Expanded Impact
By welcoming the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce as champions of literacy, we, the literacy community, are now supported by 75 autonomous Chambers of Commerce and 250 corporate members. Directly and indirectly, the MCC represents some 9,300 business and community leaders in Manitoba.

We have a more credible voice in making the economic argument for corporate approaches. LPM is a corporate member of the MCC. All LPM members have the right to approach their local chambers to put literacy issues on the table for discussion.

Incoming MCC President Don Forbes of Carberry is fired up about literacy as a tool for community economic development. He sees first hand the high return on investment that improved literacy awareness and access lends to rural communities through his involvement on the Spruce Woods Employment Centre Board in Carberry.

On June 29, Education and Training Minister Jim McCrae and Hugh Eliason, Deputy Minister, hosted a meeting with both LPM and MCC representatives. Sylvia Provenski, Marg Rose, Graham Starmer and Daniel Overall shared information from many perspectives on literacy issues and funding. We urge all LPM members to approach their local Chambers of Commerce with the above article to maximize the impact of the expanded circle of influence for literacy promotion in Manitoba. Please contact our office at 947-5757 if you need brochures, statistics or Census for your community.

he Speakers' Bureau members had their windup in May. The nine members spent their year developing their public speaking skills through workshops and scheduled speaking engagements. They were provided the opportunity to speak at a number of venues, including the Legislative Buildings, the University of Winnipeg, the PGI Golf Tournament, and the Centennial Library, to name a few. Several speakers also addressed learners in literacy programs and at the spring Learners' Conference

The learners evaluated their involvement in the Speakers' Bureau as a worthwhile experience which allowed them to develop skills and confidence in their abilities. The photograph includes Sherry Campbell, Ernie Prescott, Peter Friesen, Dan Deurbrouck, Lee-Anne Clark, Lynne Chareete, Ken Geselle, and Abe Friesen.

In preparation for the Speakers' Bureau project for the coming year, a celebration launch is being planned for September to coincide with International Literacy Day. The launch will present the Speakers' Profiles on the NALD website, a series of posters and a brochure promoting the Speakers' Bureau, and an opportunity to meet the members.

The coming year will be an exciting step in the Speakers' Bureau, and we will be recruiting interested learners who would like to develop public speaking skills and to speak up for literacy. Interested learners or practitioners or host organizations should contact the Provincial Learner Coordinator through Literacy Partners at 947-5757.