MEMBERS PRESENT: Rogerlynne Briddon, Joy Buckingham, Chris Carter, Michelle East, Cheryl Gilstrap, Beverly Heady, Jim Lillie, Stephanie Martin, Karen Scott, Heather Thomsen, John Hagaman, Deidre Day, Kim James,

Not Present: Lynn Claycomb, Karen Alford, Stacy Arndell, Regina Brooks, Ann Pollard, Belinda Stark

Meeting was convened with introductions and revisions of address directory information made.

The minutes were reviewed including updates on the following:

A reminder of KCTE/LA luncheon for all the Writing Project Participants on Feb 8, 2002.  Information had been sent from John via email.

Presently there are five book groups with five participants each—funded by a Project mini-grant, eight teachers with mini-grants for conferences, and two teachers with research mini-grants.

Young Writer’s Camp will be held this summer during the last two weeks in June.  We need 2 middle school teachers  to teach 26 students.

Advanced Writing Institute for the coming summer was not funded by Frankfort but Focus Groups were.

Literature project is still being worked on.

Last day to register for this Year’s Writing Project XVII is February 28, 2002.  Board members and all Project teachers were asked to recruit vigorously for the Project!

The Project Pamphlet has been updated and will be available very soon.

The Project Web page has been updated as best as possible to download on modems better.  It was also noted that many servers will not accept mass emailings of over 200 receivers.

Minutes were approved and accepted.

Announcements and Questions:
It was clarified that board positions are for a term of 3 years with a stipend of $75.00 per year.  Three members will be rotating off this year.

Barry Lane will be at the Holiday Inn North in Lexington,  March 4, 2002.

Harry Noden will be at the Extension Office in Hodgensville on Jan. 21.  Contact Lynn Claycomb.

Louisville Writing Project Newsletter was passed around the group.

The idea of a “Writing Marathon” fashioned after NWP’s idea was discussed.  After a brief introduction a group visits various places across a town/city.  Upon arrival at a location the group writes for about 10 minutes, shares its writing, socializes, and moves on to another spot to do it all again.  No one volunteered to coordinate this event.  It was decided that Karen Scott would send out an email with this idea to see if someone might take on this task.

The Poetry Workshop:  “Teaching and Writing Poetry” (Capella/Wormser) which is scheduled to be held April 20, 2002 was discussed.  It was noted that the presenters should be informed that elementary teachers may be the larger group.  Also to pay attention to the possibility that poetry could be a portfolio piece and link poetry to the content areas.

A motion was made, seconded and passed to have the Poetry Workshop, held at the South Campus, WKU, on Nashville Road.  It would go from 9 am to 3 pm, with lunch provided in the workshop fee.

Inservice Ideas (Karen Scott):

• Donna Vincent can do possibly half day
• A “Wonderful Wednesday” is planned in March; another workshop in February
• Poetry in April (mentioned above)
• Teresa Tartar from GRECC will link the WKU project offerings.  GRECC may not offer writing and leave it up to the Project but take care of the registration.
• It was suggested that a workshop be done on “Conferencing.”
• Another workshop idea would be to focus on students mentoring with other students.  Some ideas share included:

Another teacher shared that her students will go to nursing homes to share a memory.  The third and fourth grade will go back again and help the nursing home residents write a personal narrative.

After School Focus Groups:

A funded proposal ($10,000) was discussed.  Topics discussed included the information that needed to be presented in an application:

1.  Demonstrate needs (CATS scores; demographics) and what is already done.  Also how this grant relates to Consolidated Plan.Goals to meet in focus group.
2.  Finished product which will be measurable
3.  Signature of principal or district for approval
4.  Names of the members of the group
5.  Suggested Writing Project Leader
6.  Deadline will be February 4, 2002 or until funds are exhausted.
7.  As application is submitted electronically, printed, and faxed with signature of approval

With the problem about matching grant money going through a time period to be approved causing the time period for application to be shortened it was decided the focus groups would not require matching funds.  Board members would read applications electronically and rate them.

Creating a Publication

There is a desire for a publication that documents our success.  One idea discussed is showing a sequence of writing samples at all grade levels, somewhat after the Southwest Arizona Writing Project format.  This publication will show what teachers and students have learned.

Writing assignment, student writing, teacher and student reflection (permission slips included) will be needed.

Michelle East volunteered to send an email to all project board fellows which calls for pieces and includes a link to a sample and an application.  This email is to be forwarded by Board members to our fellow project members.  The pieces submitted by fellows would be sent to the WKU Writing Project Office.

Next Meeting

Immediately following the April 20, 2002 Poetry Workshop for any unfinished business.

Respectfully Submitted
Joy Lynn Cox Buckingham, Recorder