NAREA Board Meeting
Honolulu, HI
July 10, 2013
Board Meeting of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance
Present: Margie Cooper, Jeanne Goldhaber, Susan Redmond, Jennifer Strange, Jennifer Kesselring,
Brenda Fyfe, Simonetta Cittadini-Medina, David Fernie
Absent: Sheri Hunt, Carol Anne Wien, Barbara Acton, Jennifer Azzariti, Ellen Hall, Angela Ferrario, Pat
Tarr, Beth MacDonald, Teresa Acevedo, Lella Gandini, Amelia Gambetti
Staff: Judith Kaminsky
The board meeting was called to order at 9:15 am.
Announcements:
 Welcome to Hawaii from Margie
 Update on visit to Mid-Pacific Institute by Judy
 Update on exhibit visit by Margie and Judy
 Update on summer conference by Judy
o see 7/13 summer conference report
o closing session on Saturday: Jeanne, Jen K. and Simonetta make connections between
various conference experiences
Staff Reports
Finance
 See 5/31/13 financial statement
 Goal to hit budget of -$70,000; summer conference will not lose money but will not be income
earner as in past
 Expenses within expected range except for payroll; have not hired person board approvedwaiting until after summer conference
 5000 total unique members in 10 years, average 1200/year; some stable core but not large—
how do we improve?
 Topic of discussion proposed for November board meeting: additional revenue streams; with
10th anniversary and website renovation behind us, can decide how to envision next 10 years of
organization expanding financially to support mission and purpose
Membership
 See 7/13 monthly membership totals
 2013: 865 members by mid-year; likely low 1200s by end of year; summer conference did not
generate as many memberships
Website
 Current website utilitarian, not inspiring and reflective of message we wish to share; how do we
express relationship with Reggio Emilia, dreams and aspirations?
 Margie and Lauren researched consultants; chose Showcase Marketing in Greenville SC because
comprehensive, full-service company vs. template web construction; bolder, more youthful
appearance; mobile access; discounted rate of $30, 000 ($15,000 in 2013 and $15,000 in 2014;
original quote: $60,000)
 Will retain current webmaster
NAREA Board Meeting
Honolulu, HI
July 10, 2013


Staff compiled wish list for new website; first step after summer conference to renovate and
accommodate all needs; board to send comments and requests for new website in next two
months
Hopefully, new website up and running in the fall
Exhibit
 See 7/13 exhibit report
 Extension through 2018 approved by RC with no additional fees
 $64K/year revenue
 Reggio also interested in adding new materials/experiences
 Locate in one area at no cost: part of call for proposals process: WV possibility
 Group of board members will consider proposals
 Board thoughts about changes needed to exhibit project going forward; post call for proposals
on board page and send email to board members to send suggestions in certain period of time;
NAREA Jobs Site
 See 7/13 jobs site report
 Most jobs not being filled because of posting on NAREA site but since cost low, many happy to
use—this is possibly due to geographical realities of job postings
 Need more user-friendly page and notification when new job listed when website redesigned
Public relations
 Hoped to have written draft of 10 year report by this meeting but current draft still needs work;
hope to have before November on board member page for review before meeting or
participation in revision before meeting
Innovations
 7/13 Innovations update reviewed
 Two job candidates can translate Innovations articles into Spanish: Emanuela evaluating
accuracy; would include in back issue articles for sale on website
 Comments on design from board: overwhelmingly positive
Conferences
 2013 winter conference
o See 2013 winter conference summary of comments
o Difficult email communication following conference; challenge of board communicating
via email vs. in person; must develop ability to communicate with sensitivity; goal to
leave initiative community with good impression of NAREA
o Time for reflection about how to improve next conference: how can all participants feel
they have been nourished every time?
o Must be clear about purposes for various initiatives; isn’t purpose of winter conference
to understand local context?
o Suggest video conference among board after conference
o FAQs: way to communicate with public about initiatives; board can share what our
message should be
NAREA Board Meeting
Honolulu, HI
July 10, 2013
o
o





