LPM E-bulletin

Premier to present literacy award at Breakfast of Champions

Premier Gary Doer

Literacy Partners of Manitoba and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce will host a Breakfast of Champions at 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. on September 9 in the Main Ballroom at Delta Winnipeg.

At the breakfast, Premier Gary Doer will present the Council of the Federation Literacy Award to Faye Belhumeur of Swan River.

This award recognizes the valuable contributions made in the field of literacy, including family, Aboriginal, health, workplace and community literacy. It is presented to educators, volunteers, learners, and others in each province and territory.

Please join us for breakfast. The cost is $25 for LPM members, $35 (plus GST) for MCC members, and $40 (plus GST) for non members. To register, and for more information, visit www.mb.literacy.ca/breakfastofchampions.pdf.

LPM to hold Open House on International Literacy Day

To celebrate International Literacy Day, LPM will be holding an Open House at their new premises at 401-321 McDermot. We invite members and guests to visit our new digs in the historic Exchange District from 5:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. on September 8, 2005. Minister Diane McGifford will participate in our opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Due to security measures for after-hour entry to the building, please RSVP to Connie Bell at 947-5757, 1-866-947-5757 or conniebell@mts.net.

Literacy Practioners' Breakfast to be held on September 23

We invite literacy practitioners to join us at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, September 23 to meet colleagues, share concerns, and talk about their plans for the year. Please RSVP to Connie Bell at 947-5757, 1-866-947-5757 or conniebell@mts.net.

Volunteers needed for Raise-a-Reader Day on September 29

The 5th annual Can West Global Raise-a-Reader Day will be held in Winnipeg on September 29, 2005. Volunteers are needed to fold papers and distribute them to drivers on their way to work from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. If you can help, please contact Connie Bell at at 947-5757, 1-866-947-5757 or conniebell@mts.net.

Following the event, a celebratory lunch (not a breakfast, this year) will be held at the Delta Hotel.

AGM to be held on November 23rd

Please note that our AGM will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 23 November. This year, in recognition of their contribution to family literacy through the Raise-a-Reader program, CanWest Global Foundation will be the recipient of LPM's Community Participation Award. Gail Asper, President of the CanWest Global Foundation, will be our guest speaker.

Members express concerns about the future of NLS

In the summer newsletter (http://www.mb.literacy.ca/newslet/nwriteon/summer05/cover.htm), we reported on a literacy round table meeting in Thompson hosted by LPM at the request of the Minister of State, Claudette Bradshaw.

The minister had explained that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada was planning to combine the Learning Initiatives Program, the Office of Learning Technologies and the National Literacy Program into the Renewed Adult Learning Literacy and Essential Skills Program. Under this plan the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS) would cease to exist. Nowhere in the information provided were coalitions mentioned.

For an outline of this plan, see http://www.mb.literacy.ca/RenewedAdultLearningLiteracyandEssentialSkillsProgramfactsheet.pdf

Participants at the roundtable stressed that the additional $30 million earmarked for literacy in the 2005 Federal Budget must reach the adult and family literacy programs and the coalitions representing literacy. They were also concerned that without the NLS the emphasis on literacy would be lost.

Minister Bradshaw acknowledged that she was hearing this message and encouraged interested parties to send her letters that she can take to cabinet in September. You can contact her at Bradshaw.C@parl.gc.ca or House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6.

LPM Board appoints interim executive

On August 14 th, 2005, a Special Meeting of Literacy Partners of Manitoba Board was called. At the meeting a motion of non-confidence in the Executive Committee was passed. The Interim Executive Committee are as follows:

President: Marilyn Day
President Elect: Monika Feist
Treasurer: Trevor Surgenor
Secretary: JulieAnn Kniskern

For a full list of board members, visit www.mb.literacy.ca/board.htm. If you have any questions, please contact mday@mts.net. Indicate "Board business" in the subject field.

Keep up to date

Visit our literacy events page regulary to keep up to date with current events: http://www.mb.literacy.ca/litevents.htm

Correction of date for ASEC conference

In the last newsletter we gave the wrong date for the ASEC conference. Sorry. The conference will be held on October 20, 2005.

Keep in touch

Every time that we send out a bulletin or newsletter by email we miss a few members because their email address is not current. Please tell us if you change your address. Forward this on to any members who say they didn't receive it, and ask them to send us their address. When you renew your membership, make sure you print your email address clearly.

Some members have been having trouble opening our PDF attachments. We hope this new format is more accessible. Have a great year!