Anne Arundel County native Ada is tenaciously focused on obtaining her GED by the end of this year. Ada completed her reading assessment in July, and we were paired up and began meeting at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library in September.
Ada recalls that her struggle to read began back in the first years of elementary school. Early childhood illnesses caused her to slip behind her classmates,and she continuously struggled to catch up with her peers before she finally left Bates High School at age 16. Ever since, her work life–at the Naval Academy Mess Hall and Athletic Department, and most recently (from 2004-2013) at Georgetown East Elementary has kept her busy. Yet Ada has successfully juggled the demands of family life and actively participated in community and volunteer activities, too.
Perhaps even more impressively, Ada has remained a lifelong learner. She earned a bookkeeping certificate from the OIC program in Annapolis, and over the last four decades made three attempts to complete her GED–only to have each training program cancelled due to a loss of funding or transportation assistance. Undeterred, in 2012 Ada enrolled in the Anne Arundel Community College GED prep program at Stanton Center. She recognized the need to improve her reading skills, and contacted AACLC when she saw a flyer posted at the center.
“As for me,” says Ada’s tutor, Matt, Walsh, “I have a banking and real estate background and am in my second year volunteering with the AACLC. After many years of work-related travel, I had been looking forward to ‘staying put’ and contributing to our community. I tell friends that I never made it past the ‘A’s’ when searching a volunteering website; when I read the description of the work accomplished by the AACLC, I contacted Lisa right away to sign up for training.
“Despite our thorough tutor training sessions, nothing could have prepared me for the joy I find in learning with students like Ada. She always works ahead in our Laubach book, and often brings in GED prep assignments for review and discussion. While she remains modest and good-humored, her confidence is growing as she closes in on her long-sought GED. Simply put, it is a great honor to read with Ada and to call her my friend.”
Lee Wachter has a Masters degree in English from UV and has taught English for over 25 years in both public and private schools. She is now “following her bliss” as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor in Zumba, and specializes in working with seniors and individuals who are coping with the symptoms of MS.
She is also a tutor for the AACLC and has been working with a 20 year old young man who dropped out of high school after the tenth grade. Says Lee, “meeting twice a week and using the Laubach method prescribed by AACLC, my student is truly able to read fluently the materials provided with confidence. That AACLC provides all materials to students and tutors at no charge is amazing. The gift of the tools needed to learn to read truly enhances their value. My student and I are proud of his progress and look forward to broadening and refining his skills. I also cannot praise too highly the quality & quantity of support I receive from those in charge of AACLC: E-mails with suggestions for different techniques and new resources, seminars on specific topics, continuing training opportunities, and prompt responses to e-mail queries.”
A BIG thank you to everyone who participated in the Great Give on May 7th and 8th! Special thanks also goes to our matching grant donors Board President Bob Caspar ($3,500), tutor Jill Mischo ($1,000), tutor Carol Tacket ($500), as well as the Crofton Rotary Club (who donated $1,040).
We had 140 unique donations. Out of 160 participating nonprofits, we ranked 9th for most donors, and among the “small nonprofits”, we ranked 5th. “Small nonprofits” included the Anne Arundel County Public Library system and the Maryland Federation of Arts.
Tutors, please be sure to sign up for our free June 14th workshop on Understanding Learning Difficulties, where you will learn valuable tools and techniques that will help your students achieve their literacy goals. Dixie Catlett, Jill Mischo, and Nancy White will be leading this session. Seating is limited, so RSVP as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Lisa Vernon, Director
Anne Arundel County Literacy Council
410-269-4419 (office) 410-798-0408 (home)
My student Shay and I recently completed Laubach Level 3 and are moving on to the next level! I’m very proud of her.
I presented her graduation certificate today and she was thrilled!
Shay and I first started working together in April 2013 and have experienced several stops and starts due to jobs, illness, weather, really just Life getting in the way of a goal. We have shared frustration, disappointment, renewed commitment, joy, and laughter. I know there have been times when she wanted to quit and there have been times when I felt the same way. It hasn’t been an easy journey for us, but every success is truly something to celebrate. I don’t usually fear a challenge and now I’ve learned I can do this! I enjoy the sense of accomplishment we each have when getting through the lessons together. It has been a time of growth for both of us.
Shay once told me that she looked forward to the day when she could tutor me on some subject. But actually I learn something new from her every time we meet. As a single mom, she has a lot to juggle. I admire her goals to read and to improve her comprehension skills. She wants to be able to help her children with their homework, serve as an example to them, and pass the GED.