Organize interdisciplinary initiative and promote as such
End with reflections that connect different parts of conference; panel presentations not
connected in Tucson
Winter 2014: Greenville: February 27, 28, March 1, Thursday-Saturday; board meeting: March 23, Sunday-Monday
Possibility of NAREA board meeting in Reggio Emilia in 2014?:
o retreat opportunity; meet in place that is origin of our work and mission; support
solidarity, vision; strategize investment in organization
o Margie has discussed with Angela and Reggio Children (will provide meeting room, etc.)
o Possible dates: February 2014 (in connection with International Network meeting and
20th anniversary of Malaguzzi’s death events) or May 2014 (in connection with North
American study group: May 26-30)
o Discussion:
 More than one day; time for thorough experience
 How can this be financed?
 May: strong message from NAREA to study group
 February: Broader context of other networks positive; international network
meetings heavily organized by Reggio Children to be open-updates shared, small
groups discuss creation of manifesto, for example); NAREA board may be able to
participate in international network meeting
 Timing difficult for both due to winter and summer conferences (board wants to
support by attending); February too soon; May end of school year
 In which ways is board visible during a conference? Board to think of ways to
become more visible (add to conference FAQs: atelier facilitators, membership
meeting facilitators, small group discussion facilitators)
 Could also go fall 2014; at November meeting, proposal for May or fall dates for
decision; board to think about preferences; will have discussion about funding if
decide on date-think about possible financial resources
Summer 2014: Albuquerque; June 19-21; board meeting June 18 (unless meet in May in Reggio)
o Lifetime achievement award: George Forman (Margie will contact Susan Fraser for
2015)
o Lella, George and Carolyn may present on 3rd edition of The Hundred Languages of
Children
Summer 2015: St Paul (first and 10th conference)?
o Judy to contact Karyn Callaghan re: interest in hosting exhibit in 2015 (2015 winter or
summer conference, Susan Fraser-honoree)
Connect winter and summer conferences to exhibit in future; exhibit hosts have overwhelmingly
chosen for NAREA to organize NAREA Professional Development Series initiative; strengthen
attachment of NAREA to presence of Reggio educators
Reggio Children/Reggio Emilia
 Welcome to Claudia Giudici, Emanuela Vercalli and Leslie Morrow
o Gift of Reggio Narra postcards from 2013 and sharing experience
 Choices and strategies for last school year and projections for future: Claudia
NAREA Board Meeting
Honolulu, HI
July 10, 2013
o

City of Reggio Emilia: significant political change: Mayor Delrio now minister for regional
and local affairs in newly formed national government in Italy; vice mayor has taken
over until elections next year; period of significant transition
o Istituzione: economic and political difficulty but decision made to maintain network and
quality of services
o Architectural part of Malaguzzi Center completed: Istituzione (restaurant and outdoor
area) and Reggio Children collaboration
o Cultural project of Malaguzzi Center: Istituzione, Reggio Children, Reggio Children – Loris
Malaguzzi Center Foundation; collaborative projects
o Important to maintain attention on strong identity of experience
o Two research projects
 Re-write curriculum of 12 infant-toddler centers and 21 preschools based on rewritten national guidelines; 7 focal points: digital, narration/storytelling,
language of music and dance, other aspects related to reading and writing; to
continue into upcoming school year; first summary in June
 Designing spaces for learning in collaboration with Foundation; international
architectural competition for expansion of school in Malaguzzi Center that also
considers pedagogical aspects; designing spaces related to Reggio approach for
older children; winning project from Madrid firm; plan to complete September
2014; Foundation donated winning project to Istituzione; will offer elements for
further research/update of Children, Spaces, Relations metaproject; brochure
available
o Japanese architect donated concept to renovate schools damaged by earthquake
(including Diana); need funds to develop further in addition to Foundation contributioninternational colleagues may be source due to reputation of Diana school
o Reggio Children, Istituzione, Foundation: increase in development of international
activity
 more participants welcomed in last two years than ever before; 20 study groups
in last school year
 increase in requests from new countries
 China: international conference April 2014; support from Singapore
 South Africa: ANC 100th anniversary; long history between Reggio Emilia
and South Africa (first city in Europe to support ANC in fight against
apartheid); celebrations in Reggio and S. Africa
 Africa/Middle East: welcomed prime minister of Mozambique; increase
in requests from Middle East; possibility to see experience from
different point of view
 2013-2014: 20 study groups planned including North American, hundred
languages focus in December, February 2014 birthday of Robinson school
Celebration of Reggio Children and Malaguzzi’s death in 2014
o February 21-23, 2014: additional conference in Reggio organized annually by national
infant-toddler center and preschool association in Italy (Grupo Nazionale founded by
Malaguzzi); idea to bring together various private and public subjects to bring about
political action that affects policies and keeps debate open about early childhood
services; theme: education is/and politics/policy
NAREA Board Meeting
Honolulu, HI
July 10, 2013
o

