Texas Association for Literacy Education

March 29, 2017

Present: Robbie Raymond, Robin Johnson, Mary LaFleur, Laurie Sharp, Micheal Kessner,
Melinda Butler (for Sonja Gaddy), Alida Hudson. Sandra Murillo-Sutterby, Jackie Ingram
Absent: Jill Culmo

I have read and approved the minutes from the January meeting along with the slides
from the Business meeting at the TALE conference in February (sent prior to the Board
meeting by email): Jackie Ingram, Laurie Sharp, Robbie Raymond, Alida Hudson, Sonja
Gaddy, Robin Johnson, Kathy Stephens. Mary LaFleur, Micheal Kessner, Sandra Murillo-
Sutterby, Jackie Ingram, Sandra Murillo-Sutterby

The meeting was called to order at 5:32 pm.

Welcome - Robin Johnson

A motion was made by Jackie Ingram to approve the January Minutes as amended. Alida
Hudson seconded.

Treasurer’s Report--Sandra Murillo-Sutterby

March 29, 2017 COMMENTS

Reporting Months January – March 2017

Expenses: $567.26 Conference:

· Zoom $108.14 Income: $27,093.00

· Webmaster: $300 Expenses: $20,191.40
· MemberFindMe: $159.12
Profit: $6,901.16
Income: $9,551.14
Stripes: $5,100.44
(Membership, Conference)
Checks: $4,450.70 Link to Conference Budget:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18AB_IcPt00mwZ
Summary: 49F3yd1Rh7aj0-yMfa7CUUD9tl_kCU/edit#gid=1
Frost Account: $50,829.16

An email needs to be sent to Teddi thanking her for her services and that we will be moving on
with someone new in that position.
Sandra Murillo-Sutterby has all the paperwork on file to continue forward and will be the only
one on the account along with Jack Cassidy.
Sandra Murillo-Sutterby will stay through July and help train someone for the next year as Past
Treasurer.
 2016-17 TALE Strategic Plan Reports and Outcomes of Goals

ILA Coordinator-Jill Culmo

Robin shared that Jill has emailed the ILA transition team our minutes with the official vote to
stay affiliated with ILA and incorporate in Delaware as a part of the group exemption. She will
share more information on the strategic plan, procedure manual, and bylaw changes at our next
meeting.

Membership--Jackie Ingram
There are currently 413 members. Our committee’s attempts to reach the contact in Region 3
to donate 20 “seed” memberships went unanswered after several emails and telephone calls.
The committee is now reviewing membership data to select another region to focus on with a
potential contact person to start the seed memberships.

Discussion of having Member Find Me ask for two emails or suggest the use of a personal email
when registering
After 3 months, move past due folks to a different place.
Make personal contact to past due folks.

Advocacy Development-- Sonja Gaddy and Melinda Butler (minutes read)

Report:

● The Advocacy Committee held a meeting at the TALE conference on February 11, 2017
At the meeting, we decided that committee members will share responsibility with the
committee chairs for bringing advocacy information to the committee and writing drafts of
the advocacy alerts. After drafts of alerts have been read and approved by one or two
members of the committee, the alerts will be distributed.
● Several advocacy alerts have been sent out recently:
○ H.B. 610 (ESSA): February 18, 2017.
○ H.B. 21: March 9, 2017.
○ S.B. 3: March 11, 2017.
○ Laurie Sharp sent out an alert (March 22, 2017) from the the International
Literacy Association concerning the LEARN Act.

Communications-- Alida Hudson

● Organizations can request that their literacy events be placed on TALE’s website
calendar and in the TALE newsletter. The communications committee decided that all
requests will be sent to the communications director who will review the request based
on the following questions/guidelines:
○ Does the event promote a positive literacy identity for all students?
○ Does the event motivate learners through meaningful and joyful learning activities?
○ Does the event connect individuals, schools, and the community for the purpose of using literacy
for personal and social good?
 ○ Other literacy related events pending the approval of the communications committee.
The communications director will then disseminate the information to the
communications committee for final approval.

