LPM e-bulletin

Literacy Partners of Manitoba AGM to be held on November 23 at 4:30 p.m.

Come to the AGM at the Viscount Gort Hotel, 1670 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg!

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.

The election of directors has been deferred until the bylaws of Literacy Partners of Manitoba are revised in Plain Language.  The elections will be held before the end of February 2006.

Phone first before coming to the office during the week of October 24-29.

Access to the LPM office may be difficult during the filming of the Jesse James movie in the Exchange district. Call first before visiting us!

Incidentally, one of our LPM staff members (not pictured at left) was recruited to be an extra in this movie while sitting innocently at lunch at The Fyx. They were looking for elderly gents with facial hair.

Support Literacy at the 11th Annual Art Auction and Dinner in Brandon

Local and provincial artists have donated their work again to raise money for the adult education program at the Brandon Friendship Centre on October 27. Coctails and viewing begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 and the auction at 8:00.

Lyndon Bournon (pictured left), coordinator of the adult education program at the Brandon Friendship Centre, explained that funds raised would be used computer equipment, furniture and classroom supplies at the centre. "Last year the auction raised more than $3,000 for literacy. This year should be even better," said Lyndon.

Sign up for family literacy training in the Interlake

Carol Goossen is offering family literacy training sessions on October 20 and 27, November 3, 10, and 17 at Evergreen Technical Education Centre, 234 Tudor Lane, Gimli Industrial Park. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone working with families or interested in developing Family Literacy programs or activities in their community, day care facility, home visitor program, school, adult learning program, or Healthy Child coalition. Carol is willling to accept particpants who have missed the first session. Click here for more information.

Come to the Interlake Adult Learning Association AGM on November 17

The AGM will be held at Arborg High School on NOvember 17 at 6:00 p.m. Shelley Bjornson will be reporting on the exciting “one-stop-shop for adult learning” concept they have implemented at Fieldstone Ventures in Ashern. Fieldstone Ventures is this year’s winner of the “Community Leadership” Canada Post award. Contact Margaret Chambers at mcham@mts for more information.

Write your own script at LiteracyWORKS Scrabblefest on November 13.

Come to the LiteracyWORKS Scrabblefest on November 13, 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., at the Robert A. Steen Community Centre, 980 Palmerston. Compete with players of all levels from novices to experts. Prizes will be awarded for the highest score and the best scoring word (last year it was "sequoia"). All money raised will help supply extra materials for students.

Pictured in the photo at last year's Scrabblefest are Diane Lonergan (L) and Susan Wakeman, volunteers with Literacy Works.

Winnipeg Free Press article brings in volunteers.

On October 13, Erin Madden of the Free Press interviewed literacy tutors at the LPM office in preparation for an article about the need for volunteers at literacy programs. The article appeared in the paper on Saturday, October 15. The response so far has been excellent.

Pictured from left are Nicole Beaudry, from LiteracyWORKS, Margit Walker, from Luxton Adult Learning Program, and Jan Graham, Literacy Partners’ LEARN Line Coordinator.

Jan reports that since the article the phone hasn't stopped ringing. Sixteen new volunteers have registered with LPM. She will phone each program to find out more about their volunteer needs. Then she will refer volunteers to centres close to their home or place of work. She will also match their preference for working in a classroom setting like Margit or tutoring on their own like Nicole.

These volunteers offer an incredible wealth of knowledge and skills. Jan knows that the literacy programs will find many uses for their varied skills. If you wish to volunteer, call LPM at 947-5757.

Dr. Allan Quigley offers ASEC participants an approach to reduce attrition

Dr. Allan Quigley, the eminent adult educator from St. Francis Xavier University, gave the keynote address at the Adult Secondary Education Council (ASEC) conference in Winnipeg on October 20. Dr. Quigley returned to a theme that has concerned him for many years: how to keep adult learners in the classroom. Click here for this story.

At the conference, LPM participated in a panel discussion on services available to learners. Call LPM at 947-5757 to find out more about bursaries to help learners attend literacy programs.

Learners required to evaluate health documents

Many of you have read or tested our Literacy and Health project documents, Going to the Doctor and the Patient Prompt Card. We are looking for 20 learners to read and evaluate these documents by responding to a questionnaire. They may work with the documents either in the classroom setting or on their own. We will pay them an honorarium for this task. Please recommend one or two students from your program who would be willing and able to do this. Contact cmoody@nald.ca.

