North Carolina has braved many forces of nature in the past year. Tornadoes ripped through NC and destroyed schools in Cumberland, Greene, and Onslow counties. An earthquake on the east coast shook the state but caused no significant damage. Schools in Beaufort, Edgecombe, Pamlico, and Tyrrell counties felt the destructive winds and waters generated by Hurricane Irene.

            Helping each other as neighbors is something that is an innate part of our Southern culture. As a statewide project, the North Carolina Reading Association is doing its part to help by collecting new and gently used books to restock classroom libraries. Books on all grade levels are needed, pre-school through grade 12. Many of your local councils already have projects featuring book donation programs, and we don't want to compete with those efforts, but we would appreciate your support in helping get these classrooms get back on their feet. We will collect books until Thanksgiving and deliver donations to selected schools in early December. Let's see how many books we can collect! More information will be sent to council presidents and area directors soon.

            As I have gathered information from your local councils and read about the meetings and events planned for this year, I am more convinced than ever that North Carolina is brimming with unique and inspiring ideas to encourage and promote literacy in our schools. With four different council meetings under my belt in September and plans to attend many more in the coming months, I continue to find new friends and fresh ideas that I can use in my own school. I am excited to welcome two new councils to the state: Great Smokies Reading Council in the west serving Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties and Triangle Reading Council, serving Orange, Durham and Alamance counties. Encourage your reading colleagues in other areas of the state to seek out a local reading council or consider beginning a new council. Remember that local council membership dues also include membership in the North Carolina Reading Association. Local councils have set membership goals and are working hard to reach those goals. Extend an invitation to fellow educators, college students in teacher education programs, interested parents, and anyone interested in literacy to join our ranks. The NCRA website and our new Facebook page can be great resources. Many of our local councils have their own websites and are on Facebook as well. On the NCRA website's local council page, we have included additional “Council Links” with Membership brochures and newsletters.

            As we focus on the Common Core Standards and Race to the Top, let us remain committed to fostering a love of books and reading in every student. Have a year that is full of book joy!

Mary Jo Floyd, NCRA President