Program Overview Walden Media, Paramount Pictures, HarperCollins and our partners are teaming up to "Break a World Reading Record With Charlotte's Web"—to break the current reading record in the Guinness World Records™ database. The record attempt is for MOST PEOPLE READING ALOUD SIMULTANEOUSLY IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. On Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 12 noon (EST), you are invited to join students, educators, librarians and fans of Charlotte's Web who will gather in schools, hospitals, libraries and community centers to read a passage from E. B. White's classic tale of friendship, kindness, selfless giving and miracles. It is our hope that "Break a World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web" will introduce this wonderful story to a new generation and reintroduce the story to fans who haven't read it since childhood. Through this story of friendship and kindness, we aim to build awareness of the wonder and miracles often found in the simplest of things. Please read this instruction guide completely as it contains detailed information to plan this exciting event. All the necessary forms and sample text needed for certification are available as pdfs at our web site at www.walden.com. This material should be read and understood by all concerned—organizers, participants and witnesses—prior to the event. In addition, we encourage you to create a daylong celebration of the book itself, with the record-breaking attempt as the central event of the day. Please note that, as detailed in the Agreement Regarding Record Attempts, this guideline in no way provides any kind of safety advice or can be construed as providing any comfort that the record is free from risk. PROGRAM DETAILS Please read this instruction guide completely as it contains detailed information to plan this exciting event. All the necessary forms and sample text needed for certification are available as pdfs at our web site at www.walden.com. This material should be read and understood by all concerned—organizers, participants and witnesses—prior to the event. In addition, we encourage you to create a daylong celebration of the book itself, with the record-breaking attempt as the central event of the day. Check out "Create Your Own Event" for coloring sheets, activity ideas and to download a copy of the "Charlotte's Web Event Guide" for your celebration. Current Record The current record for Most People Reading Aloud Simultaneously in Multiple Locations is held by 155,528 students from 737 schools in the United Kingdom who read William Wordsworth's poem "Daffodils" on March 19, 2004. We will update this information on our website if this record is broken prior to our attempt. REGISTRATION Registration Information The registration process is set up for educators, administrators, librarians or other adult supervisors. STUDENTS DO NOT REGISTER. A school or organization seeking to have students or members participate in the record attempt must designate an individual from the institution to register as the Event Organizer. This person is responsible for carrying out the record attempt at the location as well as its certification at the institution. The Event Organizer will need to provide his/her full name, title/occupation, organization, address, phone/fax/cell numbers and a valid email address, upon registering the institution. This person will periodically receive e-mail updates and reminders of the upcoming attempt. The following is a list of suggested schools and/or organizations that can register their students/members for the record attempt: Public schools Charter schools Private schools Home schools Libraries Alternative Schools Community Centers Hospitals Senior Citizen Centers Libraries are great event sites for home school students. If your local library has not yet registered, inquire about the possibility of participating. Once a library is registered, home school students in the area may check in with the Event Organizer to notify him/her of your intent to participate in the recordbreaking attempt. The Event Organizer can update the library's information and participation count as needed. Register Online The Event Organizer should register the location by visiting www.walden.com. Before registering, the organizer must click on the link entitled "Participants List" to see if the school or site is already registered. Only one person, who is an adult and who, upon registering, is considered the Event Organizer for that school/site, will be able to register the location and its participants. Once a location has registered, the same location will not be allowed to be registered by another person. The Event Organizer will be responsible for updating the account with the necessary information required for participation in the event and certification of the record-breaking attempt. Registering allows the organizer to receive email updates on the "Break a World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web" campaign and updates on new resources and materials on www.walden.com. Registering also allows us to estimate the number of students who will participate in the December 13th record attempt, which is required by Guinness World Records™. Day of Event Registration A school/site that has not already registered can do so