
            Vouchers
            Guest at 9:15 am: Elaine Brockhaus – Barnes & Noble               

III.      Volunteers
            Volunteer coordinator
            How many do we need? How many do we have?
            DeWitt Library providing person to be Clifford

IV.       Costumed Characters
            Did contracts get sent back to Costume Specialists from everybody?

V.        Publicity
            All materials have been distributed
            Mark has extras brochures
            WKAR’s Press Release

 VI.       Budget        

VII.     ECLC Banner/Sound System           

VIII.    Other
a.       Winter Literacy Event – volunteer sub-committee
b.      ECLC consider becoming a 501 C3

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, October 21, 8:45 am – East Lansing Public Library
or do we want to meet a week earlier for last minute plans?

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

Minutes - August 19, 2008

Members present: Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, Head Start; Keri Keck, Teen Parenting Network; Lisa Chambers. Jump Start; Julie Pierce, East Lansing Public Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Jill Lawlor, Office for Young Children; Becky Fermanich, Delta Township District Library; Karen Black. Clinton County Great Start Collaborative; Jamie Yeomans, Birth to Five Parent; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library.

The minutes of the July meeting were reviewed.

Mall Events

Mark and Becky met with Michael Cook, General Manager and Ryan Gillette, Common Area Coordinator at Lansing Mall to review specifics of our event. The event is now on their calendar and they are excited to have us at the mall. Contract will be sent to CADL when we submit table/chair count. We do not have to pay for tables this year! We will ask for:

TableCount for Lansing Mall:                      Table Count for Meridian Mall

1.      Check-In Table                                   1. Check-In Table
2.      Head Start                                         2. Head Start Books
3.      Head Start Books                               3. WKAR
4.      CADL                                                  4. CADL
5.      Safe Sleep Coalition                           5. Safe Sleep Coalition
6.      IISD – Great Parents/Great Start       6. IISD – Great Parents/Great Start
7.      IISD – Early On                                  7. IISD – Early On
8.      CCRESA                                              8. CCRESA
9.      Early Childhood Connections             9. Early Childhood Connections
10.  Early Childhood Connections               10. DeWitt Library
11.  Delta Township Library                        11. East Lansing Library
12.  WKAR                                                   12. Ingham County Health Dept
13.  Ingham County Health Dept                13. Ingham County Health Dept
14.  Ingham County Health Dept
15.  DeWitt Library

Plus 30-50 chairs for tables/public seating as space allows at both malls.

Barnes & Noble

Mark and Becky met with Elaine to sign the contract and make final arrangements. B&N will provide dressing room for Mr. Orman and changing area for Clifford. It was decided that we wound not provide an activity in the store but could still possibly provide a coloring/activity page in the café area provided we have a volunteer to hand them out. Head Start has a “Clifford goes to the library” coloring page if needed. The Literacy Lotto may also be revised to include something inside the store. ECLC stickers will also be available to hand out at the tables to help remind clerks in prompting the discount. The store will have various Clifford/Sesame Street displays/signage to help promote the event. Mark will ask if B&N would incorporate Clifford into their regular storytime event that week.

Publicity

Drafts of the brochures/fliers/table tents were passed around. Slight corrections will be made and when final, Mark will end out electronically to ECLC list serve. Final numbers for the 2500 8 ½ x 11 fliers are as follows:

            CADL 300
            Cristo Ray – 50
            DeWitt Library – 40
            ECC – 50
            Great Parents/Great Start – 300
            Head Start – 1500
            Teen Parent Network – 150
            East Lansing Library – 20
            Clinton – 25
            Delta Library - 50

10,000 brochures will be divided similar to other years. Both pieces should be available in early September. Mark will let everyone know when they are ready for pick up if people want to get them before out next meeting.

Michelle reported that their will be two presentation of checks for the foundation grant money. One will be in September and one will be with us at the Lansing Mall. It is possible to have our events promoted through these announcement/presentations.

Mark will ask Beany to once again write up an official press release and send it out to the ECLC list serve so agencies can add their events as well as the mall. All agencies are encouraged to use this so we are consistent in our wording. It was reminded that we especially need to credit the Foundation grant in the press release.

Mark is still working on a banner for the staging area. Cost is estimated at $500. And portions of the sound system may have to be rented. Mark will provide some parts and Michelle said IISD may have some things if we need it.

Volunteers

Jill and Karen’s troops are older and are choosing other options. Jamie contacted Volunteens and found out it is a summer program only. Michelle and Julie will check into possible groups some of which we may not know until school is back in session in a few weeks. Lisa will check with Ingham County Youth Commission. If you have any other ideas, please let us know ASAP.

NEXT MEETING SPECIAL DATE: September 23, 8:45 am at East Lansing Public Library.   
We will resume our regular third Tuesday schedule in October.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA - August 19, 2008

East Lansing Library

I. Welcome and Introductions
Review of July Minutes

II. Mall contract update
Insurance

III. Barnes & Noble
Vouchers not necessary but encouraged
Will provide dressing room/changing area for Mr. Orman and Clifford
Coloring/Activity sheets in café area? Volunteer hands them out?

IV. Publicity
Final count for how many of each...
Brochures
8 ½ x 11 fliers
Table Tents
Official Press Releases - who will send and to where?

V. Table count for both malls
Lansing Mall Meridian Mall
1. Head Start 7. 1. 7.
2. CADL 8. 2. 8.
3. WKAR 9. 3. 9.
4. Safe Sleep Coalition 10. 4. 10.
5. 11. 5. 11.
6. 12. 6. 12.
And who needs electricity? Electricity?

VI. ECLC Banner for staging area
Sound System

VII. Other

NEXT MEETING:  Tuesday, September 16, 8:45 am - East Lansing Public Library.  Head Start's Supervisor's meetings are falling on the same days as the Coalition meetings. Is anyone interested in changing the day?

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

MINUTES - Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Members Present:  Jamie Yeomans, Birth to Five Parent; Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Jennifer Lamphere, Cristo Rey; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library;  Ronda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Michelle Nicholson, IISD; Jill Lawler, OYC; Keri Keck, Teen Parenting Network; Susi Elkins, Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.  The minutes of the June meeting were reviewed.  Beth Revers’ name was added to the list of those in attendance.

More Plans for 2008 Literacy Weeks and Events

Mall Events

Mark Buzzitta still has not received the contract from the Lansing Mall.  He will follow up on this and ask help from Barnes & Noble.  There has been staff turnover at the mall and this may explain the delay.  He has received the contract from the Meridian Mall.  CADL will be signing the contracts again this year and will also be taking care of liability insurance coverage for the Coalition and all members that participate.  By the August meeting we need to know the number of tables that each agency needs and any special requests for electric connections, etc.

A1 Rental Staging will rent us an 8x16 stage for the performances.  The cost for both malls is $376.60 and includes setup and takedown..  Gordon had requested a stage 16x20.  We will work with him on how to use the smaller stage to fit his needs.

Mark has talked more with Elaine Brockhouse at Barnes & Noble about our Book Fair at the Lansing Mall event.  Clerks can not give buyers an automatic discount but they will be instructed to ask if they are supporting the ECLC.  We can put out table tents promoting our activities in the store café.  Mark will ask about having a Clifford activity in the store and then have Clifford leading the way out to our first performance. 

The character schedule and the contact list for the agency events were passed around for review and corrections.  Nichole Welz will email the final versions to all members.

CADL will do the original art work for all print items and have them printed.  They will invoice IISD for the cost of printing the brochure. ($500)  We will order 10,000 copies and have them to distribute by Sept. 2.

We will order 150 table tents for each mall, 4 22x28 posters for each mall, and 1 vertical Coalition banner on a base from Art Craft ($500).

We will order 2500 8x11 flyers to promote the mall events.  The following were numbers that each agency requested:
CADL - 500
Cristo Rey – 50
DeWitt Library - 40
ECC – 50
Great Start – 250
Head Start – 1500
Teen Parent Network – 75 

NOTE – East Lansing Library wasn’t represented.  We need to add them to the count.  Anyone else that wasn’t there that needs flyers, please email Mark Buzzitta the numbers you want.

The Foundation/United Way funders may wish to do a press event during one of the mall events to announce their gift.  Michelle Nicholson will be talking with them soon about this.

Acknowledgements on print materials and at events

We discussed the various contributors that need to be acknowledged on our print materials and tried to come up with some criteria given the different cash and in-kind levels of donations.  They include:
            CRCF/CAUW - 2700
            CADL – 2500
            Friends of Lansing Library - 2500
            IISD – 500
            Head Start – 500
            Library of Michigan foundation - 500
            Barnes & Noble – 200
            WKAR – in-kind 1250
            All Coalition members – in-kind

Mark will talk with the CADL Marketing Director to get suggestions about how to do acknowledgements without taking up all the space on the brochure and flyer.