Minnedosa PULSE Program focus tests Patient Prompt Card

LPM consultant Ellen Kruger paid a visit to the Programs Using Lifelong Skills in Education (PULSE) in Minnedosa on September 26 to demonstrate the new patient prompt card. Ellen designed the prompt card to help patients with low literacy skills remember the things to say and the questions to ask during a doctor's visit. Eight panels of useful information fold up and fit in the wallet.

Ellen Kruger (left) shows the card to Executive Director of PULSE, Alexis Harvey.

We have printed 100 of these prompt cards for focus testing in adult literacy classes.

At the same workshop, Charles Moody gave a plain language presentation to PULSE staff and business people from the town.

Contact us if you would like us to show you the patient prompt card, the low literacy reference card, or Going to the Doctor (the low-level health text for adult literacy classrooms).

LPM outreach team visits Selkirk Adult Learning Program

LPM demonstrated some of their services to Shirley Skogan and staff at the Selkirk Adult Learning Program at the Selkirk Friendship Centre on October 12.

Taking advantage of the sunny afternoon, Shirley’s staff posed for a photo in front of their outdoor sign. (From left), Marcey Cherniak teaches upgrading to adults in the evenings at the Selkirk Regional High School. Shirley Skogan coordinates the programs. Glenda Oldham teaches literacy to adults at the centre in the afternoons. Melody Tully teaches literacy in the Pathway programs at Ruth Hooker School to adults who have children attending the school. Missing from the photo is Janaya Tomchuk, Co-Facilitator of The Selkirk Rhyme + Reading Circle.

Shirley spoke with pride of students who had started in the Pathway Program, carried on with classes at the centre, and then moved out into the community.

Jan Graham, Outreach Coordinator, explained her dual responsibility for the Learn Line and the Learner Speakers’ Bureau. She invited the Selkirk staff to look out for learners who might be interested in public speaking training in March.

Ellen Kruger, LPM consultant, gave out classroom sets of the Patient Prompt Card she had developed, and explained their use and purpose.

The Selkirk practitioners agreed to try out some of these resources and report back to LPM.

Contact us at 947-5757 or literacy@mb.literacy.ca if you would like us to pay you a visit.

CanWest Raise-a-Reader, Perimeter Airlines, and Manitoba Libraries work together for literacy

Throughout 'I LOVE TO READ MONTH in February 2006, CanWest Raise-a-Reader, Perimeter Airlines, and participating libraries from across Manitoba will be working together for literacy. Together, they will get new and like-new children's books into the hands of literacy programs and agencies in communities in need. Click here for the full story.

Volunteers raise record amount on CanWest Raise-a-Reader Day

Three hundred and forty-two volunteers in 21 locations raised $24,055.13 for family literacy. This was $5,000 more than the previous highest amount in 2003. LPM had a personal best as well, raising $1,066 at the corner of Goulet and Tache in St. Boniface.

Some of their success must be attributed to the attention-grabbing antics of the Word Monster (pictured left). Click here for full story.

MLAs raise funds for literacy

Jan Graham, LPM Leaner Outreach Coordinator, stands with Don Fournier (centre) and Jim Rondeau at the MLAs barbecue for literacy at Sturgeon Creek Collegiate on September 24. This was the 5th annual barbecue and book sale for literacy hosted by Jim and fellow MLA Bonnie Korzienowski. Other MLAs supported the cause. Click here for the full story.

Renew your membership

Membership fees for 2005-2006 are now due. Click here for membership forms.

Upcoming Events

Here are some other upcoming events:

October 27, 2005. Literacy Action Day. Ottawa. LPM will be there. Contact us with your concerns to take to MPs.

October 27, 2005. Bookmates AGM. Indian and Metis Friendship Centre. Contact bookmate@mts.net or 582-1804

October 27, 2005, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Elmwood Community Resource Centre and Area Association AGM. Elmwood/EK Seniors' Centre, 180 Poplar Avenue, Winnipeg. RSVP to Lisa at 982-1720.

Visit our literacy events page to see more upcoming events: http://www.mb.literacy.ca/news.htm

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.