“Promoting lifelong learning, literacy development and the love of reading through professional development, collegial collaboration and community outreach”…..it’s easier said than done, but that’s exactly what the Fox Valley Reading Council sets out to do each year.  

Established in 1970, the Fox Valley Reading Council serves all of Kane County as a non-profit organization whose members work tirelessly to improve literacy for all learners regardless of age. As an affiliate of the Illinois Reading Council and International Literacy Association, the Fox Valley Reading Council works to sustain and encourage relevant, current and ongoing conversations about the changes teachers face every day in their classrooms.  

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending one of Fox Valley’s meetings where I was able to meet the newly elected board of directors and learn more about what the local reading council had to offer!  I have been a member of the Illinois Reading Council since I became a teacher way back when; however, I never became involved or aware of what my local reading council had to offer, I realize now just how much I had been missing out on:

Membership Privileges and Events for the 2018-2019 School Year:
  • Fall Back to School Book Talk
  • Thursday, November 15, 2018: Illinois Reads Night @GailBoarden Library
  • Philanthropic Opportunities: Books for Babies & International Pencil Project
  • Saturday, February 23, 2019: Winter Mini-Conference @Judson University
  • Reduced registration for the annual IRC Conference
  • Funding for recognition of worthy literacy projects
  • Access to the quarterly IRC Journal, IRC Communicator and the monthly e-newsletter

If you are like me, you are often intimidated in new social settings and find it uncomfortable to be the “new” member of the group, feeling like an outsider or like you are infringing on a private club; however that was the OPPOSITE feeling I had when I met Fox Valley’s members a few weeks back.  A major kudos and “Thank You” to the FVRC Board: Co-Presidents- Dawn Lutz and Camile Lutz, Vice-President- Moira Arzich, Treasurer- Teresa Thompson, & Secretary- Beth Herrig for kicking off the 2018/19 school year with so many amazing opportunities for our educators and for making me feel immediately comfortable and welcome at your meeting.

I guess the saying is spot on, “You don’t know what you are missing out on until it arrives”, I wasn’t aware of all the amazing local resources and opportunities that were in my backyard, but now that I do I am sure to take advantage of them!!  As a lifelong learner, it is important to be aware of and access local resources. If you aren’t a member of the FVRC, please join now to stay connected and participate in local, ongoing professional learning.

Three Easy Ways to Join!
  1. Online: www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org
  2. Phone:  (309) 454-1341
  3. Email: irc@illinoisreadingcouncil.org

I can’t wait to share all that I learn with you now that I am an active member of the Fox Valley Reading Council!

What local resources or organizations are you familiar with or members of?

Please share your resources/memberships in the comment section so we can continue to grow our professional learning communities and highlight the amazing resources/learning taking place across Illinois and beyond!

Katie Algrim – Director of Innovative Professional Learning
(t):630-444-3044
(c):630-675-4447
(e):kalgrim@kaneroe.org

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