NCTE-SA
National Council of Teachers of English Student Affiliate

NCTE-SA Meeting Minutes for September 5, 2006

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it to the meeting on Tuesday!  The next NCTE-SA meeting will be on Thursday, September 14^th at 5:00pm, in N222 Lindquist Center.

 1.  Our first order of business was to talk about general NCTE-SA information:

 What does it mean to be a member of NCTE-SA?

1. Membership means contributing a $10 membership fee each semester and committing to attending at least two meetings a month.
2. Benefits of membership include use of the NCTE-SA office which is equipped with a brand-new computer with internet access, hundreds of lesson plans, books, textbooks and journals to check out, a refrigerator, microwave and couch.   Members also have the opportunity to plan and participate in literacy-education events include trips to national conferences and teacher panels on campus.

What if I want to get involved?  NCTE-SA provides many great ways to get involved on campus and build your resume.  We are currently looking for:

Treasurer

The treasurer is responsible for keeping accurate account of the organization’s funds, for planning the yearly budget with the assistance of the all officers and is responsible for keeping up on the paperwork necessary to funding. 

Secretary

The secretary must be capable of coming to each meeting and recording the meeting minutes.  The secretary is also in charge of keeping track of non-treasurer paperwork including membership forms and University forms to be filled out each semester.

Public Relations Team:

The public relations officer (kimberlie-kaster@uiowa.edu) is the official publicity chairperson and shall be responsible for organizing a public relations committee that will represent NCTE-SA on and off of campus.  The Public Relations Committee is responsible for all advertising and hosting of NCTE-SA events.

Cognitive Overload Editor and Team

Cognitive Overload is NCTE-SA’s publication and the Editor and Team of Cognitive Overload will be responsible for recruiting writers, editing, publishing and advertising Cognitive Overload.

Something else you want to do to get involved? Just throw out ideas and we’ll try to do as many as we can—that’s what this organization is all about: research, exploration and excitement!

Aside from joining the executive board or one of NCTE-SA’s committees, members can get involved simply by coming to each meeting, discussing ideas and helping to plan and organize NCTE-SA upcoming events.  No matter how you chose to stay involved, NCTE-SA is always a great place for connecting with other students interested in the teaching of literacy, and for staying connected to the wider, professional literacy-teaching community.

2.  Our second order of business was discussing the 96^th Annual NCTE Convention:

• The NCTE Convention will be held November 16-19^th, 2006 in Nashville Tennessee
• UISG will approve University funding for this event sometime within the next two weeks, and we hope to receive funding to cover the cost of the conference and lodging for anyone who wants to come.  We might also be able to get some funding for food. 
• NCTE-SA members decided that each person would find his or her own way down to the conference.  Some members thought flying would be a convenient option (check cheaptickets.com for some great prices from Moline to Nashville).  If enough people are interested we can also do a carpool. 
• If you think you might be interested in coming to the convention, check out www.ncte.org for more information.  Follow the National Convention link to see the Convention preview online (pdf file).  The preview gives information about speakers and events happening at the convention this year!

3. Our third order of business was discussing the ICTE (Iowa Council of Teachers of English) event coming up:

• Jeff Wilhelm will be speaking in Des Moines on October 6^th and 7^th. 
• Bonnie Sunstein, our Faculty Advisor, will be bringing more information about this event to our next meeting.

4.  Our forth order of business was to discuss meeting times and office hours:

• Meeting times:

NCTE-SA members decided to have meetings every week, alternating between Tuesday nights at 7:00pm and Thursday nights at 5:00pm.  Meetings will always be held in the NCTE-SA office, N222 Lindquist Center.  Check the online calendar @ www.uiowa.edu/~ncte for meeting days. 

• Office Hours:

To retain use of our office, NCTE-SA has to hold office hours for 10 hours each week.  Members who volunteer to be in the office can work on NCTE-SA business, chat with friends about classes and projects, or work on homework.  While in the office, members are responsible for keeping the space clean, organized and professional. 

• Schedule of Office Hours (also on the calendar @ www.uiowa.edu/~ncte):
  • Monday: 1:30-3:30pm (kimberlie-kaster@uiowa.edu)
  • Tuesday: 8:30-10:00am (alan-strait@uiowa.edu)
  • Wednesday: 9:30-11:30am (anah-malamut@uiowa.edu)
                       1:00-3:00pm (lindsay-vogt@uiowa.edu)
• Thursday: 8:30-10:00am (alan-strait@uiowa.edu)
• Friday: 11:30-2:00pm (matthew-austin@uiowa.edu)
   
• Office Hours will begin on Monday, September 18, 2006.  At our next meeting, Thursday September 14, 2006, we will discuss how to get the key for the office and office responsibilities.  Basically, if you are unable to attend your scheduled office hours, please send out an email to the NCTE-SA members and post a sign on the door of the office.

In Closing:

• The next NCTE-SA meeting will be on Thursday, September 14^th at 5:00pm, N222 Lindquist Center.  Please bring materials to decorate the office!  Members are looking for posters that have to do with literacy (you know the ones: a little puppy on a book and the word “READ” across the top) to spruce up the white walls in the office.  If you would like to bring markers and poster board or construction paper, we also need to make signs to post on our door to indicate our organization and our office hours.

Thanks again everyone!  Have a great week!