● Monthly Updates:

● Newsletter: Kimberly will not be able to complete the final newsletter of her term for
this spring. We need to find a new newsletter editor. Committee will create an application
for Editor or talk to committee about how to fill this position. There needs to be a format,
and it needs to look professional. One document to scroll through rather than clicking on
links. Possibly go back to format similar to the one in the past.

● Journal: For the upcoming summer issue thus far, we have four accepted articles, six
under review, two undergoing major revisions, and three revise and resubmits. I also
received two more that I have to screen to determine if they are fit for review. The
remainder have been rejected either via the editors during initial screening or at the
recommendation of reviewers.

● Yearbook: The Yearbook editors are currently seeking manuscript submissions and
editors for the peer review process. The Yearbook Call for Manuscripts has been shared
with all presenters. The deadline for submission is May 30. Manuscripts should be email
to taleyearbook@gmail.com with the words "TALE 2017 Yearbook" in the subject line
of the email.

● Facebook and Twitter: Still asking the board to send Twitter and Facebook posts as
they want them written. That really helps get things posted sooner.

Community Involvement- Mary LaFleur

No report

Educator Empowerment- Kathy Stephens

The Educator Empowerment Committee met in person during the TALE Conference, February
11, 2017. We discussed several projects for the upcoming year, new educator packets and
Twitter book study. The following people are members of this committee: Kathy Stephens,
Patricia Durham, Michele Staples, Leslie Haas, Victoria Vanzura, Stephanie Jenkins, and
SuHua Huang.

Nominations and Elections Committee--Robbie Raymond, Jill Culmo, and Micheal Kessner
We have two members on the committee with us, Gayle Butaud and Codi Freeman. I have the
call written and we will meet on Wednesday, April 5th from 5:00-6:00. We will then meet to
review and create a timeline. Jill has emailed the ILA transition team to see if that will affect our
elections at all and will share with this committee the response.

TEKS Review-- Robbie Raymond, Tricia Durham, Jackie Ingram

Advocacy sent out a message to members regarding reading and responding to the TEKS in
the Texas registry. The next board meeting for the SBOE will be April 18, 19, 20. Peggy Hill
(expert) will testify and Victoria Young for TCTELA. You can watch online.

Old Business -
● 2017 Conference Review: Laurie Sharp
○ 146 Presenters (97 Friday & Saturday, 31 Friday only, 18 Saturday only)
○ 104 Attendees (90 Friday & Saturday, 11 Friday only, 3 Saturday only)
○ 11 Sponsors (no presentations)
○ 19 Invited Guests (1 Advocacy Award Winner (Judge Joe), 2 invited
speaker (Emily & Melissa), 3 Barrio writers, 7 invited authors (Jeff, Terry,
Kathi, Anne, Diana, Teri, Karin), 5 research poster judges (Kim, Israel,
Katherine, Jeanette, Kathleen), 1 COE Dean
○ 3 outstanding payments ($150, $150, $100)
○ Feedback form: 90 responses -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6AAi_T3-
318ekdCbFRUZlNyV1k/view?usp=sharing

New Business
● 2018 Conference Committee -- Laurie Sharp & Brad Womack
○ Created a Google Drive for TALE Conference for current and previous
conferences (keeping a historical account of our work is important). Also,
I have asked Chase to upload previous conference programs to the TALE
website.
■ Uploaded conference content for 2013, 2014-2015, 2016, and
2017 conferences
■ taleconference@gmail.com
○ 2018 TALE Conference
■ Dates: February 23-24, 2018
■ Venue: West Texas A&M University - Canyon, Texas
■ Theme: Connections in the Community: Fostering Partnerships
through Literacy
■ Partnership w/ WT: Budget to be submitted to Board by mid-April.
Expenses and profit will be shared equally between TALE and
WT.
Laurie would like to talk about future conference planners, sites, etc.
● 2019 TALE Conference - Margaret Thompson is currently investigating a Central Texas
venue hosted by Baylor University.

Discussion about Chase Young’s Webmaster contract. Renew? Make a motion?

Jackie Ingram made a motion to offer Chase Young an offer for two years. Mary LaFleur
seconded it.

Our final meeting will be in June. There will be a short meeting in May, possibly the week of the
15th-19th.
Robin Johnson made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Sandra Murillo-Sutterby seconded the
motion. The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 pm.