MINUTES OF THE COMMON READING PLANNING MEETING
8/4/2011
Attending were: Lisa Welch, Ann Watson, Shannon Holliday, Heidi Hanrahan, Helena Cole, Rebecca
Moore, Judi McIntyre
Plans for next year’s common reading activities were discussed. Judi gave an overview of what was
planned so far – movie – Rudy, September 13, Poetry readings at Blue Moon in October and group
readings of essays; November Jay Allison will be here and will be giving a workshop for those people
who are already working on their essays from 2-3 PM on Nov. 15 and a lecture in the evening. We will
have a community essay read in late November. There will be readings in late January, a movie cosponsored with Multicultural Student Services for Black History month (movie yet to be confirmed); in
March we will co-sponsor a film with Women Studies for Women’s History Month. The documentary,
“The Pill,” is an option. Judi has seen it and it is an hour long and mentions, but does not focus on,
Margaret Sanger. Heidi is checking with the Women Studies committee to see what they would prefer.
There will be essay reading sessions in March. In April, we will co-sponsor the movie Good Night and
Good Luck which is about Edward R. Murrow, the first host of This I Believe on NPR. April 1 is the
tentative date for this movie. There will be essay readings in April also.
Timeline for next year’s book: Nov. 30 – meet to determine the books to be read over Winter Break.
Jan. 26, the committee meets to determine the final five books to go on the university website for
voting. Voting will be from Feb. 1 until April 1. Winner will be determined April 1.
Student essays for the essay contest will be due December 2. A committee will read them over Winter
Break. Members of this committee are Heidi Hanrahan, Tim Nixon, Heidi Dobish and Helena Cole.
Depending on the number of student essays this year, we may need more readers.
Invitations to write and read essays have been sent to selected community folk, Executive Staff, Deans
Council and Faculty. An invitation will also be sent to all employees similar to the other invitations.
Rebecca is working with Alex to have information about the common reading and essay writing in the
Orientation newsletter. Heidi Hanrahan is developing instructions for instructors on information for the
This I Believe essays. In her English 101 class an essay will be required. Heidi was recommended to lead
a FOSL at the beginning of the year on how to incorporate the common reading in classes.
It was suggested that the Art Department – Rhonda Smith, Stephanie Robbins, Kristin Kaineg be involved
in requiring a student assignment that connects to the common reading.
The Library is making T-shirts and buttons using a This I Believe theme. Heidi is giving a workshop for
writing for Peer Tutors (English 377) who could help in the classrooms with students writing their own
essays. The tutors need the hours and the instructors will be notified the tutors are available to come to
their classes.
Rebecca said she would contact Rachael Meads to be sure we are invited to the Student Organizational
Fair to give out information on the common reading and the essays and the essay contest.
It was suggested that Judi follow up with Holly Frye about the Relay for Life either using existing essays
or writing essays for the event. It was also suggested that Pat Welsh on staff who is a poet be invited to
write a poem as a This I Believe project. Judi will call her and invite her.
It was suggested that a children’s essay would be interesting. There is a Children Program at the
Shepherdstown Library. Judi will email Pam Miller to see if the children’s could write one liners of what
they believe.
It was suggested that the Bookstore create a display at Christmas using the book and the newspaper
article, Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Clause.
It was suggested that the Pickett editors be invited to write essays. Judi has spoken to Heather
Greenfield, a Picket Editor and she is passing the word along to the other Editors. Heather said she
would be interested in writing one and that the other Editors were English majors and probably would
write one also. I said they could do it as a group if there were enough of them.
It was suggested that we add Adam’s YouTube presentation to the Common Reading website under
Instructional Resources. Judi will contact Adam and Lauryl Lewis to determine if it is OK to use it.
Shannon will talk to Todd Congreve of the radio station to see if one essay per week could be read over
the air – perhaps at the same time and day each week. The essay author would need to record it at the
radio station and have an introduction to the essay so they would know who was reading it.
Other names suggested for community contacts:
Hali Taylor, Shepherdstown Library – 876-2783
Jim Surkamp
George Wilson (radio expert)
Lorri Robertson – cancer survivor and community organizer (540-336-4727
Judy Shepherd
Hope Snyder (author)
Meredith Wait
Judi will need contact information for the above people – either phone or email addresses.
So far, community members agreeing to write and read an essay are: Dr. John Splaine, Dr. Mark
Cucuzzella, Larry Cumbo, Lex Miller. Judi will follow up with phone calls for those who have not
responded by email. University folks who have responded are Holly Frye, Ray Smock, Rudy Bropleh and
Barb Kemerer who is issuing a challenge to the entire faculty in the Education Department to write an
essay.
If there are things I have missed in these minutes, please send out an email to all members with the
information.
Minutes submitted by:
Judi McIntyre, Chair
LB-156; 304-876-5396