We also need to combine the Great Start logo with the Coalition logo on print materials and the banner.

         
Budget

All money will be channeled through CADL.
Our expenses estimated so far are as follows:
Roscoe Ormand (Gordon) – 6000
Jean Bolley (storyteller) – 500
Brochure Printed - 500
Stage Rental – 377
Tables – 300
Stickers – 157
Posters, banner, signage  - 700
Sound System - 200
Estimated Expenditures- $8734
Estimated Revenues - $8700

Jill Lawler’s troop has gotten older (they do that) and does not wish to participate this year.  Karen Black was not at the meeting so we have no report on participation from her troop.  Jamie Yeomans will contact Lansing Parks and Recreation to see if their volunteers might be interested in working.  Michelle Nicholson will talk with the Okemos Honor Society.  We will want volunteers at the play area in the Meridian Mall.

Beth Revers will arrange for a wearer (her son) for the Clifford costume at both malls.

Coalition Brochure

Karen Woodman passed around a draft of the proposed brochure.  Members approved the format and made several suggestions for additions.  We would like to add the Great Start history.  Also add the Great Start web sites for all four county Great Starts.  Add United Way logo to slogan “Everyday moments…” since this is copyright by Born Learning/United Way.  (Need to check if this is okay.)  Deb Hill will bring the revised brochure to the August meeting for approval. 

The meeting was adjourned.

Next Meeting August 19, 2008

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA - Tuesday, July 15, 2008

East Lansing Public Library

      Barnes & Noble – activities/storytelling in a.m. late p.m.?
      Schuler’s – response to Beth Revers
      Mall contracts, number of tables needed
     Volunteers – Girl Scouts
      Promotion – Event flyers and postcards – how many, attendance stickers,    brochures, posters, banner, table tents, press release, acknowledgements on print pieces
     Budget – What have we committed so far and what do we still need ifunding?
     Characters – Bob the Builder
     Other

IV.      Other
           Next Meetings – August 19, September  16, 2008
           Adjournment

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes June 17, 2008

Members Present:  Jamie Yeomans, Birth to Five Parent; Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Karen Black, Clinton County Early Childhood; Becky LeBoeuf, Delta Township District Library; DeWitt Public Library;  Ronda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Library; Michelle Nicholson, IISD; Jill Lawler, OYC; Keri Keck, Teen Parenting Network; Susi Elkins, Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Guests Barnes & Noble:  Mike Pearson, Store Manager and Elaine Brockhaus, Community Relations Manager
 

Barnes & Noble Book Fair Oct. 18 at Lansing Mall

Members introduced themselves.   Our guests, Mike and Elaine, from Barnes & Noble were introduced.  They presented information on the Book Fair program .which is supported at the corporate level and implemented throughout the country at the local stores.  They only donate to schools, libraries and literacy based non profit organizations.  A percentage of everything sold in the store the day of the Book Fair is donated to the participating agency not just during the hours of our event. (Gift cards and member cards are not covered.)  The agency receives 10% of sales up to $2000, 15% for $2000-$10,000, and 20% for sales above $20,000. The store does a big promotion on the event.  The store will produce a voucher template for agencies to copy and distribute  The customer does not have to have a voucher but can just tell the cashier they want donation to go to ECLC.  However, it’s a good idea to have vouchers as a promotion tool.   We could also have table tent cards on the tables in the café and signage in the store.

Elaine and Mike encouraged us to think about having activities and storytellers in the store, along with book displays highlighting the characters we are featuring.  There would be a space for Clifford to use to change “wearers” during the event.  There would be space for 100 in the story book area.  Elaine will be our main contact.  She wants B&N to be an integral part of our event and wants to have it be a “signature” event for them.  It was suggested that we promote heavily starting one month before the event.  We discussed using balloons to draw people into the store and decided they were too dangerous for small children.  We will think about handing out vouchers inside the store when it opens.  We may try to have the store do activities and storytelling between 10-12 and again after 4 when our event is over.  B&N questioned why we were being charged a fee for tables when other non profits were not.  They may be able to help us have this charge dropped by the Mall.

Mark Buzzitta will be our main contact with Elaine as we continue to plan for the Book Fair and work out details.

More Plans for 2008 Literacy Weeks and Events

Funding

Beth Revers received a response from her letter to Schuler’s Books.  They are interested in working with us in some way, although they don’t have much budget.  Beth will suggest percentage of sales (aim high), displays, and gift certificates for a drawing during the event on Oct. 19 at Meridian Mall.  It was also suggested that the downtown bookstore, Everybody Reads, might be interested in donating books and distributing our flyers.

Birth to Five CRCF/CAUW grant - Michelle Nicholson updated members on this grant.  She passed out a chart that showed indicators as measurable characteristics of outcomes that had been added at the request of the funders.  For the Mall events, Emergent Literacy Skills was added.  We also added performance fees, promotion and printing under the budget column for the Mall events.  For the Emergent Literacy event, we added keynote speaker, facilitators and childcare under the budget item.  Change in knowledge of emergent literacy skills was added as the indicator under this item.

We will receive $2700 by September 1 from this grant and can plan on it as we work with our budget.  Michelle asked if we would be willing to have a press conference incorporated into a Mall event to announce the grant award.  It would probably be between the two performances at about 1:30.  There was no objection to working this into the schedule.

We need to check on how the Foundations wish to be acknowledged on promotion pieces. Michelle will ask.  We will have a number of funders to acknowledge: Foundations, Library of Michigan Foundation, Barnes & Noble, CADL, Great Start, and other Coalition members making large donations..  We will have to figure out how we do this in a fair and attractive way.

For the Eaton and Clinton County Imagination Libraries funding, the indicator of emergent literacy skills was added.

Promotion

Val Getter, IISD graphics artist will be out on sick leave during the summer.  CADL will take over the design and preparation of the brochure and the other promotion pieces.  They may also send them out for printing.  If this seems the easiest way, CADL will bill the IISD later.  Mark will check on this with the CADL marketing director.  We hope to send to the printer by August 15.  We will print 10,000 of the schedule brochure this year.  We must decide how many mall event flyers, postcards and table tents we want.  We also need to print a large quantity of Coalition stickers if we plan to use them as attendance measures.

Coalition Brochure

There was discussion abut what should be included in a brochure, i.e. agency contact names, tips for reading, resources available, messages (Born Learning literacy ones, Everyday Learning Moments).  Karen Woodman will work on this but she would like some direction.

Volunteers

Karen Black and Jill Lawler have talked with their scout troops and are waiting to hear if they will work at both events.

Other

Carol Buzzitta asked if the Safe Sleep Coalition could have a table at the Mall events.  Since they are a member of the Great Start Birth to Five Collaborative, it was thought this was appropriate and they were welcomed.  Other requests will be considered on a case by case basis.  Becky announced she is changing her name (getting married) and will not be at the July meeting.  Best wishes were extended by all members.

The meeting was adjourned a 10:45 a.m.

Next Meeting July 15, 2008

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

AGENDA  Tuesday, June 17 2008

East Lansing Public Library

I.                    Welcome and Introductions
                  Announcements

II.                 Review of May 2008 Minutes

III       Literacy Events and Oct. Literacy Weeks
                  Update on Funding
                       Macy’s, Schuler’s, others – Lisa, Beth, Mark, Michelle
                  Promotion
                       ISD/CADL brochure layout and printing
                      Coalition brochure – Karen Woodman
                      Flyers/postcards/table tents – number needed
                      Attendance Count – stickers, other
                  Book lists – Nichole Welz
                  Other

IV.      Update CRCF/CAUF Grant - Michelle                    

V.                 Other

 VII.       Meetings third Tuesday of each month, 8:45-10:30 a.m. East Lansing Library -  July 15, August 19

                 Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

Minutes May 20, 2008

Members Present:  Jamie Yeomans, Birth to Five Parent; Ken Sperber, Birth to Five Staff; Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start Collaborative; Jennifer Lamphere, Cristo Rey; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library;  Ronda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Julie Pierce, East Lansing Library; Lisa Chambers, JumpStart; Jill Lawler, OYC; Keri Keck, Teen Parent Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.   The minutes of the April meeting were reviewed.

Plans for 2008 Literacy Weeks and Events

Dates for Literacy weeks following the Mall events are Oct. 20-Nov. 3

Funding

Tomber passed out the report she handed in to the Birth to Five Operations Committee requesting funds from the CRCF/CAUW grant for the Coalition.  She estimated that we need $9500 for the events (with in kind and cash of $5800 pledged) for a request of $2700-$3700, and $5000 for an emergent literacy event.  Members asked if this is just for one year and when we might receive money.  Each year will have its own work plan.  We are likely to receive some money for this year’s events but won’t know until late summer or early fall.

 We have not had a response from our proposal to Macy’s nor from our letter to Schuler’s Books.