on the day of the event, provided that the school can meet the guidelines to carry out the record attempt and its certification. Event registration resources are available online at www.walden.com and include an event checklist, the reading material, witness statements and sign-in forms. PARTICIPANTS Participant List To find out if your school/site is registered, please check out the Participant List. The list is automatically updated when a school/ site is registered. Additionally, this feature will allow you to see who the Event Organizer is for that location, and by clicking on his or her name, you can e-mail him/her. Participants fill out a sign-in sheet distributed by the Event Organizer of a registered location, which can be a school or other site. The sign-in sheet is filled out on the day of the event and is observed by witnesses. If a participant's school/site is not registered for the read-aloud, interested participants should inquire first with their school/site about participation before going to an alternate registered site, since the participant's school/site may not know about the event, but may decide to participate. Number of Participants Walden Media will use two strategies to capture the actual number of schools/sites and participants: Information that is submitted on the registration website. Information gathered via the certification documents returned to Walden Media—a requirement for the participating facilities. WHO'S WHO The Event Organizer A staff member of a school/site can serve as the Event Organizer. This person is responsible for overseeing the event and carrying out the guidelines required by Guinness World Records™ for certification. This person cannot serve in any other capacity. In other words, the Event Organizer cannot serve as a witness or the lead reader. The Event Organizer is responsible for the following: Registering the school/site Securing the required event staff and briefing them on the duties and responsibilities necessary to carry out the record attempt and its certification Downloading the required documents for event staff and participants to sign on the day of the event Putting the certification package together with all of the required record attempt supporting materials The Event Staff Each registered facility will need the following staff for the "Break a World Reading Event with Charlotte's Web" event: Event Organizer Registration Witnesses—one for every 15–20 students Independent Witnesses—two independent witnesses for each institution Lead Reader Photographer Videographer (optional) Duties and Responsibilities of Witnesses The witness's role is to ensure that everyone is participating in accordance with the guidelines. There are two types of witnesses: the Registration Witness and the Independent Witness. Registration Witness On the day of the record attempt, there must be at least one Registration Witness for every 15–20 participants involved to ensure that everyone is participating in accordance with Guinness World Records™ guidelines. The current guideline of 15–20 students is based on how many people can be monitored by an individual at one time. The following people can be considered as Registration Witnesses: Teacher Principal Assistant/Vice Principal District Administrators School Board Members Superintendents Assistant Superintendents Department of Education Commissioner and Chancellors Department of Education Employees Paraprofessionals, including teachers' assistants and aides, Cafeteria/Custodial Staff, School Administrators, Guidance Counselors, and Reading Coaches In addition to these witnesses, you will also need two (2) "independent" witnesses for each school/site. These "independent" witnesses cannot have a vested interest in the successful outcome of the attempt. Independent Witnesses Independent Witnesses are people who have "standing" in the community. Guinness World Records™ specifies that these two witnesses must be "independent of the person(s) breaking the record," meaning they are not normally associated with, or related to, the record organizers or participants and that they cannot have a vested interest in the successful outcome of the attempt. They can be of the following professions: Local, state and federal elected officials Appointed local, state and federal officials Members of law enforcement or emergency response teams such as officers, police officers, paramedics, firefighters, etc. Judges Doctors Newspaper editors TV personalities/celebrities Business Leaders School board members, parents, superintendents, department of education employees, education commissioners or chancellors are NOT eligible to be independent witnesses. Independent Witness Statement Each Independent Witness must sign an Independent Witness Statement. Sample text for the statement is available in a downloadable format and should be used as a reference. The statement may not take the form of a pre-printed form that is simply signed by the witnesses. Each statement must be compiled by the witness him or herself (on own letterhead where possible) and include witness's signature and full contact information (including name, address, telephone number and/or email address). Be sure to exclude the word "SAMPLE" when cutting and pasting the information. The statements should confirm (with detail where