Tag Archives: MEMO

Paul Beckermann, Media Specialist of the Year

At the Friday luncheon at last week’s MEMO Conference, our own Paul Beckermann, school library media specialist at Dassel-Cokato High School, received the prestigious Media Specialist of the Year award. Paul has also served  on the CMLE Governing Board for a total of six years, and as President for the past four years.

Paul has many strengths and accomplishments, most of which might not be evident under his quiet humility. Due to this humility, it was only after I reviewed his many accomplishments that I fully understood what a huge contribution Paul has made to the field. Paul is quite simply outstanding, a master of his craft as teacher/media specialist/tech integrationist.  He is  worthy and deserving of this prestigious award and we know this will not be the end of Paul’s greatness! We are lucky to have professionals like Paul in our 12-county Central Minnesota region. Well done Paul!

MEMO Conference Mad Dash

The to-do lists are shrinking as the mound of miscellaneous boxed items grow as we put the finished touches on our work with this years MEMO Conference. Our presentations, the Hospitality and Local Arrangments Committee work, details around the Conference Connections Cafe, and our work with the Friday night Conference Cantina  have kept us busy. Julie Notsch, Cathedral High School has been working with us on this committee work. Cantina Night will offer some time for light hearted fun and a focus on the individual. Begin by creating  your own margarita and taco dinner by building it just the way you like it. Team trivia and drawings for  fabulous prizes will top off the evening.

We are hopeful that the turnout is good, and people are able to push work into the background, to fully enjoy the conference experience. It is fun to see people get their “batteries charged” and feel excited about their work with an infusion of new ideas!

When the conference is close to home, it is tempting to bolt for home when the breakout sessions end, but the true magic and networking happen in the hallways or in the evenings. So resist the call of your jammies, and stick around. Kate and I hope to see you all there!

2012 MEMO Fall Conference Registration

ATTENTION ALL SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS, TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATIONISTS, AND TECHNOLOGY COORDINATORS!!!!

Back to school and tired already? Trying to get the spring back in your step? The 2012 MEMO Fall Conference can fix that. Don’t delay, register today!

 

Leading Change: MEMO 2012 Fall Conference

October 11-13, 2012

River’s Edge Conference Center and Kelly Inn

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Register: http://www.tfaforms.com/239647

  (Register by September 15th for a special early-bird rate!)

Conference Schedules: http://memotech.ning.com/page/2012-fall-conference

Don’t forget to reserve a room at the Kelly Inn!
They have a block of rooms for the MEMO conference for $99 each night.
Free parking, free wireless Internet.

100 4th Avenue South • St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301
Phone: (320) 253-0606
Directions: http://www.bestwesternstcloud.com/location.php

 

What you will get:

Keynote Speakers – Not just ONE but THREE! (1 + 1 + 1 = 3!!!)

 

Kathy Schrock                                                      

Shannon Miller                                                                   

Gail Lovely        

AND…

Special Guest Author Mary Amato

WITH… over 50 sessions on topics like:

Flipped Classroom

Demystifying Digital Publishing

Google Literature Trips

ELM Mobile

iPads

Using Infographics

AND don’t forget there is a special one day preconference event: Tap Into Technology –  with strands for technology coordinators and administrators, integrationists, and technology support specialists.

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School Librarians: Headed for the History Books?

The December 11th edition of the Star Tribune included an article titled School Librarians: Headed for the History Books, which summarized the current state of affairs for Minnesota school libraries and their staff. The article brought to light the fact that a quarter of the state’s librarians have lost their jobs. Some of the largest districts in the state, including Anoka- Hennepin, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, have very few school librarians considering the number of schools and students served.

MEMO’s president, Tori Jensen, was interviewed for the article. Jensen states that if librarians are cut “ [Schools will] …be OK for three years and then find out there’s nobody there to teach kids the skills that we are experts in. It’s not a matter of bringing the resources to them, it’s about teaching them how to use them.”

Click here http://www.startribune.com/local/east/111702274.html?page=1&c=y to read this article in its entirety.