letter from the executive director - Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth
Transcription
letter from the executive director - Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth
Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County A Pro Literacy America Affiliate THE BEACON SPRING 2010 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Changing lives through literacy……..that is what 1,828 volunteer tutors, working through nineteen affiliates under the guidance of our state literacy organization, Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey, do. We recently held our annual fundraising dinner, “Color Your World with Literacy”, at which Greta and Niko Suvasi, students of tutor, Carole Dougher, were our guest speakers. Literacy has definitely changed their lives. Immigrating from Albania, Greta and Niko knew very little English when they arrived in the United States. They contacted our organization and were matched with their tutor, Carole Dougher. Working with Carole over a period of 9 years they went from knowing very little English to learning enough English to obtain their U.S. Citizenship last April. In addition to this accomplishment Niko was able to get his CDL (Commercial Drivers License) and obtain a better job while Greta has enrolled in classes at Brookdale Community College to further her education. Literacy has and is changing their lives. For many of our adults their literacy accomplishments may seem small to us but they are huge to the students. The moment when an adult student learns how to blend two consonants in order to pronounce words gives them the confidence to keep on learning how to read. Learning how to put words together in order to write a complete sentence is monumental for someone whose reading and writing comprehension level is below a fourth grade level. For the immigrants that we provide literacy services to (from 39 different countries in 2009 alone) the ability to speak English well enough to be understood is a goal worth pursuing. English literacy skills help them contribute to their communities, communicate with employers, co-workers, school personnel and health care givers and it provides them with the skills to change their lives. With support and encouragement from their tutors all of our students are making progress and their lives are changing. Along with their students our tutors also feel that their lives have been changed and enriched through the time they spend volunteering to help their students. By working with adult students in one-to-one, small groups or in our English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms our tutors are changing lives. Join us for a very rewarding experience and change a life through literacy! Rebecca Lucas “Literacy arouses hopes, not only in society as a whole but also in the individual who is striving for fulfillment, happiness and personal benefit by learning how to read and write. Literacy...means far more than learning how to read and write....The aim is to transmit...knowledge and promote social participation." UNESCO Institute for Education, Hamburg, Germany 1 WAITING TO LEARN The students listed below are waiting to be matched with a tutor. Many have been on our list for quite some time but all are committed to improving their English literacy skills. If you have not tutored for a while or if you have time to help another student, please contact the office so we can match you. Basic Literacy Students Waiting for a Tutor: Conley (59) resides in Aberdeen. He is a beginning reader and he is available to meet a tutor most evenings after 6:30 p.m. He does not have transportation. Nicholas (22) lives in Neptune and would like a tutor to help him with reading and reading comprehension skills. Nicholas reads at a 2nd grade level and previously worked with another LVMC tutor before she stopped tutoring. Nicholas does not have transportation but he can meet a tutor most weekdays early afternoon or after 5 p.m. Cesar (41) is originally from Portugal but now resides in Long Branch. Cesar is a beginning reader who has been attending our “Read to Succeed” program on Monday evenings and although he is a beginning reader he has been making steady progress. Cesar does not have transportation but he is available to meet with a tutor most days and evenings. Melvina (40) is from Asbury Park and she would like a tutor to help her with basic reading in order for her to pursue getting her GED. She does not have transportation but she can meet with a tutor in the morning or afternoon, Monday through Thursday. Gregory (34) is originally from Jamaica but currently resides in Long Branch. Gregory is a beginning reader who needs help with reading, writing and spelling. He