WELCOME
Welcome to the new webpage for the Union Monroe Reading Association.  We are located in Union County, North Carolina. 

MISSION STATEMENT
Our purpose  is to promote reading and writing excellence in Union County.

THIS YEAR'S GOALS
1. Create a userfriendly webpage/blog that allows members and those interested in the promotion of reading and writingt to share thoughts, ideas, success stories and problems they would like help to solve.
2. Incorporate the meeting of common core standards in Reading into our workshops so members actually take away ideas they can use in the classroom that will benefit their students.
3. Build a colaboration between the community and the UMRA that will provide resources for teachers (i.e. bank employees coming to read to our classes, book buddies - businesses donating books to give out to our students).

BENEFITS OF UMRA MEMBERSHIP
Joining the Union Monroe Reading Association will give you the opportunity to make a difference regarding reading and writing in our community.  You will gain ideas for use in your classroom or with your children, while enjoying time with others who also believe in the importance of literacy.  As a professional you can earn 1 CEU credit (in Reading) for attendance / participation in a minimum of 10 hours of our meetings, workshops and Young Authors Celebration.

Membership in the local council automatically includes membeship in the North Carolina Reading Association (NCRA).   If your are planning to attend the NCRA Annual Reading Convention you may do so at a reduced rate.  

On the new state teacher appraisals it is asked if the teacher is a member of a professional organization.  By joining the UMRA you are actually joining 2 professional organizations, the UMRA and the NCRA.

Membership is open to teachers, teacher's assistants, media specialists, university personnel, administrators, parents, college students, home schoolers, and all others that are interested in promoting literacy in our county.  Cost to join is $25.00 if paid by October 22,2011.  After this date the cost will be $30.00.  Students pay $20.00 at anytime.  Compared to other profeessional organizations this is a great deal for all you get.  So join today!  Use the contact us page or email us to have an application emailed to you.  Our email address is umra.unionmonroe@gmail.com  The form may be printed from our contact us page and mailed with your payment of dues to: 

              UMRA Council # 36850
              5417 Cane Creek Rd.
              Waxhaw, NC 28173 

WHAT IS IRA?
Union Monroe Reading Association (UMRA) is one of fifty local councils in the NC taht are affiliated with the North Carolina Reading Association (NCRA).  The International Reading Association (IRA) is a network of over 1200 state, provincial, and local councils and national community service programs and professional development.  Each local council strives to promote literacy, improvement of reading instruction, and promtion of being a lifetime reader.  All members are encouraged to join the IRA.  Dues start at $29.60 online.
The website is www.reading.org