necessary) that you have abided by the guidelines. Each statement must make clear exactly when that particular witness was "on duty" (i.e. 12 noon EST) on 12/13/06). You can cut and paste the information from the witness statements onto the witness's letterhead, but the witness must fill in the blank areas on the day of the event. Lead Reader Lead readers can be any staff person, parent, volunteer or dignitary except the Event Organizer. The Event Organizer cannot be a Lead Reader. Lead Readers are responsible for leading the synchronized read-aloud with participants at his/ her site. They will read the approved passage for the record attempt starting at 12 noon (EST) in accordance to the official time clock that can be accessed at www.walden.com. Photographers Photographs do not have to be done by a professional. We recommend that you ask parents or other staff members to take pictures. Photographs may be submitted in: CD ROM (taken at 300 dpi in a 15cm x 15cm size) DVD (taken at 300 dpi in a 15cm x 15cm size) Traditional Photographic Print (Printouts of digital images are only acceptable if the photograph is also provided in digital format) There is no set number of photographs to submit. Try to include a wide variety of photographs of the participants during the event. This might include photographs taken from various angles and positions, as well as taken at different stages of the record attempt (i.e. at the start, during the attempt, at the end and afterwards). The more photographs that are available, the greater the chances of one of the photographs being considered suitable for certification. Where possible, tell us who the people are in the pictures. The record attempt claim number 175823 and participant's location should be listed on each picture as well. Photo/Video Releases Please refer to the Agreement Regarding Supporting Materials document, a six (6) page agreement supplied by Guinness World Records™ for more information about required release forms. Videographers Video footage is not required and does not have to be done by a professional. But, if you would like to submit video, we recommend that you use parents or the other staff to videotape the event. Try to include a wide variety of shots of the participants at the location during the event. This might include shots taken from various angles and positions, as well as taken at different stages of the record attempt (i.e. at the start, during the attempt, at the end and afterwards). Video footage of the record attempt should be sent in one of the following formats: VHS (PAL or NTSC) DVD CD ROM DV Mini DV The record attempt claim number 175823 and participant's names and location should be listed on the VHS, DVD or CD Rom. Adjudicator This is just a fancy word for judge. Neither an official from Guinness World Records™ nor Walden Media need to attend record attempts. The proof requirements listed above are intended to provide the Walden Media team and ultimately Guinness World Records™ with enough evidence to evaluate the record claim from our respective offices. Planning the World Record Breaking Attempt Please review all the information about "Break a World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web" thoroughly. Once your school/site is registered, the Event Organizer should download all necessary information and forms to participate found in the Program Details section of the web site that includes: Participant Sign In Form Registration Witness Information Form (one for each 15–20 participants) Independent Witness Information (two for each school/site) Authorized excerpt/passage to read-aloud Agreement Regarding Supporting Materials Participation Certificate Sample Cover Letter The Event Organizer of the registered school/site can purchase the book or can download and reproduce the online version of the authorized excerpt for the record attempt so that all participants are reading the same thing at the same time. The excerpt/passage that is being used is from Chapter Five and begins on page 35 with "'Salutations!' said the voice," and ends with "'I think you’re beautiful', said Wilbur" on page 37. We recommend that all participants practice reading this excerpt aloud several times prior to the event. A headcount of all participating students MUST be taken prior to the record attempt on December 13, 2006. Participants must sign and print his/her name once only on a form witnessed by two persons. No ditto marks are accepted. An example of the sign-in sheet is part of this site and can be downloaded and reproduced. The executed document is considered supporting material and MUST be returned with your certification packet after the record attempt. All of the information on the sign-in sheets can be filled out ahead of time, with the exception of the students' actual signatures which must be signed on the day of the attempt. However, by doing this, this will not take into account those individuals who are not participating on the day of the event because they did not come to school/site that day. Guinness World Records™ logo Please note that you cannot use the Guinness World Records™ logo and/or brand name on products, letterhead, publicity material, etc. without express permission from Guinness World Records™. Please note that Walden Media is publicizing the record attempt as: "Break a