[Reading-hall-of-fame] greetings and thank you

[Linda Gambrell]

Jim,
The proposal sounds like a wonderful idea...I, too, will miss the RHF 
because of IRA duties at the conference but want to send my 
congratulations to newly elected members.
Best,
Linda

At 1:16 PM -0500 5/9/07, jim hoffman wrote:
>Thank you for your support in electing me to serve as President of 
>the Reading Hall of Fame.  Due to a conflict with a project in South 
>Africa I will not be attending the IRA conference this year in 
>Toronto.  I have been in contact with Rob regarding agenda for our 
>meeting, but I thought I would write directly concnerning a couple 
>of issues that are ahead for our group.
>
>Let me begin by offfering congratulations to our recently elected 
>colleagues. We look forward to your active participation in the 
>organization.
>
>There seems to be a general consensus within the RHF to become even 
>more active in trying to shape policy (both within the profession 
>and on the political front). The recent symposia sponsored by the 
>ROH refect this strong interest.
>
>I have made a proposal to IRA for a regular column in Reading Today 
>that would be used by the RHF to communicate our position on 
>important issues facing the profession. Alan is in consultation and 
>considering the proposal .  I have proposed a trial year to begin in 
>the Spring or Fall of 08. IRA would evaluate the effectiveness and 
>contribution of the column at the end of the first year to make a 
>long term determination.
>
>Reading Today reaches a broad audience and offers a fairly "rapid 
>response" forum for important ideas. It seems to offer the perfect 
>match for our 'expertise'/perspective (within the ROH) and the needs 
>within the profession.
>
>If IRA responds positively to this proposal I would convine a small 
>group to prepare a proposal for a process to prepare these columns. 
>We would come back to the full HOF membership for approval on the 
>process.
>
>I don't want this to sound too large-scale or ambitious (we would be 
>on a much much smaller scale) but I would envision a process 
>something along the lines of what the national academy does with 
>topical issues.  We use a census process to identify and prioritize 
>topics to write about; we put writing teams together, we circulate 
>for approval and we publish.
>
>As soon as I hear more from Alan I will update you . .  . but in the 
>meantime, you are welcome to post comments.
>
>I hope that someone will volunteer to take the lead on a session for 
>next year.
>
>And finally,  we need someone to take on the role of "historian" for 
>the group . . volunteers?  It's not an elected position so I will 
>just invite the first person to respon to this message.
>
>Hope all is well and enjoy Toronto.
>
>jim
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-- 
Linda B. Gambrell
Clemson University
102 Tillman Hall
Clemson, SC 29634

Phone:  864-650-2259
FAX:  864-226-5339
Email:  LGAMB at clemson.edu