 The storybook characters will be paid for by CADL, Delta District Library, DeWitt Library, Early Childhood Connections, and Head Start.  Clifford will be paid for by WKAR.  Beany Tomber will try to book Bob the Builder and we will decide whether or not to add him after we know the cost.
 

Mall Events

The Meridian Mall does not open until noon.  It was decided to schedule performances for Gordon at 12:30 and 2 with meet and greats to follow.  The hours to be promoted for the events will be 12-3.
 

Scheduling

Again this year Nichole Welz and Ronda Rucker will do the scheduling for the character visits to individual sites.  They will send the form out to all members by the middle of June and ask that it be returned by the middle of July.  All information should include addresses, contact names, and cell phone numbers.  The final schedule will be ready to go to the ISD for layout by August 1 and we hope to have the brochures for distribution after Labor Day.
 

Promotion

We will plan to do a flyer promoting the mall events in addition to the printed brochures with the site schedule.  Jump Start would like the postcard format, Head Start would like a one page flyer, East Lansing Library and Teen Parent Network would like some of each.  We need to firm up
numbers for this piece.  Again this year we will plan to do table tents for the mall food courts to be distributed a week before the events.

The East Lansing Library (through the City), CADL, and WKAR will do press releases.  OYC will contact the LSJ MOMS insert editor   We will have information in the Clinton County school newsletters, at area neighborhood centers, in the CMAEYC newsletter (Lin Hirea), in Kids World at schools, and in the WKAR September and October program guide.

Head Start staff will prepare the tool kit.  They have a new machine that does two color posters and they also have a banner maker.  Both of these could be used for coalition materials.

Karen Woodman will talk with channel 10 and have a “Mug of the Day” for the events.  T-shirts with the Coalition logo may be ordered at cafepress.com/eclc for $25.

Volunteers

Karen Black and Jill Lawler will talk with their scout troops and see if they are willing to work at both events.

Nichole Welz reported on a speaker that she heard at the Michigan Library Association Spring Institute.  His name is Jim Gill.  He is a musician with background in child development.  He sings, talks about what he was trying to do with the song he wrote and how it affects the child.  His fee was $1900.  Several others joined in who had heard Jim and expressed great interest in bringing him to Lansing for a future event.  There is more information about him on the MAEYC web site.

The meeting was adjourned a 10:25 a.m.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION

AGENDA Tuesday, May 20, 2008

East Lansing Public Library

I.        Welcome and Introductions

Announcements

II.       Review of April 2008 Minut

III       Literacy Events and Oct. Literacy Weeks

           Update on Funding
                  Bob the Builder/Martha
                  Volunteers
                  Promotion
                  Other

IV.      Capital Region Community Foundation/Capital Area United Fund

                 Our Report – questions/comments
                 Progress Report on all Workgroup Requests
                 Other

V.        Other

VII.     Meetings third Tuesday of each month, 8:45-10:30 a.m. East Lansing Library

                 June 17, July 15, August 19
                 Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Minutes April 15, 2008

Members Present:  Ken Sperber, Birth to Five; Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Di Clark, Capital Area Literacy Coalition; Karen Black, Clinton County Great Start Collaborative; Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Julie Pierce, East Lansing Public Library; Michelle Nicholson, IISD Great Start Collaborative; Jamie Yeomans, Birth to Five Parent Liaison; Lisa Chambers, JumpStart; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Plans for 2008 Literacy Weeks and Events

Dates/Places – We have confirmed dates for October 18 at the Lansing Mall and Oct. 19 at the Meridian Mall.  Although the Meridian Mall doesn’t open until noon, we will be able to get in earlier for set-up.  CADL will sign the contracts and assume liability for all agencies as they did last year.  Dates for Literacy weeks following the Mall events are Oct. 20-Nov. 4

Funding – Roscoe Ormond’s is the performer at the Malls.  His appearances will cost us $6,000.  CADL will contribute $2000, Friends of CADL $2000, and the Library of Michigan Foundation $500.  A letter has been sent to Macy’s by Lisa Chambers with information about the Coalition and the events requesting a grant of $2000.  Next step is an invitation to formally apply for a grant.  Beth Revers has contacted Schuler’s in the Meridian Mall and Barnes & Noble in the Lansing Mall asking for financial support.  Barnes & Noble would be willing to do a Book Fair day for us on the day of our event.  We would receive a certain percentage of all sales that day if customers request it.  Mark Buzzitta has submitted a request to Target for $2000.  We may not hear on this until September 30, too late for this year.

Karen Woodman will work on a brochure about the Coalition to be distributed at events and for use throughout the year.  The cost of printing this will be added to the budget.

Characters- Clifford will be the character at both malls.  Arthur was too expensive because the firm handling the rental charges $1500 if the event is held at a commercial site.

There was discussion about the selection of storybook characters for the two weeks of individual events.  Members of the Birth to Five Parent Liaison Workgroup had some concerns about the Coalition’s choices.  They felt some of the characters were too intimidating for small children.  Final choices were Skippy Jon Jones (10/20-10/27); Stella Luna, Little Critter, Miss Spider, and Curious George.  Nichole Welz will develop book lists to complement all characters for all events.

The Tool Kit will be developed again this year by Head Start staff.  IISD will be responsible for printing the brochure.  (We need to increase last year’s number back to 10,000.)  They have budgeted $500 for this. 

We will discuss recruitment and coordination of volunteers for the mall events at a later meeting.

The Lead Awareness Coalition composed of city/county/coalition members has requested an information table at the mall events.  They are welcome to participate.

Members discussed various ways to get a more structured estimate of the numbers attending the mall events.  One idea suggested was to give each person entering the area a Coalition sticker.   Another was to do some sort of survey. We will continue to talk about a realistic way to get a fairly accurate count of those participating/attending.  This would be helpful information in looking for future grant funding.

Rhonda Rucker has 2000 Bob the Builder books she will contribute as prizes for the Literacy Lotto activity at the malls.  Beany Tomber will investigate the possibility of having a character from the television program at the events.

CRCF/CAUW (the Funders) RFP for Funding Great Start Collaborative Action Plan

Great Start Action Plan related to the grant priorities.  Their will be approximately $185,000 available for the next three years to fund initiatives identified by Great Start and the Funders as priorities.  Each workgroup has been asked to identify the priorities it is working on and the amount requested for the coming year to implement these priorities.  Our group identified 5 c. under the Action Plan as our highest priority.  We discussed the amount we would request for the Early Childhood Literacy Coalition Workgroup.  (See attached for description of our priorities and the requests made.)  The chair (Tomber) and vice chair (Buzzitta) discussed it later and added an additional request to fund an emergent parent/child literacy event.  Members had talked about having some sort of event in conjunction with our literacy weeks if there was money to do this.  We elaborated on this idea when we added it to our request.

The Funders are also committed to funding outreach in Clinton and Eaton Counties and are looking, in particular, at the Dolly Parton Imagination Library projects already underway or in the planning stage in those counties.  Ingham Great Start looked at this project previously and because of the very large numbers involved decided it was not practical for our county.

Michelle Nicholson reminded members that the book she had ordered in bulk last year, Rock-A-Bye Baby Reader was still available for purchase.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Next Meeting May 20, 2008

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

The next meeting of the Early Childhood Literacy Coalition will be Tuesday, April 15, 8:45-10:30 a.m, East Lansing Public Library. It's possible we may be in the children's area if the piano is being tuned in our regular meeting room. Look for us! Please enter through the double doors on the south side of the building near the book deposit.

The agenda for the meeting is below. Minutes of the March meeting were sent to you earlier. Also attached is the Request For Proposal from the Capital Region Community Foundation/Capital Area United Way. In addition to firming up plans for our fall events, we will be discussing our request for funds for our work group from this grant that has been awarded to Birth to Five. Please plan to attend or send a representative from your agencies to participate in this important planning process;.

Beany Tomber, Ready to Learn Coordinator
WKAR 283 Communication Arts Building, MSU
East Lansing, MI 48824-1212
Phone 517-432-3120 Ext 406  Fax 517-353-4359

AGENDA – April 15, 2008

II.                 Review of March 2008 Minutes

III      Literacy Events and Oct. Literacy Weeks –Buzzitta et al

                  Dates/Places
                  Performers – Gordon, Clifford
                  Budget/Funding – CADL, Library of Michigan Foundation, Macy’s
                  Storybook characters for individual sites
                  Tool Kit
                  Brochure
                  Volunteers
                 Other

IV.     Capital Region Community Foundation/Capital Area United Fund RFP
                        (see RFP Summary)

Please be thinking about what our group would like to request from the total pledged amount of $250,000 for next year, including events, and other activities that would enhance early childhood literacy.  We should be looking at the priorities that we have selected from the Birth to five strategic Action Plan as we discuss our request.

