How It All Got Started

It was the beginning of a new school year and as usual I was reflecting on my goals for the year. One thing I planned to do was join the state reading council. I had been a member of the IRA for many years, but never joined out state's organization. So, as I was filling out the form from the SCIRA website, I noticed it said to send to my local council. I wasn't aware of one, so I began to look into it. After emailing the SCIRA, I found out there wasn't one and I could mail my payment directly to them. So my next email to them was, "If we don't have one, can we start one?" Michael Teal, the current SCIRA president and I began some back and forth emailing and before you knew it, a friend and I were heading to Columbia for a board meeting. We gathered lots of information and shook lots of hands, and we were on our way. After holding an organizational meeting and getting some key people on board here in Beaufort County, we are ready to apply for charter with the IRA. It's all very excited to watch the whole thing unfold and grow before my eyes.