is available to meet a tutor Monday, Tuesday or Friday after 5 p.m. Aaron (24) is from Bradley Beach and currently reads at a 4th grade level. He needs to improve his reading and reading comprehension skills in order to get his GED. He has some difficulties with speech but they do not prevent him from being a good student. He is available to meet with a tutor Monday and Friday and in the mornings on other days. Julius (31) is from Asbury Park. He currently is in a rehab program and he would like to improve all of his reading skills. He does not have transportation. Evenings are the best time to meet with him. Michael (51) is from Asbury Park and he would like to meet with a tutor to improve his reading, writing and reading comprehension skills. He does not have transportation but is available to meet with a tutor between 9 and Noon, Thursday and Friday. James (56) is from Brielle. James is a beginning reader who needs help improving his reading and writing skills. He is available to meet with a tutor in the Brielle Library and is flexible regarding meeting times and days. 2 ESL Students Waiting for a Tutor: Yung Eun, “Sue”, (62) is from Korea and currently resides in Ocean. She would like to improve her English conversation skills and she can meet with a tutor in the evening between 6 and 8 p.m.. She speaks a little English but she does not drive. Isaac (39) is from Honduras and currently resides in Asbury Park. Isaac wants to improve his English reading, writing and conversational English. He has transportation and he can meet with a tutor on Friday evenings in Asbury Park or Neptune. Hortensia (43) is from Mexico but currently resides in Freehold. Hortensia would like a tutor to help her improve her speaking, reading and writing skills so that she can help her children with their schoolwork. Hortensia is at a high-beginner/low intermediate level. She is available to meet with a tutor at the Freehold borough library on Wednesdays between 8 am and 3 p.m.. Irene (64) is from Ecuador and currently lives in Howell. Irene speaks at an advanced level but would like help improving her writing skills. Irene drives and she is available to meet with a tutor between 9 am and noon. Jorge (38) is from Mexico but currently lives in Long Branch. Jorge wants to improve his English literacy skills in speaking, reading and writing. Jorge has only attended school through the 2nd grade. He is available to meet with a tutor in Long Branch in the evenings after 6:30 p.m. Flor (61) is originally from Colombia and currently resides in Eatontown. Flor wants to improve her English reading and writing skills and she can meet with a tutor on any day at any time. German (33) is originally from Mexico but currently resides in Belmar. He needs to learn to read and write the English language . German has no transportation and can meet with a tutor weekday mornings or weekend afternoons and evenings. Lino (50) is from Mexico but currently resides in Ocean. Lino needs help with reading and writing English and he is available to meet with a tutor after 7 p.m. He does not have transportation. Leh (60) is originally from China but is currently living in Middletown. Leh needs help improving her English literacy skills in speaking, reading and writing. She has transportation and she can meet a tutor any day at any time Tawfik (32) is originally from Egypt but currently resides in Morganville. Tawfik speaks English but he needs help with reading and writing. He has transportation and can meet with a tutor between 10 am and noon, on any weekday. DATES TO REMEMBER Spring Tutor Trainings: Literacy for Life Conference: LVMC is offering two trainings this spring: Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey will hold its’ annual conference for tutors, staff, board members and students of all LVNJ’s 19 affiliate organizations on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Conference Center at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ. This conference is open to all active LVMC tutors, students and volunteers and will be held from 9:30 to 4:15. Many different workshops will be offered during this all-day conference and we encourage tutors and students to attend. Cost is $45 for tutors and $20 for students for the day and includes the awards luncheon. Training #1: will be held on Monday evenings beginning March 22 and will run for 6 consecutive Mondays through April 26. This training will be held in Long Branch, NJ at the Brookdale Community College Higher Education Center from 6 to 9 p.m. Certified tutor trainer, Amy Difilippo will be conducting this training. Training #2: will be held on 6 consecutive Wednesday evenings beginning April 21 and will finish on June 2nd (no class on May 