also meeting of International Network and Foundation steering committee preceding
conference
World Expo in Milan May 1-October 31, 2015: theme of food and sustainability; Reggio Children
and Istituzione asked to develop unit for children to attest to idea of children, childhood and
education; children’s park like big atelier/exhibition; working on video about early stages of
project
Board Work Groups
Networks and relations
 In transformation
 Last opportunity for member feedback at meetings in Hawaii; then will write summary,
determine discussion items for board
Research and review
 Jeanne has set of resources sent by Judy to review; will send to Brenda for thoughts
CD 2014
 Margie interviewed Amelia via video in June; CD will be elaboration of this interview
 Include suggested conversation points, reflecting on comments made by Amelia
NAEYC 2013
 See NAEYC 2013
 NAREA pre-conference accepted: continuity, elementary schools, public schools; suggest
presentations (Mardell-Boston Public Schools); Jennifer S. to call Beth to schedule phone call
 tour of schools at St. John’s on November 19
 Naama Zoran works with DC Jewish schools as does Jen A.; wants Amelia and Lella to participate
in informal gathering on Monday, November 18
Open Discussion/Decision-Making
Iconic photos to be used in NAREA materials, website, 10 year report, etc.
 Have submissions from two board members
 Request board send possible iconic photos ASAP
 Will converse about collection together, make decisions, get permissions
Advocacy
 Proposal for board to develop plan for writing guest editorials/letters to editor to New York
Times and other key newspapers
o Identify subject about which you have passion and something to say
o Anticipate hot topic issues (August and September: key time for education)
o Decide who wants to write about what (work in teams), then write, then work together
to expand and make stronger, then see what have, can be tweaked and submitted
according to news
o Post on NAREA board members page
NAREA Board Meeting
Honolulu, HI
July 10, 2013
o

Deadline to submit draft editorials: September 1, 2013; notify others of topic writing
about; develop separate Google Drive sites
Positive stories for end of late night news
New Business
 Sheri Hunt submitted resignation letter-now working in HR at Google
 Board currently at 18-possible goal of 15 members (less of financial burden; try for period of
time)?
Reggio Children – Loris Malaguzzi Center Foundation
 Foundation growing in its perspective, coming very strongly from Carla; wants to be place where
mutual projects can be conceived and maintained
 What could it look like for NAREA to conceive of and propose mutual research project through
Foundation? Any fantastic idea would meet with fertile ground on Foundation’s part-we are
only hindered by our lack of imagination; rationale necessary: how can Foundation attract
funding for mutual project?
 Foundation seeking to be global conduit (Mozambique, S. Africa)
 Projects to date: pedagogy and architecture; educare (Reggio nel Mundo); food and
sustainability; smart cities (municipal grant)
 Sophisticated in knowledge of EU; want to become more globally aware; want to benefit partner
 Projects selected must have aspect of formality: social workers from Kenya and atelieristi from
Reggio working with children to become generative and productive in society-funds coming into
system from social work organization in Kenya