Host Sites Needed for Book Bear Y2K!

["Tony L. Pope" <Pope1966@AOL.COM>]

He's hip=E2=80=A6he's cool=E2=80=A6he's a reading fool!  Who?  RIC Bear=E2=
=80=A6the Book Bear for=20
Y2K!  In the 2000-01 school year, McHenry Primary School will present the=20
third in a series of traveling teddy bears.  "McHenry" Book Bear traveled to=
=20
35 host sites in 35 states during 1997-98.  His sister, "McHenrietta"=20
traveled to approximately 30 states during 1998-99.  Book Bear 2000 will be=20
known as RIC (Reading Is Cool) Bear.  Approximately 35 host sites throughout=
=20
the U.S. will be selected with only one host site in each state.  Public or=20
private/parochial school libraries (elementary -- high school), public=20
libraries, etc. are all invited to submit why they would like to participate=
.=20
 What are we looking for in host sites?  Enthusiastic hosts/hostesses,=20
schools and libraries with great ideas for RIC's visit, schools with diverse=
=20
populations and schools serving special needs.  As well as being an=20
Ambassador for Reading, RIC Bear also encourages geography skills too.  The=20
2000-01 will also promote cultural diversity and school safety.  We have als=
o=20
sent a request to Guinness Book of World Records to have a category added fo=
r=20
the "most hugged teddy bear."  Travelling along with RIC Bear will be a=20
journal and videotape.  We are also hoping to receive a grant that would=20
allow us to include a digital camera that each site could utilize while RIC=20
Bear visits their site.  Digital images could then be e-mailed to me for=20
quick updates to RIC's website.  RIC is 15" tall and honey-colored.  His=20
primary costume is a white T-shirt and blue jeans.  He also sports a=20
heart-shaped "tattoo" with LOVE written inside.  We would prefer that=20
hosts/hostesses be a librarian/media specialist since they see all students.=
 =20
They must be able to send/receive e-mail since this is a vital component to=20
keeping the bear on schedule and sending/receiving updates.  Each host site=20
must mail RIC to the next site on the Friday of the week he will visit.  For=
=20
instance, if for some reason RIC arrives on a Wednesday (or Thursday)=E2=80=
=A6he must=20
still be mailed on that Friday.  Each host site takes the responsibility to=20
mail RIC to his next host site AT LEAST 2nd DAY AIR.  UPS is preferred since=
=20
it can be tracked and guaranteed.  I will try to arrange the schedule to kee=
p=20
RIC within an area and not jump across the country.  In the past, Mail Boxes=
,=20
Etc. at several sites donated shipping fees.  Each selected host site must=20
send me a schedule for the school year before the end of June so I can set u=
p=20
RIC's itinerary.  Any selected site that does not send their schedule by the=
=20
end of June may be dropped since the schedule is a high priority in getting=20
the project ready for the first of August.  Each selected host site is asked=
=20
to share pictures of RIC's visit to McHenry Primary School.  Each contact=20
person at selected host sites will be requested to send me their school name=
,=20
address, phone, fax, as well as, e-mail and home addresses so I can get all=20
info. in your hands ASAP.  Home information will not be posted on the websit=
e=20
and will only be used by me to keep selected hosts/hostesses updated over th=
e=20
summer.  Addresses to schools and e-mail will be shared with selected host=20
sites in case they need to contact one of the other selected sites.  Other=20
things I will be looking for in selecting sites include, but are not limited=
=20
to:  activities going on at your school or activities planned for RIC,=20
something interesting about your school, location, whether or not the contac=
t=20
person at the school is a librarian, whether or not the contact person has=20
e-mail, etc.  I will send a packet of info. to each selected host site aroun=
d=20
August 1, 2000=E2=80=A6or earlier.  I will only reply to those sites who are=
 selected=20
as host sites.  I will post a general reply on LM_NET for all submitters and=
=20
let selected host sites know by the end of June.  If you have any questions,=
=20
please e-mail me.  If you are interested, I can e-mail a jpeg file of a=20
picture of RIC Bear.  As an FYI, I will be presenting on the Book Bear=20
projects at the International Reading Association Conference in Indianapolis=
=20
on Tuesday, May 2nd.  If you are there, please come by.  To see the websites=
=20
for previous Book Bear projects, go to: =20
http://www.floydboe.net/floyd/mchenry.htm   and select the appropriate links=
.=20
 Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing from those interested in=
=20
hosting RIC Bear, Book Bear for Y2K!

Tony L. Pope, Library Media Specialist
McHenry Primary School; 100 McHenry Drive; Rome, GA  30161
Phone:  (706)  236-1833     e-mail:  Pope1966@aol.com

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