26th). This training will be held at the Red Bank Public Library in Red Bank, NJ from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Certified tutor-trainer, David Kuykendall will be conducting this training. Cost for either training is $45 which helps defray the cost of books and materials. Interested adults (aged 18 years and older who have graduated high school) are asked to contact the office to register. Refresher courses are free to tutors who have already completed the course. Conversational English Facilitator Training: Certified Tutor Trainer, Amy Difilippo will conduct a facilitator training on Saturday, May 1st from 10 until 12:30 at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library in Shrewsbury, NJ for previously trained tutors who would like to become facilitators of conversational English classes. We have had many requests for these classes and LVMC needs to train additional tutors to facilitate them. If you are interested please contact the office to register. Cost for this training is $10. Space is limited to 15. Tutor Appreciation Reception: Our annual tutor appreciation event for tutors only will be held on Saturday, March 27, from 10:30 until noon at the First United Methodist Church, in Freehold, NJ. This is the event when LVMC shows our appreciation for all of our active tutors by providing an opportunity for tutors to get together and share tutoring experiences, successes and problems while enjoying a delicious brunch prepared by LVMC staff. In addition, this is the time where we have our annual books & materials raffle where tutors are given a sheet of raffle tickets at no cost and they ‘take a chance’ on winning various items. If you are actively tutoring please join us and either call the office or email us to reserve a space. Each year LVMC has had wonderful representation at this conference. The workshops offered provide a great opportunity to increase the tutoring skills of our tutors while providing an opportunity for our students to meet with other students and participate in workshops geared to their literacy levels. For more information please contact the office. Stories from Our Students: We are once again requesting all tutors to work with their students on submitting written works for our annual booklet which is presented to each tutor and student during our Annual Recognition Dinner. Writings can consist of one sentence to a paragraph and they do not have to be grammatically correct. This year we would like to encourage students to write about their literacy goals; i.e. getting a job, speaking better English, helping their children with school work, getting their GED etc.. Tutors, we would also like to hear from you regarding the positive aspects of your volunteer tutoring. We need all of the ‘stories’ back to the office by May 14th so that we have time to get the booklets ready. Annual Recognition Dinner: “Save the Date”…..Wednesday, May 26, 2010 is when LVMC will host our annual recognition dinner for tutors, students and volunteers who have been actively involved with LVMC from July 1, 2009. Any student, tutor or volunteer who has compiled a minimum of 12 hours of tutoring or volunteering is welcome to attend this event. Invitations will be sent out the end of April. 3 BORDERS BOOKSTORE Holiday Gift Wrapping While this event took place several months ago we are ever thankful to all of our ‘friends of literacy’ who volunteered to wrap for LVMC during the past holiday season. We also thank Marty Gilbert, manager of the Borders Bookstore in Freehold, NJ for his continued support of literacy. Special thanks to coordinators, Susan Kuykendall (she coordinated the snowman soup and reindeer munch making) and Anna Acevedo and Sarah Stewart who made many, many phone calls soliciting volunteers and also worked more than their share of shifts. We would also like to thank the following ‘friends’ for volunteering their time to help recruit new tutors and raise money for LVMC’s programs while wrapping gifts. We could not have done this without your donation of time: Volunteer John Molta with board member Cathy Sims and her husband, David Volunteers Lubna Malik and Zinnia Rehman Volunteers tutor Patricia Armhold with Valentyna Lozymu 4 Dee Vignone, Geri Surgent, Pat Keller, Beverly Guz, Ron & Karen Topham, Kay Amoroso and family, Carley Ward, Tess Leopold, Cheryl Sikora, Jose & Madeline Rivera, Carly Cioffi, Lydia Diel, Sandra Whitehill, Donna Cook, Toni Berlow & daughter, Joyce Wilson, Kevin Doherty, Christopher Heneley, Carlos Perez, Susan & David Kuykendall, Joyce and Dorothy Grogan, Tim Tierney, Lubna Malik, Zinnia Rehman, Madeleine Alexander, Linda Stewart, Christopher Chrepta, Carol Roche, Helen Hopkins, Suzann Cahill, Julie