ASCD Community in Action

A Call for Nominations

Do you know a forward-thinking ASCD member with a passion to make a difference? Perhaps this person is you! ASCD seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds for governance positions. The Nominations Committee will select candidates from among this group next March for inclusion on the slate for the 2010 elections.

Elected leaders have the responsibility of ensuring that programs, products, and services focus on the success of all learners and that ASCD uses its resources wisely to promote the association's values. Consider nominating yourself or encouraging potential candidates to submit nomination forms. Complete the nomination form online at www.ascd.org/nominations or contact Becky DeRigge atbderigge@ascd.org for a print version.

Board of Directors Proposes Changes

At its July 2009 meeting, ASCD's Board of Directors voted to send ASCD members a ballot on a series of proposed constitution changes recommended by ASCD's Constitutional Review Committee. These proposed changes include revisions related to the use of the brand "ASCD," a balance between Leadership Council-elected and general membership–elected Board of Directors positions, and the appointment of the Nominations Committee, among other technical revisions. The ballot, along with a copy of the current constitution and rationales for the changes, will be mailed in December 2009.

The 2009 General Membership Election

Eligible ASCD members will receive a 2009 ballot in the September issue of Education Update. Voters will elect the President-Elect as well as members of the Board of Directors and members-at-large of the Leadership Council. You must sign and date your ballot for compliance with Virginia code. Unsigned, undated ballots are not valid. Mail your completed ballot (postage-paid) by November 16, 2009. You may also vote online by going to http://my.ascd.org and entering your member ID and password. For additional information on the President-Elect candidates, go to www.ascd.org/candidatesforum.

Resources

And the Winners Are. . .

Several ASCD publications recently earned recognition from well-known publishing competitions.

The 21st Annual Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX) honored ASCD Express, ASCD's monthly e-mail newsletter, with an APEX Grand Award, the highest recognition in the competition. APEX conferred only 100 Grand Awards from almost 4,000 entries.

In the category Magazines and Journals, Overall Excellence: <LINK URL="http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/dec08/vol66/num04/toc.aspx">Educational Leadership's December 2008/January 2009 issue</LINK> ("Data: Now What?")
In the category Books, Outstanding Cover Design: <LINK URL="http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108014.aspx">Habits of Mind Across the Curriculum</LINK>.
In the category Annual Reports, Web and Electronic: ASCD's 2008 Annual Report and Timeline.
In the category Meeting and Event Materials: the 2009 Annual Conference Program Book.

In the category of special publications: ASCD's 2007 Annual Report the EXCEL gold medal as well as the EXTRA Award for outstanding innovation in association media and publishing.
In the online publishing category: ASCD's blog Inservice received the EXCEL silver medal.

In the education category: the series<LINK URL="http://shop.ascd.org/productdisplay.cfm?categoryid=videos&productid=608074">The Art and Science of Teaching: A Framework for Effective Instruction</LINK>.
In the education and training categories: ASCD's DVD, <LINK URL="http://shop.ascd.org/productdisplay.cfm?categoryid=videos&productid=609096">21st Century Skills: Promoting Creativity and Innovation in the Classroom</LINK>.

In the category Editorial, Department/Column Adult: Perspectives, written by Educational Leadership's Editor in Chief Marge Scherer.
In the category Design, Cover, Adult: Educational Leadership's May 2008 cover ("Reshaping High Schools") and <LINK URL="http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/dec08/vol66/num04/toc.aspx">December 2008/January 2009</LINK> cover ("Data: Now What?").
In the category Editorial, Newsletter/E-Newsletter, Adult: ASCD Express.

In the category Publication Cover Design: the <LINK URL="http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/may08/vol65/num08/toc.aspx">May 2008 issue of Educational Leadership</LINK> ("Reshaping High Schools").
In the category Multimedia and Interactive Design: The ASCD 65th Anniversary Timeline.
In the category Book Cover Design:<LINK URL="http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/107042.aspx">How to Help Your School Thrive</LINK> and <LINK URL="http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/105005.aspx">The Differentiated School</LINK>.
In the category Special Publications Design: the 2009 Annual Conference Program Book.

We Need Your Voice!

To create a responsive education system, we must support innovation and ensure that 21st century learning takes place at all levels of schooling. Recently, ASCD educator advocates and whole child supporters sent more than 1,000 letters to members of Congress supporting the Secondary School Education Innovation Fund Act (formerly the GRADUATES Act). Introduced in May 2009, the bill will help promote creative policies and effective programs that will improve the secondary school experience, reduce dropout rates, and promote 21st century skills. You can help by urging your senators and representatives to support this bill. To learn more about ASCD's legislative agenda, go towww.ascd.org/legislativeagenda.