V.                 Other

VII.       Meetings third Tuesday of each month, 8:45-10:30 a.m. East Lansing Library
             May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19 

              Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

MINUTES – March 18, 2007

Members present: Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Jill Lawlor, OYC; Beth Revers, DeWitt Library; Keri Keck, Teen Parent Network; Lisa Chambers, Jump Start; Becky LeBoeuf, Delta Township District Library; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Public Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Jamie Yeomans, Great Start Collaborative, Parent Rep.; Deb Hill, Head Start.

Members introduced themselves. Welcome to guest and possible new coalition member Carol Allen from Union Missionary Baptist Church who discussed and passed out information on their “Be A Star Literacy Program.”

The minutes of the February meeting were approved.

Fall Literacy Events

Mark reported that Roscoe Orman (Gordon of Sesame Street) was not available on the dates we originally suggested for the mall events. New dates of Saturday, October 18 at the Lansing Mall and Sunday, October 19 at Meridian Mall were approved for Gordon’s appearance. Performance times will be 12 pm & 2 pm at both malls. Tables should be set up and ready to go by 11 am and taken down at 4 pm. We have not heard back from Meridian Mall yet to confirm this date. Mark will continue to make contact with them and we hope to have a firm decision by our next meeting. We will be asking Lansing Mall to waive the costs of the tables this year.

New Literacy Week dates will be October 20 – November 3, 2008.

Mark negotiated a fee of $5000 for 4 shows and 4 meet-and-greets (two at each mall) plus an estimated $700 for airline, hotel, food, and misc. Mark already has a contract that we will need to sign and return with a check by the end of April.

We still have the option of adding another program/speaking engagement at an additional cost but we are holding off until our funding for the mall events is secure.

The Library of Michigan Mahoney fund amount will be $500 this year.  This will also be the last year they will provide any funding.  CADL will help with funding in the range of $2000-2500. The Friends of Lansing Libraries will donate up to $2000.

Book Donations

Beth will contact the bookstores at each mall and see if she can secure some book donations and/or money from them to help with general costs or giveaways for the Literacy Lotto. Rhonda will also look into getting books donated from the First Book program. It would be nice to have more than one book choice for siblings.

Costumed Characters

We may try to book five characters for the agency events this year with Delta Library, DeWitt Library, Head Start, Early Childhood Connections (and maybe CADL) each paying for one. Characters chosen were: Miss Spider, Stellaluna, Wild Thing, Skippy Jon Jones and Little Critter. Mark will try to reserve them for October 20 – November 3.

Beany is trying to get Arthur reserved for the malls.

Other Fall Events Discussions

It was suggested to work on a brochure specific to ECLC that could be distributed at the mall events. Also to have an ECLC banner for the staging area. We will discuss further at our next meeting.

The Capital Community Regional Foundation may have some grant money that we can apply for to use with the fall events. We hope to get an update next month from Michelle Nicholson.

Other

There is a new Parent Education Work Group through Great Start. Anyone interested in participating in this group should contact Beany Tomber.

Meeting adjourned at 10:35 am.

NEXT MEETING:

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 8:45 AM, EAST LANSING PUBLIC LIBRARY

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

Minutes February 19, 2008

Members Present:  Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start;; Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Julie Pierce, East Lansing Public Library; Michelle Nicholson, Great Start Collaborative; Jill Lawler. OYC; M.C. Rothhorn, Jamie Yeomans, Parents; Keri Keck, Teen Parent Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.  The minutes of the January meeting were reviewed.

Beany Tomber announced the days and times judges are needed for the second and third rounds of the Reading Rainbow Writers contest for K-3 grades. Members who can serve on a panel for any of those times will email her by the end of this week.

Plans for 2008 Literacy Weeks and Events

Mark Buzzitta passed out a working document for possible dates, performers, and funding for the October 2008 Literacy Events.  After discussion of possible venues, i.e. malls, Pettingill Middle School, Hannah Center, it was decided that we would try to book Roscoe Orman (Gordon on Sesame Street) for performances at the Lansing and Meridian Malls Oct. 11 and 12.  We also will try to book Arthur for both Malls.  We discussed trying to hold some type of parent education event during this weekend with Orman at Union Missionary Baptist Church.  Jill Lawler will explore this possibility.

The quoted price for two performances for Orman is $3500.  Mark Buzzitta will continue to negotiate with Orman’s agent and the malls to reach an agreement on price and dates.  CADL’s marketing director will help with funding and with recruiting other businesses to help fund Orman’s visit.  Beany Tomber will talk with the Library of Michigan Foundation about a possible grant again this year.  We have been warned that there may be a lesser amount or no grant at all.  Tomber will also book Arthur for the mall events.

Literacy weeks will be Oct. 13-24.  We will decide on characters for the individual events at our next meeting.

 It was also agreed that last year’s theme “Everyday Moments Are Learning Moments” was an excellent one and we should use it again.

Great Start Collaborative Action Plan

We reviewed our role with the Great Parent Great Start Collaborative Action Plan.   Members discussed the idea of forming a new work group for the Collaborative to focus on parent education presenting training at non traditional sites and utilizing a mix of the curriculums of a variety of agencies.  This recommendation will be taken to the next Birth to Five meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m..

Next Meeting March 18, 2008

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

AGENDA Tuesday, February 19, 2008

East Lansing Public Library

I.         Welcome and Introductions
         Announcements
         Dates and times for Reading Rainbow contest judging

       II.           Review of January 2008 Minutes                 

III       Plans for October Literacy Events
                  Dates
                  Performers
                  Funding Ideas                  

      IV.     Great Start Collaborative Action Plan (Check web site)
                        Review of decisions made January 15
                        Next steps 

   V.                 Other 

       VII.       Meetings third Tuesday of each month, 8:45-10:30 a.m. East Lansing Library
                          Next meeting dates
                          March 18, April 15

                Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

January 15, 2008  MINUTES

Members Present:  Mark Buzzitta,Nichole Welz, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start;; Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Mary Jo Gallagher, East Lansing Public Library; Michelle Nicholson, Great Start Collaborative;  Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Dept/JumpStart; M.C. Rothhorn, Jamie Yeomans, Parents; Keri Keck, Teen Parent Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.  The minutes of the November meeting were reviewed.  One addition was made to suggest that at a future mall event another table in a different part of the mall be set up to answer questions about the event and the activity.

Beany Tomber asked members if they would be interested in serving as judges for the second and third rounds of the Reading Rainbow Writers contest for K-3 grades. The second round will pick the top six winners and the third round the final winners for each grade level.  She will bring dates and times for the judging to the next meeting and ask for commitments then..

Plans for 2008 Literacy Weeks and Events

Mark Buzzitta, CADL, will chair the events again this year.  (Many thanks, Mark)

It was agreed that we would like to hold two events again next year at the Lansing and Meridian Malls respectively.  We would like them to be two Saturdays in a row in October.  We should avoid the first week in October for the Lansing Mall because of the start of the MSRP programs in Eaton County.  Tomber and Buzzitta will check out date availability and the MSU football schedule to see what dates are possible and report at the February meeting.

Buzzittz will approach the Malls and the bookstores for possible funding.  Tomber will talk with the Library of Michigan Foundation about a grant for 2008.

It was also agree that last year’s theme “Everyday Moments Are Learning Moments” was an excellent one and we should use it again.

Great Start Collaborative Action Plan

Michelle Nicholson led a discussion on the role of the Coalition in implementing the Family Support and Parent Education section of the plan.  Members looked at the strategies and objectives..  These were decided on as a result of the many community conversations held throughout the area and the Collaborative members input.  Members agreed to the following priorities for Coalition involvement:

A.

1. Monthly GSC articles – Public Awareness work group should be the lead group for this.    The Coalition role would be to act as a distributor with articles on display at the libraries; they could also give information to all baby time leaders to use at their sessions;

2. They could have the MIGreat Parent web site and the CAC Voices Birth to Five site easily accessible on library computers for patrons and take some leadership role on this item.

B.

4.  Promote and Assist with Community Events – Coalition will take the lead position on this priority.

C.

Coalition members also agreed to look at working on various objectives under this goal and see how they could be involved in doing activities that can be replicated across counties, rather than just as single events.  Perhaps we might plan a parent training with JumpStart and the Collaborative Parent Coalition in late spring as a start.

Rhonda Rucker, Eaton County ISD, shared copies of the report from their Collaborative and expressed interest in working across county lines .

The Speaker’s Bureau form was distributed and members were asked to fill out and return to MSU where the information is being collected.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 a.m.