Richards, Cindy Tammaro, Devon Tomasulo, Manny Alvarez,Isabel Kupilik, Ted Nappi, Cathy Cofield and husband, Evelyn Mendoza, Sally Hollyer, Mary Ann Seiber, Joan Gordon Chuakay, James Brennan, Eileen Kane and students Diana, Carlos and Maria, Monica Manning, Cathy Smith, Barbara Sullivan, Betsy Peyton, Shubha Murti, Pam Slifer, Judith Stanton, Janice Barrett, Joanne Smith, Patricia Armhold, Valentina Lozyna, Chris and Steven Holmgren, Susan George, Geoff Nishuira, Judy Alvarez, Janet O’Gorman, Linda Aque, Nancy Bontempo, Carl & Arlene DeJura, Sandy Henning, Claire Lonegan, Chris Vecere, Gail Deinhardt, Jane Bazzoni, Edwina McDonough, Nancy Ricketts, Pat Broderick, Erika Heiges & friend, Danielle, Carole Dougher, Asmida Modi, Kathy Marchese, Kathy Ahmad, David Orgel, Marilyn Reich, Andria Schanzer, Lynne Leimberg, Gayle Cappozi, Carol Cuddy, Peter Reniers, Maya George, Amrita George, Cathy, David, and Leia Sims, Rhoda and John Molta, Eleanor Linley, Larry and Lois Benjamin, Laura Yudof, Gail Kass, Lucy Rucker, Donna Sagar, and last but not least, Sarah Stewart and Anna Acevedo. Jr. volunteers who wrapped with parents or other adults included: Sofia Cioffi, Adele Leopold, Mariah Stewart, Rachel Stewart, Kristen Sikora, Allison Sikora, Naomi Goldman and Aliya Goldman, Isabel Kupilik, Kathleen Alvarez, Julia Nappi, Kristina Nappi, Julia Bontempo, Avery Lucas, Sophie Richards, Megan Kirkwood, Justine Alvarez, Lily Manoia, Mallory Stanton, COLOR YOUR WORLD WITH LITERACY LVMC recently held our annual fundraising dinner at McLoone’s Supper Club in Asbury Park, NJ. This event featured chance baskets, a ring-toss chance and a wonderful live auction led by volunteer, Peder Hagberg, which featured ethnic dinners prepared by staff and ‘friends of literacy’; sporting event tickets, along with a once in a life-time opportunity for a walk-on movie part, and a private tour of Google International, in NYC complete with limo ride! Many thanks to everyone who attended, donated, or sent in donations for this event. Additional thank yous to: McLoone’s Supper Club, Kim Davis, volunteer photographer, and to Koch Florist of Middletown, NJ for our floral arrangement. All monies raised through this event will go toward helping fund our literacy programs throughout Monmouth County. Attendees Robert and Eileen Kane with volunteer and tutor, Daniel Koelhoffer Director Rebecca Lucas with Tutor Trainer David Kuykendall and his wife Susan who is LVMC's volunteer librarian Junior Volunteers Kathleen Alvarez and Mariah Stewart with Auctioneer Peder Hagberg and his wife, Erika Auctioneer Peder Hagberg and his wife, Erika with committee member Sarah Rossbach Fleming and her husband, Doug Students Niko and Greta Suvasi with tutor, Carole Dougher 5 ANDRAGOGY WORKSHOP / IN SERVICE On Saturday, February 20th, sixteen tutors participated in the Andragogy Workshop at the First United Methodist Church in Freehold, NJ. After an engaging ice-breaker, participants broke into small groups and using a safari-based lesson plan they created activities for different adult learning styles. We thank Jeanette Fraga, tutor trainer from LV West Hudson for presenting this workshop to our tutors. Andragogy Workshop participating tutors Maria, student of tutor, Dee Vignone has been working diligently on her reading and writing skills and allowed us to share this written assignment with you: in their own words "We all smile in the same language". “Moving to the United States was very challenging. First, I never finished school and I couldn’t read and everything was so hard. Especially work and everyday living. I had to get a license for work and driving but I able to live with God’s blessing. I went to the Long Branch high school for information about going to school. They sent me to the vocational school for help and then I started to go back and forth. It was very hard because I couldn’t read so then they recommended me to a literacy program and I started to go back and forth again. Then a teacher recommended me to learning center when I was 38 year old. This was very challenging for me starting from scratch. One day a week for five year, but with God’s help, I was able to accomplish so much and I’m on my way to get my G.E.D. and more.” Jungmi Oh’s and Sue Kelly’s Trip to the Mohonk Mountain Preserve On October 14, 2009, Jungmi Oh, my learner from South Korea, and I took a day trip to the Mohonk Mountain Preserve in the Catskills. The trip was run through Brookdale Community College. On this crisp, sunny autumn day, aboard a beautiful, modern bus, we headed to the mountains. Jungmi was so excited and happy, and we talked all the way up and back, discussing similarities and differences in the landscapes of our countries and other