Introduction

Welcome to the North Central Regional Betterment Coalition homepage. The NCRBC is a 501(c)3 organization. The North Central Region of Illinois is comprised of the counties of LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam. While there are many diverse entities in these three counties, they also share a natural linkage with each other. As a Betterment Coalition we strive for nothing more, and at the same time nothing less, than to see our region improve. Our region has many strengths and fine organizations. By definition, however, every organization also has its limitations. We are concerned about the potential improvement opportunities that can fall through the cracks. NCRBC would like to collaborate with you in facilitating your communication and involvement with others in this tri-county area. To do so, we need your help.

On this Web site, you can find links to:

  • membership-partnership options - a unique new service to bring greater continuity and service to all of the many fine service groups and organizations currently at work in North Central Illinois
  • plans for the creation of the North Central Regional Artists Coalition
  • the NCRBC Educational Advocacy Committee, which will be confronting the challenges of improving our educational capacity to match the needs of today’s economy
  • a detailed history of how a group of concerned citizens just like yourself came together in 2002 with the idea that people, one step at a time, can make things a little bit better

Additional links of service for the community will be added as we continue to evolve.

Our Mission

The North Central Regional Betterment Coalition would like to create and facilitate a means for new educational, cultural and economic opportunities in North Central Illinois; partner and network with other individuals, groups, and agencies to enhance our present strengths; and market these advantages.

NEWS

May 2013 Summer Chess Meet and Greets-Starved Rock Chess League

All Meet and Greets will be at Peru City Hall 1901 Fourth St. All events on Thursday June 6th, June 20th, July 18th, and August 1st. All time 1:00-3:00

Sponsored by Ford Farms, PDQ, S&J Electric, and NCRBC

March 2013 NCRBC Chess Meet and Greet! Our next event is Saturday April 13th 2013 at Peru City Hall Community Building. Students in grades 3-5 and 6-8 invited. Registration is at 9:00 and the intramural meet and greet runs 9:30 to 11:30. This is a predecessor to forming a regional interscholastic chess league in the fall. For more information contact DeAnna Carlson at dcarlson.usa@gmail.com.

November 2012- NCRBC today is introducing its newest service: Podcasts for Educational Excellence. With a multitude of challenges and opportunities in education, the goal of Podcasts for Educational Excellence is to focus in on key issues and improvement options in a long interview format. The debut guest is Debra Kasperski. Kasperski is the Director of the National Board Resource Center Center at Illinois State University. Their mission is to advance teacher quality through National Board Certification. In the interview, listeners will be able to learn how National Board Certified Teachers, through rigorous course work, are prepared to effectively communicate with students who may come to school with different degrees of obstacles. Additional Podcasts will be added to the site on an ongoing basis. If you would like to be notified when additional Podcasts become available please send an email to info@ncrbc.net. Many thanks to Invisual Technologies of Spring Valley, NCRBC Board Member Hugo Heredia and his wife Jennifer Heredia for making Podcasts for Educational Excellence possible.

Summer 2012- NCRBC teamed up Dr. Jerry Corcoran and Fran Brolley from Illinois Valley Community College to help get our shared message out about the importance of higher education in economic development. There is now abundant research showing that communities which place a high priority of education become better positioned to attract good quality high paying jobs. The IVCC presentation quoted editorials from the Chicago Tribune and Census data to drive home these points. NCRBC Board members facilitated several of the presentations at regional Rotary, Kiwanis, and Business Development meetings. If your group would be interested in hearing this presentation please contact us at jburt@ncrbc.net Click here to read more about this and other NCRBC News...

NCRBC Celebrates the National Board Certified Teachers of LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam County

Teachers are the most important resource we have for producing better educated kids. Better educated kids are the key to economic prosperity in today's world. However, not all teachers are equal. Some teachers, in an effort to be the most effective teachers they can possibly be, undergo the rigor of what is called National Board Certification. The NCRBC believes these teachers are very special. They should be celebrated in the community and well paid by their employers. Click here to see the local list...