Next Meeting February 19, 2008

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

MEETING AGENDA  Tuesday, January 15, 2008

East Lansing Public Library

I.                  Welcome and Introductions

   Announcements

II.                 Review of  November 2007 Minutes
                       

III       Literacy Weeks for 2008

                  Dates
                  Funding Ideas
                  Theme

IV.     Great Start Collaborative Action Plan (Check web site)

                        Role for Early Childhood Literacy Coalition
                        Priorities for Coalition for Implementation

 
V.                 Ingham County Early Childhood Education Speakers Bureau

 
VI.              Other

 
VII.       Meetings third Tuesday of each month, 8:45-10:30 a.m. East Lansing Library

                                    Next meeting dates
                                    February 19, March 18, April 15 

                Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition Mtg Announcement

The next meeting of the Early Childhood Literacy Coalition will be Tuesday, January 15, 8:45-11:30 at the East Lansing Library. Please enter through the doors at the south side of the building near the book deposit slot.

Beany Tomber
Ready to Learn Coordinator WKAR
283 Communication Arts Building, MSU
East Lansing, MI 48824-1212
Phone 517-432-3120 Ext 406
Fax 517-353-4359

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Minutes November 6, 2007

Room 284 Comm. Arts Bldg., MSU

Members Present:  Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Deb Hill, Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Dept/Jump Start; Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Ken Sperber, Birth to Five Subcommittee; Keri Keck, Teen Parent Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.  The minutes of the September meeting were reviewed.  There were no minutes of the brief October meeting held at the Lansing Mall.

Evaluation of Literacy Week Events – What worked, what didn’t?

The following are comments made by members on the different agenda items.  Also included are some comments that were sent by email from members who could not attend the meeting.  There was consensus that the mall events had been very successful and we should plan to do similar events again next year.  It was felt that many saw this more as a “show” than as an “event” and we need to have more balance between the performers and the literacy activities.  I have tried to pick out the ideas/comments that members had for things that needed to be changed and bolded them.  If I have missed some comments, please add them.

Mall Events

Arrangements –Mark Buzzitta did a wonderful job working with both malls for where we would be set up, where the characters would dress, how many tables we needed, provision of chairs and stage and back drop.  Mark and his partner provided the sound system for both malls for the performers.  Members preferred the table arrangement at the Lansing Mall because it gave us more space and we were also enclosed as a unit.  We had more space generally at the Lansing Mall.  (The malls decided where we would be placed.)  We were wedged in between kiosks at Meridian and rather crowded.  There also seemed to be more noise at Meridian which made it difficult to talk to parents stopping by the tables for information.  We had no designated starting place for the activity and no clear description of who we were.  A banner identifying the Coalition would have been good.

Promotion

Print

We distributed:\the following print materials before the events:

6000 brochures with all information and schedule on Literacy week events through member agencies;

1540 81/2x11 flyers for mall events – Head Start;

3000 postcards for mall events – all other member agencies and Lansing School District;

We had posters (four at each mall) and table tents in the food courts at each mall;  (The posters were donated by Art Craft due to a misunderstanding about the cost. Head Start will send them an in-kind donation form so they can use this as a tax deduction.)

;           Lansing Noise carried information

CADL had the full schedule on their web site and other agencies linked to that site

Early Childhood Connections ran an ad in their local community newspaper;

East Lansing Library sent a press release as did many other r agencies including WKAR (we had an article in the Towne Courier);

Email was sent to the Great Start Collaborative list serve;

Head Start newsletter to all parents carried information about events;

WKAR had articles in their program guide which went to 15,000 members and in their enews.     

Other Media

WKAR ran spots on air for mall events starting two weeks before the first mall event;

Channels 10 &47 covered the Lansing Mall event and Channels 6, 10 and 47 the Meridian Mall;

There was an interview the Friday before on the Dan Mulhern radio program.

It was suggested that we might try doing some sort of poll/survey to find out where people learned about the events.

Performances and Characters

The surprise was that parents and children came and stayed through the entire performance not just stopping to listen for a few minutes.  It was suggested that we have a break between performances so that parents can come to tables and really hear what’s being offered. 

The Cat and the Hat(Jean Bolley), both as storyteller and MC, was very effective.  Kids really listened even though it was noisy and difficult to hear.

Nate the Great was very loud but children seemed to respond to him and he did introduce some literacy content to his performance.

Tim Salisbury the juggler was good but didn’t have much connection to literacy, it was a real stretch when he told the audience that everything he did was due to learning to read.  We should try to have performers more closely tied to literacy.

Mr. McFeely was a tremendous hit at the Meridian Mall and talked to all parents and children afterwards.  We heard good comments from parents at how personal he made his contact with each child.  It was felt we should have a personality at both malls next time.

Super Why was very popular, there was instant recognition for the series and we had a young man wearing the costume who did an excellent job at both malls at interacting with the children.  Many parents commented that they thought the series was helping their children with reading, especially mentioning sounding out words.  We also had Purple Panda from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.  The volunteer wearing this costume needed to have some training on how to respond to children and the performance.

Attendance

Malls

It was very difficult to estimate how many people we actually had at the mall events, the traffic was so constant.  We have a count (see below) on various materials handed out by agencies and on the number at the performances at different time intervals.  We thought it was realistic to take the handout numbers and multiply by two since each child was accompanied by at least one parent/adult.  Using that method we estimated we had between 500-600 at each mall.  The highest number at the performances was 175 at the Lansing Mall at 1:20 and 190 at the Meridian Mall at 1:40.  The numbers for the second set of performances were lower.  It was agreed that the time next year should be earlier, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., since people were arriving at noon as we were setting up and traffic had fallen off by 3.  It was suggested that one way to get a more accurate count was to give each person stopping a sticker.  The breakout numbers from several agencies distributing materials at both mall events are below.

Early Childhood Connections – total books -579
Great Parents – bags-378, calendars – 400
Teen Parent Network – total of 485 pieces
WKAR – 550 Super Why Interactive Coloring Books/bookmarks and sheets of stickers

Activity – Literacy Lotto

Everyone was very happy with the activity and we received positive feedback from participants. One comment made was “it made shopping so much more enjoyable.”  75% completed the whole lotto piece.  There are a number of things we would do differently, though, next year.  We need to have our volunteers trained to help those who are hesitant about trying, (we need to have more training for all jobs for our volunteers.) We need to have an obvious central starting place for the activity and we need to have some information on the back of the sheet explaining how doing this ties into building literacy skills.  We missed the boat here. 

Budget – actual out of pocket cash

Library of Michigan Foundation grant - $2500
Super Why grant - $4000
I ISD - $500
Lansing Mall tables and characters– CADL, Delta Township Library, Head Start - $300 (?)
Early Childhood Connections - $325 – extra printing of flyers
Head Start - $200 copying of Literacy Lotto forms
This does not count any of the in-kind costs for preparation of the toolkit, web, on air spots, donated books, and others from member agencies.

Individual Agency Events

Attendance varied a great deal this year.  Head Start had their best year yet and attendance at the CADL branches was way down.  We don’t really know why. The actual figures we have received for attendance are below:

CADL – all branches – 346
Delta Township library - 30
Early Childhood Connections – 401 children, 229 families
Head Start – 1548, 866 children, 682 adults, 152 non Head Start families

Goals

It was agreed we met our goals, some better than others.  We plan to do more in the future to highlight literacy and increase literacy in homes.  We helped families have fun with literacy activities and we promoted collaboration between libraries, childcare providers and educators, public broadcasting and other agencies.

Where do we go next?

We need to begin to look for funding for next year very soon.  We need to find out the possibility of a grant for next year from the Library of Michigan foundation.  We should begin to talk to bookstores at the malls as perspective underwriters and the malls themselves, since we generated a great deal of new traffic for them.  These will be agenda items for next meetings in the coming months.

Next meeting  - January 15, 2008
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30. a.m.

No December Meeting

Next Meeting January 15, 2008

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

AGENDA - Wednesday, November 6, 2007

Communication Arts Bldg., MSU Room 284

I.                     Welcome and Introductions Announcements

II.                 Review of  September Minutes                         

III       Evaluation of Literacy Week events – all

                  Mall Events
                              Arrangements
                              Promotion
                              Performances, character
                              Times
                              Activity/theme- Literacy Lotto
                              Attendance/traffic
                  Partner Events
                              Numbers
                              Characters
                  Other
                    Did we meet our goals?  Goals for the event(s) were agreed to as follows:
To create awareness of early childhood literacy and what it is;
To promote collaboration between, libraries, schools, other agencies, and early childhood care and education providers;
To have fun with literacy activities. 
The long-term goal is to increase literacy in homes of 0-5 year olds by giving them the tools needed to accomplish this.

                     Questions for Super Why grant       

      IV       Where do we go next?

V.                 Other

VI.       Meetings third Tuesday of each month, 8:45-10:30 a.m. East Lansing Library

                                    Next meeting dates

                Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition Mtg Announcement

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

MINUTES September 18, 2007

Members present:   Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Karen Woodman, CACS Head Start; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Dept/Jump Start; Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Julie Pierce, Mary Jo Gallagher East Lansing Public Library; Jill Lawler, OYC; Ken Sperber, Birth to Five Subcommittee; Michelle Nicolson, IISD; Keri Keck, Teen Parent Network; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves.  The minutes of the August meeting were reviewed.  Members were reminded that they could order a shirt with a Coalition logo at cafepress.com/eclc.

