National Reading Conference
Address: 7044 S. 13th St. Oak Creek, WI 53154
Main Office: 414.908.4924
CustomerCare Center: 414-908-4924, ext. 450
Fax: 414-768-8001
Email: customercare@nrconline.org

This web page is designed to provide NRC members with additional information and resources regarding the possible name change of the National Reading Conference.

History

When she was President, Dr. Patricia Edwards initiated a listserv conversation on the topic of a possible NRC name change. Because the majority of the listserv postings indicated the desire for an organizational name change, Dr. Edwards appointed an ad-hoc administrative committee to investigate the issue, and asked Dr. Kathleen Hinchman to chair the committee. The committee was charged with soliciting name change suggestions from the membership, constructing a ballot for a straw vote on the subject, and reporting the results to the Board of Directors' meeting at the December 2007 Annual Meeting.

420 people voted in the straw vote regarding a possible organizational name change. The name choices and recorded votes are as follows: National Reading Council (102), Association for Literacy Research (190), Association for Reading and Literacy Research (64), and No Name Change (64). Interestingly, the results of the straw vote left the organization with a name recommendation, Association of Literacy Research, that was very close to the new name of the College Reading Association, which is Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers. The NRC Board of Directors found this similarity to be problematic.

Instead, the Board agreed that the next step would be to reconsider the feasibility of other names that were generated. Therefore, the Board asked Technical Enterprises, Inc. (TEI), our management firm, to search the legal availability of the following names:
Literacy Research Association
National Reading Research Council
National Reading Research Association
National Reading Council
International Literacy Research Council
Literacy Research Council
Literacy Reading Research Association
National Reading Conference

The Board of Directors chose five of the above names deemed “available,” and is asking the membershipto vote by ranking the five names. Bylaw procedures will then be followed to put the most highly ranked name to a vote against the current name at the Business Meeting the 2008 NRC Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Names to be Considered via Ranked Ballot

Literacy Research Association
Literacy Research Council
National Reading Council
National Reading Research Association
National Reading Research Council

Timeline

September 15, 2008 to September 30, 2008: NRC Headquarters prepares "Ranked" eBallot
October 1, 2008: NRC Headquarters sends eBallot to all NRC Members
October 1, 2008 to October 15, 2008: NRC Members vote on Name Change via eBallot
October 16, 2008 to October 31, 2008: NRC Headquarters prepares Name Change Amendment and Proxy Vote Ballot
October 31, 2008: NRC Headquarters mails Proxy Ballots
November 21, 2008: Proxy Ballots Due to NRC Headquarters
December 5, 2008: NRC Business Meeting and Name Change Vote

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. I did not get a ranked eBallot – who should I contact?
   Contact Christopher Roper (c.roper@nrconline.org or 414-908-4924 ext.107) to receive a replacement eBallot.
2. I did not get a proxy ballot – who should I contact?
   Contact Christopher Roper (c.roper@nrconline.org or 414-908-4924 ext.107) to receive a replacement proxy ballot.
3. When are proxy ballots due?
   Proxy ballots must be postmarked by Friday, November 21, 2008.
4. Where do I send my proxy ballot?
   Please fax your proxy ballot to (414-768-8001) or send it via postal mail to:
   NRC Headquarters
   Attn: C. Roper/Proxy Vote
   7044 S 13th St.
   Oak Creek, WI 53154