topics. She even understood the bus driver’s anecdotes which were hilarious! Once we arrived, we enjoyed a wonderful, gourmet luncheon with about 8 other people of various ages at our table. Jungmi joined in the conversation easily and was very comfortable in the group. After lunch, we did some shopping in the gift shop, toured the amazing grounds and took a walk around the beautiful lake that was formed by a glacier. Jungmi told me that she thought that this was the “most beautiful place in America.” Jungmi has recently returned to South Korea and sent me this photograph that will be a great memento of this memorable day. 6 . MEMORIALS Lance Orner, one of Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County’s most dedicated tutors died on January 2, 2010. Lance was a basic literacy tutor and had been active for the past three years. He leaves behind his wife, Betsy and his daughter Leslie. In celebration of Lance’s life, memorials were made in his name to LVMC by the following friends: Paul & Dolores Katus George & Mary Forshay Cynthia & David Sunseri Kathy & John Bouckley Jill L. Katus Sally & Gerald Schwartz Mr. & Mrs. David Frech Mrs. Mary Frech Ruth G. Folitz Paul & Dolores Katus Frank Hermo Suzanne Lefebvre Jennifer Katus Norland Mr. and Mrs. Richard Frech Sandra Conaway Mel Clifford-Simko, an English literature and cinema studies teacher at Middletown North High School and beloved fiancée of Jeffrey Zotter, died on February 9, 2010 at the age of 52. In celebration of Mel’s life donations were made to LVMC in her honor by the following friends: Jeffrey Zotter Kathleen Dwyer Geraldine Corvo Carla Padvoiskis Family Kathleen & George Gerardi Mrs. Thomas Dougherty Don & Jeanette Daestner Grafton Suburban Credit Union Joan & John Simko John & Marilyn Smith John Gabrilowicz John Buran & Flushing Savings Bank Stella Harbison, a staunch supporter of literacy recently passed away and a donation has been made in her memory by Raymond and Ursula Weber. HONORARIUMS Donations to LVMC in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Scoutelas were recently made by the following friends, Inger Maier and Jennifer Anderson. A birthday donation was recently made in honor of Sarah Stewart by friend, Lore Macdonald. DONATIONS u o Y k Than Thank you to the following people and companies who recently made donations to LVMC: Tom White through the Exxon Mobil Foundation Joyce Wilson through the Verizon Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sandlass Serge & Carole Manni Shubha & Krishna Murti June Moser Dean Dabrowski Lorraine Kinsella Susan Boser William Sirnack Maureen Berman Cathy Smith Tom & Nena Bernard Richard Scudder Joan & Robert Rechnitz John Molta & Rhoda Sims Peggy Sansone Laura Kirkwood Kathy Cofield Frances Romeo Carley Ward Adams 7 12 TIME SHEET REMINDER LVMC’s third quarter ends on March 31, 2010 but we need your tutoring hours and student’s goals by March 20th for our reporting deadlines. Please submit them to the office via our website link, via email, or via the postal service. Submission of hours spent tutoring is crucial to our organization to receive funding from our NJ Department of Labor grant. The new tutor timesheet also reflects literacy gains or goals met by your student so please include these. We need to know what your student is accomplishing and we love to celebrate any of their successes in the Beacon. Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County A Pro Literacy America Affiliate THE BEACON A Publication of Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County 213 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740 Phone: 732-571-0209 Fax: 732-571-2474 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lvmonmouthnj.com Rebecca Lucas, Executive Director Susan George, Tutor - Learner Coordinator Shubha Murti, ESL Assessor BOARD OF DIRECTORS Carol Roche, President Manuel J. Alvarez, Esq, Vice President Thomas J. White, Secretary Ted Nappi, Treasurer Catherine Amoroso, Certified Tutor Trainer Dean Tomasulo Student Assessor Carl DeJura Cathy Sims Ron Topham, EdD Chris Vecere Sidney Crumwell, Student Member Amy DiFilippo, Certified Tutor Trainer David Kuykendall, Certified Tutor Trainer Sherwin Klass Volunteer Graphic Designer Larry Benjamin Volunteer Editor 8 12 3 3 9 9 6 6 Winter Tutor Trainees: Back row: Vicki Thompson, Lynne Venetucci, Tutor-trainer Amy DiFilippo, Daniel Proctor, Staci Triandafellow, Sandy Henning and Medha Karmarkar Front row: Harriet Madan, Patricia Caldwell and Judy Mikulak Absent were: Shamoli Patel, David Myl, Mimose Volney and Andy Tepper United Way of Monmouth County TTThank You to Boro Printing for continuing to provide great service and printing The Beacon at a discount. BORO LOGO