Members were reminded that each agency is responsible for transporting the characters to the next agency on the schedule for that particular character.  A contact sheet for whom to call if you have any problems with receiving or delivering will be sent electronically after this meeting.  (It’s been sent.)

 
Final Arrangements for Mall Events

Those requesting tables are at the
Lansing Mall                                                        Meridian Mall

CADL                                                                         CADL
CACS Head Start                                                       Coalition/Activity
DeWitt Public Library                                                 Coalition/Activity
Delta Township District Library                                  East Lansing Library
Early Childhood Connections                                     IISD/Great Parents
IISD Great Parents Great Start                                  IISD/Early On
IISD/Early On                                                             Jump Start
Jump Start                                                                 OYC
OYC/DeWitt Public Library                                          Teen Parent Network
WKAR                                                                        WKAR           

The Meridian Mall tables will be skirted.  We’re not sure about those at the Lansing Mall.  Mark Buzzitta is trying to make an arrangement with Best Buy to provide a large screen DVD player to show the Super Why series and play the music.
       
Mark Buzzitta and Beany Tomber will figure out which tables can be paid for from the Super Why grant.

 All agencies should be set up by noon.  The volunteers will be asked to be there by noon.  Jill Lawler will try to recruit 10 of her Girl Scouts for each mall.  Beth Revers has recruited a male to wear the SW costume at both malls.  We will plan to have an escort for Super Why and also for Purple Panda at the Meridian Mall. As soon as we know where we will be located at each mall, Mark Buzzitta will email every one.     

 Head Start will produce 500 copies of the Literacy Lotto sheet for each mall.  They will also bring pencils for children to use to fill out the game sheet.  The Birth to Five Great Parents Collaborative has 1000 bags that they will donate to be used at the malls.  Early Childhood Connections is donating 1,000 Cat in the Hat books for each mall.  East Lansing Public Library showed a take home rhyming activity that they will be distributing at the malls.  Everyone liked it very much and thanked them.

Promotion

A big thank you to Val G. from the Ingham Intermediate School District for the outstanding job she did on layout for all the various print pieces!

Flyers and postcards promoting the mall events and brochures with details of all the special agency events during the two literacy weeks were distributed.  Click here to view full brochure of events (in pdf format)

Head Start will see that the Lansing School District, Bev Phillips, receives 1200 postcards for early elementary grades. .ISSD is contributing $500 toward the printing of these items.  The total cost was $748.  The Coalition will pay for the remaining $248 out of our Super Why grant.  If we have enough money left in the grant after we pay for mall expenses we will also print posters for each mall to direct traffic toward our activities and table tents for the Food Court.

 The public relations staff person (Erin) from CADL has contacted Michigan Moms (old Parent insert) from the LSJ and they will try to do an article and send a photographer to one of the events.   Mark Buzzitta has sent information about our events to a new publication the library is receiving called Kids World News.  It’s for elementary school children and is published once a month.  (Web address is production@kidsworldnews.net.)

 Mark Buzzitta will try to make an appearance on local radio on the First Gentleman’s (Dan Mulhern) show on WJIM-AM.  WKAR will start running on air spots promoting the two mall events Oct. 6 and will have an article in their Oct. program guide.

 We will ask the malls to put information about our events on their web sites and at their information desks.

 
Performers

Show times for the live performers will be 1-2 and 2:30-3:30.  Our storyteller Jean Bolley, the Cat in the Hat, will also act as MC for the stage shows.

David Newell, Mr. McFeeley, will arrive Thursday, Oct. 25 and go up to Mt. Pleasant to do an event at WCMU.  They will share the cost of his plane fare.  He may also go to WGVU in Grand Rapids after our event on Oct. 27.

We sang Happy Birthday to Michelle Nicholson and shared birthday cake provided by Ken Sperber.
Next meetings are Oct. 16, Nov. 20 and Dec. 18.
Beany Tomber, Chairperson, adjourned the meeting at 10:30.

Next meeting October 16, 8:45-10:30, Lansing Mall

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

AGENDA Tuesday, September 18, 2007

East Lansing Public Library

I.                    Welcome and Introductions Announcements

II.                 Review of August Minutes

III       Final arrangements for Mall events

  Literacy Lotto

  Tool Kits

  Flyers/Postcards/Brochures   

  Promotion – LSJ (community newspapers, parent insert), radio

                    Volunteers – Super Why and Purple Panda

                    Other

 IV       Family Literacy Workshops

 V     Other

                Next Meetings                     

                Adjournment               

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes - August 21, 2007

Members present:   Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Dept/Jump Start; Mary Rzepczynski, Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Julie Pierce, East Lansing Public Library; Jill Lawler, OYC; Michele Strasz, Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health ; Ken Sperber,Birth to Five Subcommittee; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves. We welcomed Keri Keck from the Teen Parent Network as a new Coalition member.  The minutes of the July meeting were corrected to show that Ken Sperber represents the Birth to Five Subcommittee, East Lansing Library would like 250 copies of the brochure with schedule, and Delta Township would like 100.

Update on Mall Events

The brochure giving the complete schedule for all Literacy Week events is being worked on.  The final schedule will be finished Friday.  We will also have flyers and postcards promoting the mall events only.  We hope to have all print materials available in the next few weeks.  The information will be on the CADL web site after Labor Day.  Julie Pierce distributed the Meridian Mall version of the Literacy Lotto activity.  We will run it by Head Start to make sure it is compatible with the one done for Lansing Mall.

Characters

Contracts are back for the characters that will be appearing at the individual sites.  Mark Buzzitta needs checks from those who are paying for them to return with the contracts.  $120 pays for both the character and shipping costs.  Those who volunteered to sponsor a character are East Lansing, Delta Township and CADL Libraries, and Head Start.  Please send checks in that amount made out to CADL to Mark Buzzitta as soon as possible.            We will ask Head Start to have the tool kits for agency events for the Sept. meeting.

Volunteers

Jill Lawler will have eight volunteers from her middle/high school girl scout troop at each mall to help with activities, directions, and just generally as needed.  Rhonda Rucker will provide Cat in the Hat hats for the volunteers.  Beth Revers will do name tags with the Coalition stickers on them for all members.

We need a male 5’6”-5’8” to wear the Super Why character at both malls.  We also need someone to wear the Purple Panda suit at the Meridian Mall with Mr. McFeely.

Promotion

We will try for an article in the parent insert of the LSJ.  The contact person is stephanieangel@lsj.com.  She may also be the contact for all the community newspapers owned by Gannett.   Julie Pierce and Michele Strasz will use their contacts with the community newspapers also. Rhonda Rucker will take care of all Eaton County print.  All members received a sample press release from WKAR.

Mark Buzzitta will try to make an appearance on local radio through the Michigan Radio Network.  WKAR will do on air spots promoting the two mall events starting two weeks before Oct. 20.

We will investigate buying bags with the Coalition logo to use at the malls and in the future.  There are several ways we could go, either with BRD with 1,000 or another vender through Delta Township for 5,000 bags for $750.  We would also like to have posters made for use at the malls which would cost us approximately $45 per posters.  The decisions on how to go with these items depends on how far the $500 allocated by the IISD goes to cover our printing costs and whether they have any additional money to help pay for posters and bags or whether this would come out of the Super Why grant.  Mark, Mary and Beany will make final decisions on what to do about buying  posters and bags.

We will ask the malls to put information about our events on their web sites and at their information desks as well as on their marquees.

Reach Out and Read

Michele Strasz presented information about Reach Out and Read. (ROR)  It is a pediatric literacy program started in 1989 in Boston.  Doctors provide information to parents about child development using books as a tool.  The child receives a book at each well child visit up to age five.  Parents are given information about the importance of reading to their children.  The waiting rooms have a literacy rich environment with books for parents to use as they wait there and in the exam rooms.  The program has been used in Michigan for 15 years.  The Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (Michele’s agency) has a contract to expand the program in the state.  Doctors and nurses receive training on how to use books as a developmental screening tool.  They are encouraged to have volunteers in the waiting room to read to children.  There are currently 73 sites in Michigan with 4 in our area.  (Laingsburg, Perry and the Ingham County Health Dept.Clinic. One is starting at the MSU Clinic.)

The program has federal funding.  Scholastic is the primary source for books.  ROR is currently working with a number of ISD’s in the state.  There is no state funding now for Imagination Libraries.  As we go forward in exploring the Imagination Library,  we should be aware that another resource exists in the community to get information to parents and collaborate with.  ROR could become a site to take remainder books that are not delivered.

