NCTE recap Part I

I arrived in Chicago Wednesday afternoon. After I checked in at the hotel (that will be a separate post as I had issues with this hotel), I donned some extra layers and walked down the street to grab an Italian beef sandwich. I returned to the room and finished reading SEE YOU AT HARRY'S by Jo Knowles (Separate blog posting to follow on this remarkable post) and BALTHAZAR, part of the Evernight series by Claudia Gray. Dinner was at Italian Village with Donalyn Miller, Mindi Rench, and Kellee Moye. We talked policy, books, and basically shut down the restaurant. Much laughter, much tweeting! While I hate that I have to travel long distances to see folks from my own backyard (Donalyn), I so love being in the company of passionate readers and writers and thinkers. These three are remarkable teachers who just inspire me.

Thursday morning was quiet so I read about half of Jordan Sonnenblick's forthcoming CURVEBALL: THE YEAR I LOST MY GRIP. In the afternoon, I chaired my final Standing Committee Against Censorship Committee meeting. ReLeah Lent is now the chair, and I know she will do a bang-up job! We dealt with several perennial issues and had a lengthy discussion about the new NCTE Connected Communities and their moderation of posts. More on this to come from the committee.

I dashed from that meeting to the Middle Level Get Together where I received the lovely plaque (below)and some bear hugs from Jim Johnson and Dick Halle and a few other colleagues. My late friend Martha Magner had received this award, and I felt her absence as I stepped to the podium. I had written out my thanks as I knew I would be a bit overwhelmed.



After the award, I stayed to listen to James Dashner (his power point was entitled THE MOST BORING NCTE PRESENTATION EVER, it was not) and Don Gallo. Then, it was off to dinner with my roommie who had arrived in time for the section get together. We actually went to the room and ordered in as we were tired and the hotel restaurant was packed.