Your Oregon newsletter for June

'promoting literacy through research, education and advocacy'

Your June News & Updates

Summer is here! We hope you all have plenty of fun in the sun planned!

Celebrating our Orton Oaks

This past Wednesday, May 30th, we had a lovely tea in honor of our Orton Oaks, past presidents of ORBIDA and lifetime members, at the Portland Racquet Club. Orton Oaks have been members of the International Dyslexia Association for 25 years or more ! Our Oregon Branch is proud to boast 21 of these committed individuals.

Do you recognize our guests? (from left to right) Betsy Ramsey (President 2002-2003), Karen Brown (President 2004-2005), Marlin Marsh , Sharon Marsh (member for 41 years and board member), Cathy Wyrick (board member), Robin Ann Plopper (board member), Lynetta Weswig (President 1996-1997) Chuck Weswig (board member).

Rick Smith, IDA's CEO acknowledged our valued Orton Oaks with these words, "You are the guardians of our legacy. You are the ancestors of our passion to teach our children to read".

Many of our Orton Oaks could not join us this time. We plan to gather together again in the Fall to celebrate you!

A warm thank you to Piper Park who very kindly hosted this special event.

A message from Jared S Blank

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I raised $50,000 for the International Dyslexia Association !!!

I am BEYOND grateful that we have reached the fundraising goal for the International Dyslexia Association. I am humbled by and indebted to all those who donated, shared my story and followed this journey. Thank you to all the donors!

These funds will support the people that are working to change the culture around dyslexia, the teachers that are in the classroom, and of course the families and students. The students that are just like me. My heart is warm. I am running until everyone can read!

We are inspired by Jared! Thank you for your generosity and for including us in your journey. We look forward to working with you as you continue to share your story and run .... until everyone can read!

Your IDA - Oregon Branch Board of Directors

Here are your board members hard at work! Last month we welcomed Jared Blank and Shelbe Park (back!) to the board. We gather for board meetings on the third Wednesday of every month at Edison High School . Additional committee meetings are held during the month to plan our various branch activities and outreach initiatives.

We are here to work for and with you - our members . Please contact us if you would like to share your ideas or make suggestions as to how you think IDA - Oregon Branch can serve and impact our community in a meaningful way.

We are growing our board and our committees. In anticipation of the annual IDA conference that will be held here in Portland, Oregon in 2019, we need volunteers! Despite the conference being over a year away, the planning process has already begun. If you are interested in working with us on the Host Branch Organizing Committee, please contact Christy at orbidachristy@gmail.com.

Application is now open for the IDA - Oregon Branch Scholarship

Funded through the generosity of Ms. Cherida Collins Smith, we are once again delighted to be able to offer 4 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each for this year's Reading, Literacy and Learning Annual IDA Conference taking place in beautiful Connecticut this year, Oct 24-27th.

Submission deadline is Friday, August 17, 2018