Community Conversations

Ken Sperber and Judy--- from IISD led a discussion on the Birth to Five/Great Start collaborative Status of Young Children report.  After a presentation of the data collected, members were asked to give their comments and suggestions on priority areas for action.  The full report on responses from the 25 community conversations being held will be available on the Great Start web site.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30.

Don’t forget to order your shirt with the Coalition logo online at cafepress.com/eclc. 

Next meeting September 18, 8:45-10:30, East Lansing Public Library

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

East Lansing Public Library

AGENDA - Tuesday, August 21, 2007

I.                    Welcome and Introductions Announcements

II.                 Review of  July19  Minutes

III       Updates on Mall and Agency event -Buzzitta and Rzepczynski

            Mall arrangements

      Super Why character – who will wear?  

            Promotion

            Volunteers

            Other

IV      Community conversations – Reactions to Community Report - Nicholson

     Family Place Libraries – Nicholson & Welz

V.       Birth to Five Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read – Nicholson and   

                  Strasz - How can we work together?         

       VI.     Literacy Workshops

                 Plans for next year

Next meeting – September 18, 2007

Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes July 17, 2007

Members present:  Deb Hill, CACS Head Start; Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Di Clark, Capital Area Literacy Coalition; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County Health Dept/Jump Start; Mary Rzepczynski, Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Kim Thelan, Early Childhood Connections;; Mary Jo Gallagher, Julie Pierce, East Lansing Public Library; Ken Sperber, Ingham Great Start Collaborative; Beany Tomber and Mariel Moorer, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves. The minutes of the June 19 meeting were corrected to show that Deb Hill was present.

Imagination Library

We did not get the grant we applied for from the Granger Foundation.  We will not hear about the grant from the Capital Region Community Foundation until October.  Beany Tomber will set up a meeting between Michelle Nicholson and Michele Strasz to talk about working with the Reach Out and Read program and then bring recommendations to the Coalition.

Update on Mall Events and Budget

CADL has signed the agreements with the malls and officially registered the Coalition for our events.  We won’t know until two weeks before which part of the mall we will be in.  A video of a previous event held by CADL at the Lansing mall was played to give members an idea of how we will be positioned.  The theme for all events will be “Everyday Moments are Learning Moments.”  Times at both malls will be 1-4 p.m.

We received a $4,000 grant from the SUPER WHY series that will pay for all the performers at the malls except Mr. McFeely.  (He will be paid with the Library of Michigan Foundation grant of $2,500.  This will cover his fee and expenses for appearances at Meridian Mall.)  Invoices for the performers to be paid out of the SW grant should be presented to WKAR with name, address, dates, etc. for payment.   A clip from the SW program The Three Little Pigs was shown introducing the main characters.  There are four.  We will request SUPER WHY but don’t know yet which one we will get for our events and the WKAR Kids Club Party.  Beany Tomber passed around handouts for the SW series.  She will send electronically so anyone who wishes to use them can download and copy.  WKAR will be distributing the Interactive Coloring Book at both mall events.

The following performers will be at the malls:

            Cat in the Hat – Jean Bolley- both events - $400

            Tim Salisbury, juggler- both events - $650

            Nate the Great – both events - $600

            Mr. McFeely – Meridian - $1700 plus expenses

Mark Buzzitta will work out a schedule for performers of 20 minutes each twice during the afternoon. We will plan to have a continuing schedule of the three (four) performers. SW character will roam. We will ask Jean Bolley to serve as the MC between acts of all performers.

Mall Expenses

            Meridian – provides stage, tables, chairs free

            Lansing Mall – tables $50 each, stage rental $174, set-up and take down

Sound System – Mark Buzzitta will do at both Malls for free.

CADL, Head Start, DeWitt Library, WKAR will have tables at both events.  East Lansing Library will be at Meridian Mall, Delta Township Library and Early Childhood connections at Lansing Mall.  There will be a Coalition table and an activity table at both malls.  Agencies not present may put information at the Coalition table.  Agencies agreed to pay the fee of $50 for their table at the Lansing Mall.

Head Start will print the literacy lotto cards and provide crayons to mark them with.  We will investigate the possibility of getting a large screen to play the SUPER WHY program and a banner with the Coalition logo for the stage.  Also look at buying bags with Coalition logo (1000 for $330.)

Promotion

We will ask the malls to promote on their marquees and to place posters (22x28) around the mall.  We can get four posters made for $100 and display them back to back.  Lansing Mall will do a press release and put on their web site and at their Service Center.

We will work with Val G. at the IISD again this year to design a flyer for the mall events that can be personalized by each agency along with a brochure that will have the schedule and characters for all events.  Mark Buzzitta will coordinate the flyers and brochures.  (God Bless Mark.)

The following are the number of brochures and flyers that members estimated they would need:

            Head Start – 1600

            Early Childhood Connections – 1000

CADL - 500

East Lansing Library – 25-

DeWitt Library – 250

Jump Start - 500      

            Delta Township Library – 500

.If we have your number wrong or if you are not listed, please let us know the number you want. We hope to have flyers and brochures ready by August 21

We will ask Jeanie Croope, WKAR, to do a press release that can be adapted by each agency.

We will try for articles in the LSJ Parent insert and Noise as well as all the community newspapers and City Pulse.

Volunteers

We need to check with Jill Lawler on whether her senior scout troop will help with traffic, activities, SUPER WHY costume and Purple Panda costume (Meridian Mall).

Time permitting, we will add Birth to Five Community Conversation to the August meeting led by Michelle Nicholson.  Nicholson and Nichole Welz are attending a one day conference in New York about Family Friendly Libraries.  They will tell us all about it at the next meeting.  (Jill, are we okay with your troop?)

Members were reminded they can purchase a shirt with a Coalition logo online at cafepress.com/eclc.  The shirts are white with the logo in full color.  Everyone is encouraged to buy a shirt and wear it to our events.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

Next meeting August 21, 8:45-10:30, East Lansing Public Library

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

East Lansing Public Library

AGENDA - Tuesday, July 17, 2007

I.                    Welcome and Introductions  Announcements

II.                 Review of      June 19 Minutes

III       Updates on Mall and Agency event -Buzzitta and Rzepczynski

            Final wording for theme

            Final budgets and mall arrangements   

            SUPER WHY and mall videos

            Packets and Activities         

            Promotion

            Volunteers

            Other

IV       Birth to Five Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read – Nicholson and   

                  Strasz

                  How can we work together?

       V.     Literacy Workshops

                Current and next year

Next meeting – August 21

Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes - June 19, 2007

Members present:  Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Di Clark, Capital Area Literacy Coalition; Beth Revers, DeWitt Public Library; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County. Health Dept/Jump Start; Mary Rzepczynski, Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Rhonda Rucker, Early Childhood Connections; Lucy McClintic, CACS Head Start; Mary Jo Gallagher, Julie Pierce, East Lansing Public Library; Judy Goth-Owens, LCC; Jill Lawler, OYC; Beany Tomber, WKAR.

Members introduced themselves and welcomed back Di Clark and Beth Revers.   The minutes of the May 29 meeting were corrected as follows.  The performer/juggler that we are planning to contract with at the malls is Tim Salisbury, not Gallagher.

Update on Mall Events and Budget

CADL will sign the agreements with the malls and be responsible for insurance coverage for all members participating in the events.  Individual agencies will not need to sign releases.

We have a grant from the Library of Michigan foundation for $2500.  Beany Tomber has applied for a grant for $4000 to promote a new PBS series, SUPER WHY, on literacy airing Sept. 3.  The Coalition and our events were part of the grant proposal.  If we receive this money it will help us pay for expenses at the Malls.  We will know by June 27. (We received this grant.)

Performers

            Cat in the Hat – Jean Bolley both events - $400

            Tim Salisbury, juggler- both events - $650

            Nate the Great – both events - $600

            Mr. McFeely – Meridian - $1700 plus expenses

The Head Start Miles for Smiles Tooth character will be available if needed for appearances. CADL’s character would also be available. (Both free)

Mall Expenses

            Meridian – provides stage, tables, chairs

            Lansing Mall – tables $50 each, stage rental $150, set-up and take down

Sound System – Mark Buzzitta will do at both Malls

It would be very useful to have a large screen to play a DVD of SUPER WHY if we receive that grant.  Mary Rzepczynski, Michelle Nicolson, Rhonda Rucker, and Beany Tomber offered to help with expenses for events and characters as needed.

The theme for both mall events and the weeks following will be “Literacy is an Everyday Event” or “Everyday Moments are Learning Moments.”  We’re still working on the wording.  Deb Hill and Karen Woodman made a site visit to Lansing Mall and presented a game of Literacy Lotto to use as the mall activity.  Those completing the activity (filling five slots on the card) will receive a free Cat in the Hat book   Julie Pierce and Mary Jo Gallagher will create the same format for Meridian Mall.  They will work with Head Start on the final version for each mall.  East Lansing will have a take home activity that is appropriate for all ages.  CALC will provide material from their “Mouse” activity sheet. 

