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. 

GECO Volunteer Positions: 2006-07

1. President:  Organize and run executive 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:  Jill Quinones, Lynne Bloomfield
2. Vice President:  Step in for presidents when necessary.  Assist presidents as necessary.  Recruit volunteers to fill vacancies. Help select and line up outside speakers for meetings.  Schedule locations for meetings.  _______________
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 welcome packets to new members.  Handle our affiliate membership in the IAGC.  Susan Portland
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.  Newenka DuMont
5. 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
6. Secretary/P.R.:  Handle meeting minutes for executive sessions, and distribute to executive members.  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.  Sara Tieke
7. 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.   Jill Quinones
8. Advocacy Chair:  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.   Linda Rio Reichmann and Katherine Hamilton
9. 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.  Jenn and _____________
10. 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.  ________
11. ACE/GRC Room Parents:  Serve as 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.   3^rd: _________, __________;  4^th: Linda Rio Reichmann, Susan Cook;  5^th: Jennifer Trainor, _______________ .
12.  “Its About the Kids” Committee Chair and committee members:  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: Carrie Gromer and __________________

              Other committee members comprised of the following people:

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

                        Gifted 3^rd – 5^th Grade Parent Coordinator:  Help arrange activities for 3^rd through 5th grade children.  _____________________

                  Gifted Middle School Parent Coordinator: Help arrange activities for middle school students.  _____________________

13. Web Site Coordinator:  Maintain and update GECO web site.  Work with library on hosting  issues.  Solicit information to add to web site.  Newenka DuMont
14. Mentoring:  Assist district staff and teachers in setting up mentoring relationships for students served by the gifted specialists.  Carrie Gromer and Julie Liesse
15. 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
16. School representatives:  Assist with publicity of events and information at their schools; help gather information on implementation of gifted services at 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:  ______________

Prepared with Flair by ArvaMont.  For problems or questions regarding this web contact GECOweb@arvamont.com