The Missouri State Council consists of several committees and volunteers. Listed below are the different committees. If you would like more information, please click on the committee chair to send an email message.

Develop activities to involve administrators in the International Reading Association at local, state, and International levels.

Examine bylaws for needed revisions. Explore various organizational structures so that the State Council can operate more efficiently and provide more time for programs that strengthen local councils and promote literacy across the State.

Identify, promote, and publicize outstanding community service projects in Missouri which encourage literacy development in children and/or adults. Each winning council receives $200.00 to recognize its efforts. Two awards are given annually.

The election committee, appointed by the president, with the approval of the Board, shall distribute the ballots, count the votes cast, and submit the written results of the election to the president at the Delegates' Assembly.

To identify and provide recognition to schools in the State of Missouri which have outstanding reading/language arts programs.

Promote the practice of lifetime reading habits and the improvement of reading instruction and enjoyment by involving parents and communities in the support of reading activities.

The financial/budget committee shall consist of the treasurer (who will serve as chair), the assistant treasurer, the president-elect, and two (2) members from the council at large. The financial/budget committee shall examine the incoming expenditures of the council and shall be responsible for preparing the annual budget for approval by the Board at the first meeting following July 1.

Recognize and give credit to a radio/television station in Missouri who broadcasts meritorious programs relating to reading and literacy development; and/or recognize and give credit to a journalist or newspaper that through either news articles or editorial commentary promotes, in an exemplary manner, well-articulated as well as insightful information on literacy instruction and literacy development in Missouri.

Promote the practice of lifetime reading habits, the development o fknowledge and the improvement of reading instruction through the use of newspaper in the classroom.

The nominating committee shall have three (3) members; the chair shall be appointed by the President and the other two (2) members shall be elected by the Board. The nominating committee shall prepare a slate of nominees for the offices of vice president, recording secretary and corresponding secretary, treasurer (every two years), assistant treasurer and historian. Recommendations for nominees should be notified by the membership at large. The local councils shall be notified by the corresponding secretary at least two (2) weeks before the Spring Assembly of the names of the nominees for each office and with information concerning each nominee.

Promote the practice of lifetime reading habits and the enjoyment of reading in Missouri schools through a reading poster contest.

Develop a plan for funding and awarding (a) academic graduate-level scholarships and/or (b) travel grants to the Annual State Conference.

Maintain a library of video-tape resources of current professional development materials related to literacy for check-out to members.

The publicity committee shall work with television and radio stations and with local and state newspapers. The committee shall publicize the work of the State Council. This committee shall assist local councils in publicizing special local council projects in addition to assisting with publicity for the state conference.

Read and evaluate various books for the Missouri Association of School Librarians and Missouri Library Association that are being considered for the Show-Me Award the following year.

The site selection committiee shall be chaired by the vice president. The site selection committee shall use the Conference Handbook for procedures.

Maintain a Speakers' Bureau file so that local councils can have access to individual IRA members across the state who will provide quality programs.

Increase student membership in the Missouri State Council of the International Reading Association. Provide opportunities for student councils to participate at State Board meetings.

Identify criteria, elicit nominations, select and award the Missouri State Council-International Reading Research Award. Review and disseminate information about reading research of interest and importance to classroom teachers. Focus specifically on classroom research, research on strategies for teaching reading and research on reading comprehension. Promote, publicize and disseminate information on the concept of "teacher as researcher" and on the research conducted by classroom teachers and university/college faculty.