Office Angels
Our students are wonderful. Three of them in particular deserve special thanks for all they do to keep our Eganville program running smoothly: Maxine Golden, Joyce Gutzeit and Colleen Yuke. Whether it is helping to run special events, giving craft workshops, lending a hand in the office, or reupholstering chairs—and much, much more—they generously give their time, talent and enthusiasm. They are much appreciated.
Annual General Meeting
Forty people attended Literacy Plus’s Annual General Meeting and potluck supper on June 7.
Guest speaker Rev. Catherine Bromell spoke about the difficulties she had as young student trying to learn to read. Although she says she is still not great at writing, she is good at speaking. She was accepted to university as a mature student, after being discouraged as a young woman who barely got through high school. It was hard work, and she taped lectures because she wasn’t good at note taking. However, she persevered, graduated, and has realized her dream to become a minister. Her advice to people with learning problems is to be an active learner, to “tell people about your problem and ask for what you need—help to learn.”
Before dinner, Marion Malone gave a guided tour of the computer class blog site and blogs the students had created on specific topics. Students Mary Anne Measor and Maxine Golden put on an entertaining Abbott and Costello-style skit in which the clueless “Costello” tries to buy a computer. Inie McQuirter was the lucky winner of the draw for Maxine’s watercolour painting. Phyllis Buelow and Sheila Barr won the doorstops.
The business of the meeting included the auditor’s report, reports from Board Chair Doyne Ahern, and a report from Coordinators Lee Torvi, Peggy Bridgland and Diane Litchfield. Sharon Bond then introduced the nominees for 2006/2007. The members approved the following Board of Directors:
Doyne Ahern (Chair)
Rosemary Cammaert
Barbara Dubé (Secretary)
Charlotte Gebhart (Vice-Chair)
Brenda Jolicoeur
Michele Joyce (Treasurer)
Marie Lehman
Linda McLaren
Ethel Ryan
Gwen Storie
We thank outgoing members Reg Gatenby, Helen Dixon, and Sharon Bond for the energy and talents they have contributed to the Board.
Next year’s AGM will be held on Wednesday, June 6. Copies of this year’s report are available at the office.
Good-bye and Thanks
Good-bye to Inez McQuirter. We thank her for the skills and energy she brought to our classes this year and wish her good luck in future.
Teach Your Children
Do you know what the single most important learning tool is for a child? The human face. Faces teach language, emotion, imitation and turn-taking. Faces that are responsive to children teach far more than any game, toy or expensive equipment.
- Susan Ramsey, Early Literacy Specialist