News

Annual Plan | Student Dinner | Newspaper Articles

 ANNUAL PLAN 2002-2003

Literacy Volunteers of America/Sullivan County 501(c)(3) is a not-for-profit organization that provides a variety of free services to help people achieve personal goals through literacy. It is our mission to foster and enhance family literacy through the efforts of a corps of LVA trained volunteers tutors who assist adults functioning at the lowest literacy levels, and to further proficiency in English as a Second Language for those who wish it, free of charge; all in an effort to stay the rising tide of illiteracy in Sullivan County.

Started in 1994 by our current Board President Connie Keller to combat the problem of illiteracy in our county, the program has grown from a handful of tutors and students to our capacity as of October 1, 2002 of 62 active students, 34 active tutors and 4 programs running across the county. Accredited in 2001 for a three-year period, LVA/SC has proven itself to be a reliable and worthy institution. LVA/SC provides one-to-one tutoring of people age 16 and above, who have been targeted by various assessment tests to further develop their basic literacy skills.  LVA/SC tutors are trained in Basic Reading and English as a Second Language to help foster the personal growth of our learners by enabling them to achieve broader personal goals. LVA/SC has a twenty-one hour tutor-training program for Basic Literacy and English as a Second Language. In-services and workshops are provided on a continuing basis.

LVA/SC has continued its partnerships with various agencies in order to better serve the population. Including the Center for Workforce Development, The Center for Career Development (BOCES), Even Start, Head Start, Action Toward Independence, Delaware Valley Job Corps, The Recovery Center and The United Way of Sullivan County, these affiliations have proven to be effective and reliable ways to get our message across. United States Congressman Maurice Hinchey recently applauded LVA/SC�s excellent record of service to the local community and this, as well as our collaborative efforts, make LVA/SC able to reach a population far larger than we could on our own.

We, at LVA/SC are faced with a growing population of learners, our annual report showed a student growth rate of 150% in the last year alone. However, at the same time, we are faced with a dwindling tutor base with our tutor population only increasing by 20% last fiscal year. This imbalance has caused us to look to numerous other options to better serve our students.  One way was to install a computer lab.

            LVA/SC has received a grant from the Verizon Foundation in the amount of $25,000.00 split over a two-year period, to do just that. The Verizon grant has enabled LVA/SC to purchase PC�s, and enough software programs to teach basic literacy, English as a second language and workplace specific skills to those students who have the greatest need. It has also allowed us to eliminate the waiting list of students. We can now have them start immediately with a computer literacy program while they are waiting for a one-on-one tutoring experience. Incorporating computer training into our students� literacy curriculum will also enable them to bring what they learn into their work and personal lives. It is the mission for the upcoming year to expand our computer lab services, and to maintain a one-on-one experience with a trained lab tutor.

A recent Demographic Study done by Marist College in July of 2001 helps to explain the growing number of students. Orange, Rockland, Ulster and Sullivan were surveyed and Sullivan came in first with a high school dropout rate of 28.8% we also have the highest unemployment rate at 2.5%. This is not surprising; LVA/SC already noticed an increased desire for Pre-Ged instruction among our students. We are also the only agency in the county to be able to offer it. With the new GED test being more difficult, it is more important than ever for students to be able to master the material. We believe that the computer lab is the way to do this. We will continue to extend our reach into the community by targeting those individuals who are not yet able to take the GED test.

Our annual report showed a student growth rate among our ESL population to be the highest in any category, going from 5 students in 2000-2001 to 39 at the end of 2002. It is our intention to continue that growth, with massive outreach efforts being made to the local Latino community.

Student Recognition Dinner

October 18, 2002

MONTICELLO � Literacy Volunteers of America / Sullivan County is pleased to announce that it has held its 2^nd annual Student Recognition Dinner on Friday October 18^th at the Blue Horizon Diner in Monticello. Three LVA students, one for Basic Reading and 2 for English as a Second Language, were recognized with continuing achievement awards and gift basket from the Basket Express in Rock Hill. Every guest also received mementos of the evening. It was a wonderful occasion, Two Board Members, Barbara Rothman and Evelyn Raymond gave inspirational speeches to the 40+ people gathered, and 3 students spoke, including a very moving rendition from a student of Martin Luther King Jr's, I Have a Dream speech. The student, Douglas, came to LVA a year ago to �be able to read at church�; well he did a fine job at that. When he was finished it was hard to find a dry eye in the house. Other students, from an ESOL group at Kutchers praised LVA and all that it has done for them, giving extra praise to their tutor, Barbara Rothman. LVA would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all area businesses and individuals who made this event possible.

Back to Top

Newspaper Articles

Home | Mission Statement | Solve This Puzzle | News | Read it Again | Volunteer | Contact, Links, & Sponsors