Volunteers

The Gifted Education Cooperative (GECO) serves Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge and Oak Brook.                                      

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A hearty thank you and congratulations to this year's GECO board, and the many many GECO volunteers who made all of our events a reality. 

There are still some leadership volunteer opportunities available with GECO for next year.  Below is a list of positions, with the names of those volunteering for each.  Any position with a blank is currently available- we would love to have YOUR name on one of those slots.  It is a great way to get more involved with the great momentum for gifted services in this District, to get to know other parents, and to have your children get to know other students in the District.  Please let me know if you are interested in a position, or contact me if you have any questions.  They are all very manageable, you need not have been involved before, and we are a fun group to hang out with! 

GECO Volunteer Positions: 2007-08

  1. President:  Organize and run leadership meetings.  Coordinate and facilitate group activities and represent GECO as appropriate.  Ensure an orderly succession and transfer of responsibilities.  Official liaison with District 181 Board, committees, and staff.  Serve as spokesperson to media.  Co-Presidents:  Susan Portland
  2. Vice President:  Step in for presidents when necessary.  Assist president as necessary.  Recruit volunteers to fill vacancies. Help select and line up outside speakers for meetings.  Schedule locations for meetings.  _______________

    ·     Summer Camp Fair Coordinator:  Plan and execute annual camp fair with assistance of entire GECO planning committee. Coordinate with Secretary for PR to inform membership and the public.   _____________________ and Tom Isaac

    ·      Fall Speaker:  Coordinate with Andy Mahoney to set date, time, location, and subject of talk.  Coordinate with Secretary for PR to inform membership and the public.  Susan Portland

    ·      Winter/Spring Speaker: Identify speaker we would like to invite and set date, time, location, and subject of talk. Coordinate with Secretary for PR to inform membership and the public.   _____________________

  3. Treasurer/Membership:  Handle bank accounts and orderly disbursement of funds.  Maintain updated list of members, organize membership renewals in January, and collect dues.  Send/deliver welcome packets to new members.  Handle our affiliate membership in the IAGC.  Lynne Bloomfield
  4. Secretary/P.R.:  Publish meeting and other notices at schools and with newspapers, using a network of school representatives and GRC room parents.  Organize coverage of special events by local papers.  Create and distribute P.R. materials.  Manage and assist school representatives and copy helpers.  Carrie Gromer

    School representatives:  Assist with publicity of events and information at their schools; help gather information as needed from their schools; assist with recognition of gifted specialists at their schools.

          Elm:      ________________                         Oak: _________________

          Walker:  _______________                         Prospect: _________________

          Madison :  _______________                     Monroe: _________________

          The Lane: _______________                      Avery Coonley: ____________

          H.M.S.:  _________________                      C.H.M.S.: _________________

          St. Isaac’s:  _______________                    Notre Dame:  ______________

    Copy Helpers:  Assist with copying for gifted services at their schools; make arrangements directly with the specialist.

          Elm:      ________________                         Oak: _________________

          Walker:  _______________                         Prospect: _________________

          Madison :  _______________                     Monroe: _________________

          The Lane: _______________                      C.H.M.S.: ____________

          H.M.S.:  _________________                      

         

  5. Board of Education Liaison:  Attend BOE meetings and report to group on issues of interest to those with gifted children.  Reports are in the form of brief notes in newsletters or at regular meetings. Organize attendance at important board meetings.   Linda Rio Reichmann
  6. Librarian:  Assist GRC teachers with maintenance of library and database of materials.  Remind parents of availability of materials.  Add materials to database when appropriate.   Interface with the public libraries on the subject of materials about giftedness and materials for gifted children.   Jennifer Trainor
  7. Advocacy Chair:  Plan and lead annual outing to Springfield.  Follow federal and state legislation and funding for gifted programming through IAGC and NAGC.  Rally District 181 parents on the national and state level when necessary.  Assist those interested in IAGC or NACG membership.  Lili Holland
  8. Researcher:  Determine how other comparable and nearby districts provide for gifted children.  Report to membership on the activities of  other parent support groups.  Network with other areas’ gifted parent groups.  Jill Quinones
  9. New Parent Education Chair:  Help parents new to the field of gifted education come up to speed on the issues.  Organize small book discussion groups, distribute articles of interest, answer telephone and email inquiries.  Jill Quinones and Susan Portland
  10. ACE/GRC Room Parents:  Serve as coordinator of room parents and room parent for the grade level in which you have a child.  Assist teachers as needed.  Plan and run parties, end of year activities, and teacher recognition events.  Assist students with farewell activities such as creation of a yearbook.    Linda Rio Reichmann
  11.  “Its About the Kids” Activity Chairs:  Arrange several special activities for gifted/bright/talented students.  Identify other resources of interest to gifted children and publicize to parents, including summer and after-school activities.  Chairs: Tammy Mason and Annette Phillips

Gifted PreK – 2nd Grade Parent Coordinator:  Help arrange activities for pre-school through 2nd grade children.  Lori Gabriel

  1. Web Site Coordinator:  Maintain and update GECO web site.  Work on hosting  issues.  Solicit information to add to web site.   Darcy Zoells
  2. Mentoring:  Assist district staff and teachers in setting up mentoring relationships for students served by the gifted specialists.  ____________________________
  3. Parent Groups Liaison:  Serve as a contact with other District 181 parent  groups, including the Special Education Network, PTO Presidents, and others; monthly communication with other groups’ leadership to exchange information about events, advocacy efforts, and parent education resources; attend other group meetings to make announcements where appropriate; report to executive committee on activities of other groups.   Linda Rio Reichmann
  4. Newsletter Editor:  Publish a monthly or quarterly newsletter to all members of the Gifted Education Cooperative.  Editor does not need to write the articles, but rather will compile articles, devise a regular format and structure, and assist with determining the theme for each newsletter. ____________________ 

Please email us at GECO@arvamont.com for more information.  


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