The Western Kentucky University Writing Advisory Board met January 24, 2004 at Western Kentucky University.

Sandy Kiper of Clarkson Elementary in Grayson County has joined our group.

Rogerlynne Briddon, Cheryl Gilstrap, Tom Stewart, Joy Buckingham, Karen Scott, John Hagaman, and Rich Haynes were also in attendance.

Old Business:
The minutes were reviewed minutes and accepted.

A reminder that KCTE/LA will be February 6-7, 2004.

Karen Scott gave an update on the Outreach Program.
· Some of the workshops didn’t develop.  It was felt this was due money constraint at this time.
· Rogerlynne Briddon and Kim Taylor are planning a workshop for the administrators in June or July.

This year’s Writing Project will be June 7- July 2, 2004.

The April 17, 2004 annual reunion will bring Harvey “Smokey” Daniels to Bowling Green, KY to speak on his books, Subjects Matter: Every Teacher’s Guide to Content Reading and Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs and Reading Groups. Expenses and location were discussed to determine a fee.  Also the schedule was discussed as well as the evaluation form to be used.

It was determined to book the South Campus to host the event. The fee will be $35 without a book.  This will be confirmed at a later date.  Information will be posted on the web site.  Dates for registration will be February 2-13 for Project fellows and opened to non-project teachers on February 17 till filled.  The advisory board will email their project fellows and others to help publicize the event.

New Business
Discussion was held for new ideas for the Outreach Program.
· Possibilities included adding information, offerings and requests for needs and feedback to the Project newsletter and local district newsletters.
· Another idea included the fee for the project consultant would be free if they brought a paying participant to the same workshop.
· A mini demonstration on a Saturday where several people would share ideas in small increments of time.  This type of networking workshop would have no fee.

John Hagaman shared a video of the “I’m From Western Kentucky:  A Celebration of Our Region in Fiction, Drama, and Poetry for Teachers and Students in Grades 4-12th” held on September 20, 2003 at Western Kentucky University.

John reported on grants that have been written or will be written:
· Two grants have been written.  One with Bluegrass and Morehead writing projects to bridge the gap between reading and writing through the NWP’s Reading Initiative grant program.  We will know in February if the funding is approved.  The state department was so supportive of this endeavor they want to integrate a $300,000 related grant that involves the same three regions: western, central, and eastern Kentucky.
· Another grant has been written for a Gender Discrepancies and How to Overcome Them workshop which would be a week long and provide funds for attendance at KCTE/LA ’05 to disseminate some of the strategies created as a result of the workshop.

On Friday, March 5, 2004 the Purchase Area Writing Project will host a Gender Gap Mini-Conference at Murray State University’s Curris Center. Tom Newkirk author of Misreading Masculinity: Boys, Literacy, and Popular Culture will be the presenter.   There will be a free autographed book for the first 25 registrants and discounted books available for purchase plus door prizes.

Rogerlynne Briddon participated in a Leadership Academy during the past year.  She heard Claudia Runge’s presentation on Assessing School-Wide Writing Programs.  At the moment they are training for facilitation and unsure of next step.  This academy was created to meet the need left by the absence of the Regional Service Centers.

John attended a two day committee meeting with other project leaders with Kentucky Education Department whose intent is to broaden academic writing in the portfolio.  This would be to help prepare students for college writing.  Hopefully, a packet would be created to distribute to high school teachers.  Also, this committee felt there is a need for college level marker papers.

The next Advisory Board meeting will be held  at 9 am on September 18, 2004 in Cherry Hall.

Respectfully,

Joy Buckingham
Recorder