The Raise-a-Reader event on Tuesday, October 3, 2007 was a success. LPM had twelve volunteers – including Anna Beauchamp, John Sawchuk, Judy Baker and Traci Reid from Adult Learning and Literacy, Candyce Jones from Bookmates, Shannon Barry from Planners Plus, Anita Martens (Learner Speaker), Monica Feist, Connie Bell, Jan Graham (aka The Word Monster), Rob Sarginson and Lorri Apps - at the corner of Tache and Marion. They collected almost $900 between 7 and 9am when they gave people a special edition of the Winnipeg Free Press on their drive to work.

This year in Manitoba , just over $22,000 was raised on Winnipeg streets. Across Canada , $2,7million was collected. Every cent stays in the community where it was raised to help literacy organizations with their work.

Jan Graham has recruited Carin Crowe as LPM’s Volunteer Coordinator on a volunteer basis. Carin is the founding and former Volunteer Coordinator of the multi award winning Goldwing Ambassador program at the James Richardson Airport . Prior to the airport she was a Regional Coordinator for the Red Cross. An active volunteer in sports, community, church, and LPM as a volunteer with the PGI and a literacy classroom volunteer last year. Carin will visit Winnipeg based programs. Based on her findings, Carin will develop training for the coordinators and practitioners to help them with retaining and supporting their volunteers.

Coffee, breakfast and good company kicked off a memorable Breakfast Sharing Session for Literacy Practitioners on Friday, October 12, 2007 . Jan Graham, Learner Outreach Coordinator, invited Judy Johnson from the Adult Language and Training Branch of Immigration and Labour to talk about the programs they provide. Debra Litkowich, Resource Centre Coordinator, gave practitioners a tour of the library and available resources. Carin Lewis, Volunteer Coordinator, was also in attendance. Brainstorming and sharing success from programs throughout the city also took place, creating new relationships and resources for practitioners.

Just when you thought Michael Buble couldn’t get any cooler – that voice, those covers of classic tunes, that self deprecating humour, that touch of class – he added generous donor to his impressive list of credits when he agreed to be the first Canadian musician to participate in the newly launched CanWest Raise-A-Reader Concert Series. Michael is scheduled to perform in Winnipeg at the MTS Centre on January 19, 2008 . A portion of ticket proceeds from his cross-Canada tour in 2008 will go to CanWest Raise-a-Reader, supporting family literacy programs in 25 communities.

The Stevenson-Britannia Adult Literacy Program and the St James-Assiniboia Library are excited to announce the launch of a new collection at the St James-Assiniboia Library. This collection will meet the needs of adult readers in the community who are seeking high interest, adult appropriate literature they are able to read and comprehend.

The ASEC Conference, held on Oct 18 and 19, included over 330 registrants from adult learning centres, literacy programs and agencies. Many of the conference workshops, keynote addresses and discussion circles reflected the vision that adult literacy programs and adult learning centres are part of the same continuum of skill growth. Issues in the feedback sessions focused on themes common to literacy and adult learning centre teachers – recruitment, attendance, retention, reporting and red tape.

Please mark your calendar so you’ll be sure to join us for the LPM Annual General Meeting.

When:

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

5:00pm

Where:

the Literacy Partners of Manitoba offices

400 - 321 McDermot

Questions?

Call us at: (204) 947-5757.

Half the fun of attending an Annual General Meeting is voting, so remember to renew your membership. In order to vote, your membership must be renewed by no later than Friday, November 9, 2007. Click here to access membership forms.

Because November 11 th falls on a Sunday this year, the LPM offices will be closed on Monday, November 12 th, 2007.

The Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba, Inc. invites you to attend its semi-annual meeting on Early Learning and Child Care in Manitoba , Challenges and Services . It will be held November 17, 2007 from 9:30am – 2:30pm at Wolseley Family Place ( 691 Wolseley Avenue , Winnipeg , Manitoba ). The registration fee of $15.00 includes lunch and a snack. Keynote speakers are Kathy Reid (Director of the Manitoba Child Care Program) and Janet Jamieson (ECE Instructor, Red River College ). To register, call (204) 992-2751 or email pcwm@mts.net.

Manitoba ’s Community Recreation Conference will be held November 2 – 4, 2007 at the Victoria Inn in Brandon . Keynote speakers are Lesra Martin, B.A. L.L.B. and Colin Higgs, Ph.D. Sessions include: recruiting and retaining volunteers, creative capital campaigns, youth volunteers, sustainable buildings and branding the volunteer program. Visit www.rccv.ca for more information.

The University of Winnipeg's Bachelor of Education ACCESS Program and the University of Manitoba's Inner City Social Work Access Program are holding a number of information sessions.

Each year, the PGI Manitoba Golf Tournament raises money that can help learners further their literacy goals. Transportation, prescription eyewear, child care and much-needed supplies are areas that are eligible for a PGI Learner Bursary. Learners may apply directly or practitioners may apply on their behalf. In order to be eligible to apply, please note either the literacy program or learner must be an here to become a member).

Have you received a PGI Learner Bursary? We want to hear about how it helped. Drop us an email at communications@mb.literacy.ca with PGI Learner Bursary in the subject line and tell us how this short-term financial support made a difference.

The next issue of Write On!, LPM’s newsletter, will be produced in January 2008. The theme is possibility. Learners and practitioners are invited to submit their writing on this topic.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 30, 2007 . Submissions via email in Release Form to the LPM office. Posters for Learners and Posters for Practitioners may be downloaded, printed and posted.

Please update your address books. Lorri Apps, Executive Director, may now be reached via email at this address: lapps@mb.literacy.ca.

Connie Bell, Office Administrator, works Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00am – 4:00pm . Tuesday and Thursday, her hours are 1:30pm – 5:30pm . These hours are effective through December 13, 2007 .

Please update your address books. Andrea Bodie, Communications Coordinator, may now be reached via email at: communications@mb.literacy.ca.

Do you have an event coming up? Do you have praise to pass along? Is there something happening in your program you’re particularly proud of? Give us a call at: (204) 947-5757 or drop us a line at communciations@mb.literacy.ca. We want to hear about it!