WE LEARN

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Women Leading Through Reading

WE LEARN c/o Mev Miller 182 Riverside Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 401-383-4374 welearn@litwomen.org

Members in attendance: Participants of the 2004 Annual Conference

Current Board Members in Attendance: Lorna Riveria, Alison Cunningham, Nancy Howard, Sally Gabb, Mev Miller, and Dana Huber

Welcome and Goals for meeting outlined by Nancy Howard
• Present ways that members can be more involved with the goals and mission of WE LEARN
• Current projects WE LEARN is involved with
• Overview of funding for the organization
• Vote on Board Directors for WE LEARN

Ways to get involved with goals of WE LEARN
• Form and/or join a committee to work on a specific issue of concern to WE LEARN
• Become a regional coordinator and work in region on issues of concern to WE LEARN
• Become a Board member and help direct the work of WE LEARN. If interested in being on the board, talk to a current board member. Can join mid-year, don’t need to wait until next board election to join the board.

What WE LEARN has accomplished since February 2003
• Created and established WE LEARN’s website
• Recruited and established the initial Board of Director
• Wrote and approved WE LEARN By-Laws
• Filed and received organizations non-profit status
• Published 2 newsletters
• Compiled a mailing list, with 100 members and other non-members
• Put together the first Networking Conference
• Established a collaborative partnership to publish and edit an issue of the Change Agent on Women and Literacy. The issue will be out in September 2004. Call for articles have been issued.
• Created and established the Elizabeth Morrish Scholarship fund
• Working to establish regional advisory councils across the US

Membership suggestions, comments for WE LEARN
• Linda Moussouris - commented on the economic issues: struck by how we are all competing for the same resources. Feels this is an issue that should be worked on as a group
• Linda Moussouris-commented that economic, financial literacy can be used to empower learners
• Rebecca Garland-commented on being excited to watch the organization grow. Wondered about if we were networking with Daphne Greenberg around the Women and Literacy conference
• Joanne Arnaud-commented on the need to work on getting learners involved in workshops
• Maureen O’Bryan-commented on needing to have some follow-up between conferences and look for ways to share the learning that has happened at the conference.
• Melissa Chiavaroli-commented on website and requested that we look for ways to make the website more interactive in how to get and use curriculum and ideas that are housed on the website.
• Sally Gabb-commented on doing research on how to connect to each other through technology and WE LEARN
• Judy Titzel- commented on the need to bring forward math along with literacy skills in the work of WE LEARN
• Jennifer (Welch?)-commented on WE LEARN having a role as a bridge from theory to practice
• Linda Thomas- commented that working with graduate programs may be way to make connections and further the work of WE LEARN

Financial Overview-presented by Sally Gabb
• Organization is growing financially solvent through memberships and through fund raising efforts
• Achieved 501(c)3 non-profit status
• Great support from sponsors to help put on conference
• Established Elizabeth Morrish Memorial Student Scholarship Fund in honor of former adult educator Elizabeth Morrish. Will be used to provide scholarship for women learners and support work around development of women student leaders.
• Haymarket Grant, we have received funding in support of the work on the Change Agent issue
• Growing our membership base that helps further fund the efforts of the organization
• Women’s Studies Quarterly, we've arranged a discount with Feminist Press so we will receive a percent of sales for each copy of the issue on women and literacy (32:1&2) we sell
• Books to Watch Out For will provide funds if members indicate their subscriptions are based on WE LEARN recommendation.

Board of Director Vote
• 15 slots for board are available-currently have a slate of 7 board members presented for election – 6 are current board members with one new addition, Anna Yangco.
• 3 year terms, staggered so that leadership does not all turn over at the same time
• Review the slate of candidates for election
• Judy Titzel motioned to approve the slate of board candidates as listed

o Motion seconded by Sandy Bidwell
o Unanimously approve the election of the Board of Directors as presented.
o Newest board member elected is Anna Yangco

• Member of WE LEARN interested in joining the board should contact co-chair Nancy Howard

(click here to see current board member list)

Membership meeting adjourned at 1:30 PM.