A good turnout of LPM members and guests attended the AGM on Tuesday, November 25.  Monika Feist, Board President chaired the meeting. 

Lynette Plett, Executive Director, Adult Learning and Literacy brought greetings from the province.  Lynette also highlighted the LEARN Line and the Learner Speakers' Bureau as services that LPM provides and that receive funding from the branch.  She also spoke about the literacy strategy consultations that occurred earlier in the year and that the report to the Department of Advanced Education and Literacy would be available before the end of November.

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The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Literacy recognizes achievement in literacy by honouring literacy practitioners, volunteers, instructors, teachers, researchers, projects and programs that reflect excellence in the field of literacy.

Applications are currently being accepted in two categories: Leaders in Literacy Education and Partnership for Literacy. The Honourable John Harvard, the present Lieutenant Governor, established the Partnership for Literacy Medal in 2007 to recognize the impact partnerships have on literacy.This award will be presented for the second time in 2009.

It was with regret that LPM accepted Roberta Fast's resignation as Communications Coordinator in October.  Roberta has returned to university to earn her masters degree and works part time for another non profit agency. Roberta brought to her work a creative mind, a positive attitude, and a top-notch eye for layout and document design. We wish her the best!

We are pleased to welcome Lindsey Walsh to the position of Communications Coordinator.  Aside from his work here at LPM, Lindsey is pursuing his Masters degree in marriage and family therapy and volunteers at Nine Circles Community Health Centre.

As you may know, LPM publishes a newsletter twice annually called Write On! We’re currently taking submissions from literacy practitioners and students for January 9 th, 2009 or earlier, if possible. Submissions should be no more than 150 words, though we are open to longer articles of a page or so. There is no theme for this edition. If you teach adult literacy, send us an article and/or the best of your students' recent writing.

Happy Writing!

Since June 2007 online visits and downloads from our site have almost doubled.  

The demographics of the main users is surprising. Less than 5% of visitors are Canadians.  The United States is the home of the largest number of users. Materials from our Plain Language website are being downloaded in the hundreds every month in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.  

These exciting statistics show that LPM's Plain Language publications are benefiting Manitobans and the rest of the world.  

On November 19, over thirty people celebrated the new learning space of the Elmwood GOAL Adult Literacy Program. The new site is in an independent area of the same building at 200 Levis street.

There are over fifty new and returning learners. Learners focus on one of four areas: improving their English language skills, Maths and English Language Arts, GED preparation, or Stages accreditation.

The GOAL program is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – noon, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. On Thursday, sessions are from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

-- Evelyn Peterson, GOAL program teacher and coordinator

Eleanor Melsted, of Arnes Manitoba, passed away on November 22. Eleanor was one of the finest literacy tutors in Manitoba. She had been ill for many months. Her career as a literacy tutor at the Gimli Adult Literacy Program began in the early ‘90’s with Margaret Chambers and continued with Dolores Michaluk. Eleanor’s dedication and skills led to her winning the Literacy Partners’ Margaret Laurence Award for Excellence in Literacy Tutoring. She was a quiet, patient woman who showed her commitment to society by helping adults to read and write. Through her efforts, learners changed their lives. She is mourned by her family and friends and by former learners and colleagues in literacy

Last year’s LPM memberships are now expired. If you are a member and have not renewed yet, do so soon. Don’t miss out on the benefits of a current LPM membership! Click here for membership information and forms.

Our Canadian Library Month Contest was a success. Lots of members checked out the online catalogue on our website.

A number of items are now more readily accessible. Visit the online catalogue on our home page and try a Subject Browse search for “Fiction” and “Readers for new literates.” Here you’ll find a number of titles that are suited for Grades 1 to 6.

Here are some of our books telling the stories of native Canadians:

Wesakejack and the flood by Bill Ballantyne

Long ago, Wesakejack travelled through the earth, visiting many villages. The villagers were not happy. Many were fighting and arguing. The Creator saw what was happening. With text in English and Cree, find out what the Creator does to “fix” this.

Thunderbird Spirit by Sigmund Brouwer

Hockey stars Mike "Crazy" Keats and his Indian friend, Dakota, are caught in a web of violence which makes winning a championship the least of their concerns.

North American Indian Medicine People by Karen Liptak

Describes the healing techniques used by various American Aboriginal tribes and explains the theories and beliefs behind these practices.

Visit our library or online catalogue for more titles!