Introduction
The International Reading Association is a huge network
of autonomous, yet interconnected, groups. In order to extend YOUR
influence, you may consider helping some OTHER interested individuals
form a special interest council (SIC)
dealing with childrens literature for your state. (At the
present time, only West Virginia has such a council.)
While IRA Headquarters
- Council Services is the official authority regarding SICs,
the latest information about the process is described below.
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Three
Requirements to Form a SIC
1. Ten (10) people who are members of
IRA
2. Elect officers (normally President, President-Elect, Vice President,
and Secretary/Treasurer)
3. Draft Bylaws (a sample copy is available from IRA Headquarters),
have them approved by your membership, and submit them to IRA
Headquarters (Council Services) for approval.
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Steps
for Completing These Requirements
(Steps are described fully in a free IRA publication called
A Guide for the Organization of Local and Special Interest
Councils which you can get from IRA
Headquarters - Council
Services)
1. Complete and submit (to IRA
Headquarters - Council Services) the Application for Charter
containing at least ten (10) people who join or who are members
of IRA.
(Also notify the IRA state
coordinator of your intention to form a council and to enlist
assistance. Note that in many states members of any local or special
interest councils automatically become members of the state council,
so there may be a membership fee which each SIC member must pay.)
2. Elect officers (e.g., President, President-Elect, Vice President,
and Secretary/Treasurer)
3. Draft Bylaws; have rough draft approved by Council Coordinator
at IRA Headquarters
- Council Services.
4. Have council consider, approve, and adopt bylaws
5. Submit to IRA
Headquarters - Council Services:
a. One copy of approved council Bylaws
b. Completed Application for Charter
c. Completed Application for Official Recognition as a
Council
6. IRA approves bylaws, verifies the IRA membership
of officers and 10 members (including officers) who signed the Application
for Charter, then notifies that charter is granted.
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Requirements
to Be in Good Standing as a Council
1. At least 10 members of the council have paid dues to
IRA for the current year (can include officers)
2. All officers, board members, and representatives of the council
to the IRA Delegates Assembly must be members of the IRA (information
of who these individuals are must be submitted annually).
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Requirements
to Be an Honor Council
IRA has guidelines, which change annually, designed to assist
councils perform their work. Fulfilling certain requirements (some
required and some optional) allows councils to earn honor
council status. Honor councils are commended each year in
an awards ceremony at the annual IRA
Convention.
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For
Further Information
Contact IRA Headquarters
- Council Services (1-800-628-8508, 800 Barksdale Road,
PO Box 8138, Newark, DE 19714-8139, USA) for information available
called Council Planning Guide and other information
which can assist you in forming a council.
Also contact your
State Coordinator who is vitally interested in forming new councils
and can provide valuable assistance.
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