District happenings

Application deadline approaches for welcoming congregations
Any churches in the Corpus Christi District that haven’t completed the first year Welcoming Congregation process must complete activities by Dec. 31.
Please bring your information to the District Office by Dec. 15 or on Jan. 2 so the Rev. Barbara Ruth can sign the checklist, which must be sent with your documentation, to Igniting Ministries.
If you need assistance, please contact Cheryl Worley at the District Office,
(361) 852-8268.

Entries for Schools of Character awards must be in by Dec. 4
Entry deadline is Dec. 4 the National Schools of Character Awards Program.
Every year the Character Education Partnership names 10 public and private kindergarten-through-12th-grade schools and districts as National Schools of Character. The award recognizes their outstanding work in character education.
With support from the John Templeton Foundation, 2007 award recipients are each to receive a $20,000 grant: $10,000 to enhance their program and $10,000 to provide outreach to other educators.
Once selected as a National School or District of Character, winners are to develop an approved plan for conducting outreach activities that includes holding a district or regional workshop and mentoring another school or district.
Through a grant from the Templeton Foundation, several states are conducting State Schools of Character competitions as a preliminary step for advancing to the National Schools of Character awards.
The SSOC and NSOC applications are the same. Visit the NSOC page on the CEP Web site to learn about participating in the 2007 Texas SSOC program.
Visit the CEP Web site at http://www.character.org for complete program information and application procedures.

Weekly lectionary group meets every Tuesday in Yorktown
First UMC, Yorktown, has just started a lectionary group that meets at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. For more information contact Pastor Cliff Krcha at (361) 564-2319.

13 attend quarterly meeting for administrative staffers
Thirteen people attended the Oct. 11 Corpus Christi District administrative staff quarterly meeting and luncheon at the District Office.
Charlie Spiekerman was the guest speaker and did a wonderful presentation about photography.

Toyota Tapestry Grants offer funding for science instruction
Deadline for online applications for the Toyota Tapestry Grants Program is 10:59 p.m. CST Jan. 18.
A partnership between Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. and the National Science Teachers Association, the Toyota Tapestry Grants for Science Teachers program offers grants to science teachers for innovative projects that enhance science education in a school and/or school district.
This year 50 grants of as much as $10,000 each and 20 to 25 mini-grants of as much as $2,500 each will be awarded to U.S. science teachers in kindergarten
hrough-12th grades.
The project director, or person who will be in charge of the project during the 2007-08 school year, should initiate the online proposal. The project director must be a middle or high school science teacher who teaches a minimum of two science classes per day or an elementary teacher who teaches some science in the classroom.
All applicants must have at least three years of science teaching experience in a K-12 school, not counting the current school year.
Complete program information and the online application form are available at http://www.nsta.org.

Grant follow-up makes future applications more successful
We’ve talked about thanking a funder when you do get a grant, but you should also send a friendly letter of thanks when you don’t get a grant. That helps build a better relationship for the next time you apply.
Your letter can thank the grant officer or foundation director for taking time to review your request or proposal. You might want to take the opportunity to ask for reviewer comments on the proposal and any suggestions for future submissions.