World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web." Celebrate Charlotte's Web! We encourage you to create a day-long celebration of Charlotte's Web with the record-breaking attempt as the central event of the day. Check out "Create Your Own Charlotte's Web Event" for tips, activity ideas, coloring sheets and trivia for your celebration. This event is a wonderful way to engage local business with your school/site. Invite business and community leaders to take an active role in the planning or implementation of the event. They can: Serve as Lead Readers, photographers or videographers Donate classroom sets of Charlotte's Web by E.B. White so each participant may have his/own copy to take home Sponsor book-related costumes/props/art and craft supplies to replicate a farm, barn or county fair Sponsor T-shirts that reflect the "Break a World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web" as well as the school/site or sponsor. A "Break a World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web" logo is available on this site Provide beverages or snacks for participants and guests Media Coverage If your location received media coverage from local or national newspapers, magazines or television or radio news reports, we ask that you please submit that to the Event Organizer of the registered school/site so that he/she can properly document it and include in the site's certification package. The record attempt claim number 175823 should be listed on all materials. AFTER THE EVENT Certification After the world record-breaking attempt, please gather the following documents and submit them to Walden Media: Cover letter Registration Witness Form(s) Independent Witness Forms Photographs, including digital format Video footage Media coverage Sign-in sheets Signed Agreement Regarding Supporting Materials Cover Letter A sample cover letter is available as a downloadable document. The cover letter, which should be on the institution's letterhead, should reflect the names of each event staff person and his or her role. The cover letter advises Walden Media of which supporting materials for the institution's record attempt are attached. Agreement Regarding Supporting Materials This MUST be signed and returned with your certification package and supporting materials after the record attempt. This allows you and anyone else who is supplying material, such as photographs and videos, to give Guinness World Records™ permission to republish those materials. This agreement, supplied by Guinness World Records™, is a six (6)-page agreement. The agreement may not be altered. Doing so will automatically disqualify your location's claim. The Event Organizer and those supplying visual evidence—the photographer(s) and/or videographer(s), should complete pages two (2), four (4) and six (6) of the Agreement Regarding Supporting Material. Witnesses and event staff who contribute to your evidence do NOT need to sign this. Independent media coverage will not be republished, so you do NOT need newspaper or TV crews to sign this. If Guinness World Records™ is interested in using their material, they will contact them directly. Please note that page seven has been omitted from the downloadable package. This page is directed to the lead organizer, Eileen Hughes, and reflects the checklist and mailing address for the master certification package to be submitted to Guinness World Records™. Submit Documents in English All certification documents MUST be submitted in English. Guinness World Records™ receives claims from all over the world. It is simply not possible for them to have every piece of documentation translated into English themselves, or to have researchers who speak every language. Please make sure that if your original claim documents are in any other language, they MUST be translated into English and should be certified by a notary. Claim Identification Number Please be sure that the Claim Identification Number 175823 is listed on each document submitted. Wednesday, January 3, 2007 All of the certification materials MUST be postmarked by Wednesday, January 3, 2007 and MUST be submitted to Walden Media and NOT to Guinness World Records™. Otherwise, the claim for your participants will not be processed. All of the participating school/site information will be sent in one master package by the lead organizer, Eileen Hughes at Walden Media to Guinness World Records™. Mailing Address Break a World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web! Attention: Eileen Hughes Walden Media 294 Washington Street 7th Floor Boston, MA 02108 After materials are submitted to Guinness World Records™, it will take 4-6 weeks to review the materials submitted to determine if a record was broken. Participating schools/sites will be sent a certificate from Walden Media in recognition of their involvement to break a world record. There is no guarantee that if the record is broken, it will appear in their book or website. A downloadable certificate is available to reproduce and distribute to each participant on the day of the event. Neither participants nor Walden Media will receive any payment if a new world record is achieved. Returned Materials Due to a large volume of materials that Guinness World Records™ receives, it is not possible for them to return items that we submit to them.