Volunteers

We will need volunteers to help direct traffic.  Jill Lawler has an older Girl Scout troop who might be interested in doing this for a community service activity.  They could wear Cat in the Hat hats to make them easily recognizable

Head Start, Early Childhood Connections, and Delta Township Library will at the Lansing Mall and the East Lansing Library at the Meridian Mall.  The rest of us will be at both Malls.

Individual Events

Due to availability of the costume characters, the literacy weeks at individual agencies will be from Oct. 11-29.  Nichole Welz and Rhonda Rucker will send a scheduling form out to be completed and returned by July 30.

Packets for agency use (and at malls)

Members were asked to bring information about their agency that they would like included in a packet.  The folders could have the Coalition logo on it.  This would be instead of individual information about each agency, at a central Coalition table. Mary Rzepczynski will work on the packets. (Is this what we said?  Help me out here.)

Brochures

We would do the same type of brochure as last year with the schedule, agency names, etc. and do a one sheet flyer about the mall events.  Mark Buzzitta will talk with the CADL marketing director about ideas on how to promote the mall events.  He will also talk with the malls about what kind of promotion they will do.

Imagination Library

We have not heard from Granger Foundation yet or the Capital Region Community Foundation. (Announcement date is Oct. for CRCF.)

Family Literacy Workshops

Delta Township Library hosted a workshop on June 18.  There was an overflow crowd, probably due to ice cream being served.  The final workshop scheduled so far is July 18 at the Main Library, Lansing.  We could use a few more to fulfill our grant requirments.  Julie Pierce said she might schedule one for August and Michelle Nicholson for a Great Parents play group.  They will let Beany Tomber know about these.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

East Lansing Public Library

AGENDA - Tuesday, June 19, 2007

I.                    Welcome and Introductions Announcements

II.                 Review of      May 2, May 29 Minutes

III       2007 Literacy Kick-off events and Literacy Weeks

                      Insurance coverage for mall events - CADL 

Final decision on Performers for Lansing and Meridian Malls

Budgets – with and without SUPER WHY grant (June 27 notification)

                            Activity ideas for Kick-off and agency sites – Head Start

                            Promotion/Printing Committee – Buzzitta, Nicholson, Tomber

                      Mall Arrangements Committee – Buzzitta,?

                      Scheduling Committee – Rucker and Welz

                      Other

      IV       Birth to Five Imagination Library

                             Update

V.                 Other

Next meeting – July 17

                Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Minutes May 29, 2007 Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Members present:  Mark Buzzitta, Nichole Welz, CADL; Lisa Chambers, Ingham County. Health Dept/Jump Start; Mary Rzepczynski, Becky Le Boeuf, Delta Township District Library; Karen Woodman, Deb Hill, CACS Head Start; Julie Pierce, East Lansing Public library; Beany Tomber, WKAR; Claudia Bleil, Meridian mall Marketing Director.

Members introduced themselves and welcomed Becky LeBoeuf the new youth services librarian from Delta Township.  The minutes of the May 2 meeting were not available. 

Talked with Claudia Bleil from Meridian Mall about the following items:

Insurance- all agencies participating need to have insurance that allows them to sign a “hold harmless release” form for the Mall.  We will talk to CADL or Birth to Five to see if one of these agencies can provide the necessary insurance coverage.

Costume changing room – Mall will try to provide a space for this.

Equipment – stage, chairs, sound system, tables and chairs for agencies may need to be rented.

Space – Mall can not guarantee what space will be available for us to use until the last few days before the event. They may be opening a play area for children 0-5 in the fall.

We will do follow-up on all of the above and try to have definite answers by the June meeting of how we handle things.

Update on Kick-off Events

Mark Buzzitta talked with Schuler’s and Barnes and Noble about underwriting a storybook character.  For this year their budgets are already committed.  We need to approach them earlier for any substantial amount, i.e. $3500-4000.  They might be able to help us with something on a smaller scale.

Performers

            Cat in the Hat – Jean Bolley will do both events for $400

            Gordon (Sesame St) – fee would be $3500 plus travel and expenses

            Stretch and Grow – decided not appropriate

            Kindermusik – not recommended

            Mr. McFeely - $1700 plus expenses for one day

Wolf Trap - $500-800 for one performance

Josh White Jr. - $1500-2000 – negotiable

Kevin K.- for older children

Tim Salisbury juggler- is available          

Julie Pierce will try to contact Josh White Jr. and ask about the possibility of two performances. (We have learned he is not available on either of our dates.)

It was decided Gordon is too expensive without enough name recognition.  We will have Jean Bolley at both events as well as Tim Gallagher.  We will try to book Mr. McFeely for one event.

The theme for both Kick-off events and the weeks following will be Literacy is an Everyday Event or Everyday Moments are Learning Moments.  We will work on the wording for this to make it more promotional and user friendly.  The activity will be based on things children can see and find in the Mall.  Those completing the activity will receive a free Cat in the Hat book.  Deb Hill and her Head Start colleagues will develop the activity idea and present at the June meeting.

Beany Tomber presented information on a new PBS reading series for children 3-6 called SUPER WHY that will debut in the fall.  It has been developed by the creators of Blues Clues.  There are grants available for $4000 to help promote literacy activities in communities.  Beany will investigate whether WKAR will carry the series and the possibility of applying for the grant and having a SUPER WHY character for kick-off events.  (I did apply and will learn June 27 if we receive a grant.)

Due to availability of the costume characters, the literacy weeks at individual agencies will be from Oct. 11-29.  Nichole Welz and Rhonda Rucker will send a scheduling form out to be completed and returned by July 20.

Nichole Welz asked if members would be interested in ordering t-shirts with the Coalition logo on them.  The response was positive.  There will be an order sheet at the June meeting for anyone who wishes to purchase one.

The storybook characters to be scheduled for the weeks of Oct. 11-29 are:
Curious George
Mouse
Pig
Tacky Penguin

There will be a new marketing director at the Lansing Mall. We will meet with
him/her when we know who has been appointed.

We will discuss promotion, volunteers, the events slogan, and a banner for the
Kick-off events, in addition to performers, at the June meeting.

Next meeting June 19, 8:45-10:30, East Lansing Public Library

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

AGENDA  Wednesday, May 2, 2007

East Lansing Public Library

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION MEETING

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

East Lansing Public Library

AGENDA

I.                    Welcome and Introductions  Announcements

II.                 Review of   April Minutes

III       2007 Literacy Kick-off event and Literacy Weeks

                 Performers, characters to be booked

                       Activity ideas for Kick-off and agency sites

      IV       Birth to Five Imagination Library

                             Update       

V.                 Other

Next meeting - May 29

              Adjournment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION 

Early Childhood Literacy Coalition

Minutes  May 2, 2007

Members present:  Mark Buzzitta, CADL; Ken Sperber, Birth to 5; Jennifer Warner, CAYA; Rhonda Rucker, Eaton County Early Childhood Connections; Lisa Chambers, jump Start; Mindy Smith, Office for Young Children; Beany Tomber, WKAR

Members introduced themselves and reviewed the minutes of the April meeting.

Plans for Kick-off Events and Literacy Weeks

The Kick-off events will take place Saturday Oct. 20 at the Lansing Mall and Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Meridian Mall.  We will try to have two performers at each mall doing three performances of 20 minutes each.

We will have $2500 from the Library of Michigan Foundation grant and financial support from the libraries, Head Start, and WKAR to pay for characters at the individual site events.

The following performers were suggested and assignments to contact them for information were made.

Kindermusik – Mindy Smith

Wolf Trap – Deb Hill

Nate the Great ($300) – DeWitt Library

Kevin Kamerad and the Tomato Collection ($800) –

Josh White Jr. Mary R.

Sesame Street/Gordon – Mark Buzzitta.  He will also explore asking the book stores to help pay for Gordon’s or other performers’ visits

Mr. McFeely – Mark Buzzitta

Characters from books and PBS television programs to explore for Literacy weeks- Oct. 21-Nov. 3.

Curious George

Bob the Builder

Caillou

Thomas and Friends

Tacky the Penguin

Mouse (02) or Pig (03)

Stella Luna

Lyle Crocodile

Corduroy Bear

Miss Bindergarten

Final decision on characters will be made at the May 29 meeting. .  Rhonda Rucker and Nichole Welz will do the scheduling again this year

We will ask Jean Bolley to be the Cat in the Hat at both malls.  Rhonda Rucker has approximately 2000 Cat books which we can use as prizes for those participating in the mall activity.

The theme will be “Everyday Moments are Learning Moments.”  We will talk with our promotion people to jazz up the slogan. 

Instead of using a stage we will consider having children and parents sit on on the floor for the performances.  We will meet with mall representatives at our next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY COALITION