Recently, for a letter writing homework assignment Shay wrote me a letter which said: “I’m writing to tell you how much I appreciate your help this year with my lessons on reading. I know we have been through our ups and downs, but I think I have made big progress in the last few months. I think you’re a great tutor and I would love to keep you for a very long time. Thank you.”
That made it all worthwhile. AACLC really is all about touching the life of another!
Tell your friends…Tell your family…Mark your calendars!
We need your help. The Great Give, a 24-hour online fundraiser to benefit local nonprofits, begins this Wednesday on May 7th at 6 PM and ends 24 hours later at 6 PM on Thursday, May 8th.
Make Your Great Give Donation by clicking the Donate Button here on May 7th and 8th.
Every donation of $10 or more will be matched!
Our AACLC Board President Bob Caspar will match every donation made to AACLC up to $3,500. Bob’s extraordinary generosity will double your donation!
$90,000 in prizes will be awarded, including $10,000 for the Small Nonprofit raising the Most Dollars, or $10,000 for the Small Nonprofit with the Most Donors.
Your support on these two days qualifies us for prizes
With your support, the AACLC can continue expanding our free literacy program throughout Anne Arundel County.
Tell your friends…Tell your family…Mark your calendars. Every donation of $10 or more counts!
When my third son went away to college, I decided to find some kind of volunteer work. I could not think of a more effective way to improve the common good than to help adults to read. The Literacy Council’s work seemed perfect.
I was matched with Lachelle, a young mother of 2, who was very interested in learning to read at a higher level. As we worked together, one on one, Lachelle’s reading skills have slowly and steadily improved. She has achieved a new level of fluency. Her goal is to read well enough to get a job working with young children.
She works steadily and deliberately and is always ready for a new challenge. As her reading has improved, her self confidence has grown.
As I teach Lachelle to read, she teaches me things too. Lachelle has taught me that even though the road ahead seems very long, taking one step at a time, you can proudly travel down that road.
And possibly our most important achievement, Lachelle and I have become friends.
Milton Whitley and Lisa Vernon
On April 8th over 150 AACLC students, tutors, and volunteers attended our 2014 Social at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church. Jerry Walker, our 7th District County Councilman spoke, as well as our keynote speaker Milton Whitley, who shared his inspiring personal story of learning to read at age 52. There was delicious food for everyone and great fellowship.
We have more good news! The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council has achieved the 2014 Top Rated Great Nonprofit Award. Please check out our 73 reviews at http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/anne-arundel-county-literacy-council-inc/page:1/
Best regards,
Lisa Vernon, Director
Anne Arundel County Literacy Council
410-269-4419 (office) 410-798-0408 (home)
Please thank the businesses and individuals listed below who generously contributed to our AACLC 2014 Social. The best way to thank the businesses is through your patronage. The best way you can thank the individuals is to tell them how much you appreciate their support and consider making your own donation in their honor.
Businesses
Marie Waring, State Farm Agency Odenton, MD
Chick-fil-A of Edgewater
Chick-fil-A of Pasadena Crossroads
Wegmans of Gambrills
The Green Turtle of Edgewater
The Green Turtle of Annapolis
Giant Food Edgewater
Baltimore Coffee and Tea Co. Annapolis
Sams Club of Annapolis
Costco in Glen Burnie
Costco in Arundel Mills
Food Lion of Edgewater
Individuals
Bob and Jolene Caspar
Mary Jane McCarthy
Veronica Jagoe
Harry and Joan DeLong
Tom and Ann Stagnoro
Tom and Lisa Vernon
Mike Keller
Jill York
Here’s the latest in our list of recognitions: AACLC received the 2013 ConstantContact All Star Award for our newsletter. They give this award to the top 10% of their customers for being a business that builds great relationships with its clients. They look at Open and Click rate, social media shares, consistent client outreach, as well as providing opportunities for signing up for the newsletter through facebook and/or websites.
The secret to our great newsletter is having so many heart-warming and important stories to tell. This is only because of the dedicated effort of our many trained volunteers and the trust their students have in them.
Keep up the good work!
We love getting awards!
April 1, 2014
Here’s the latest in our list of recognitions: AACLC received the 2013 ConstantContact All Star Award for our newsletter. They give this award to the top 10% of their customers for being a business that builds great relationships with its clients. They look at Open and Click rate, social media shares, consistent client outreach, as well as providing opportunities for signing up for the newsletter through facebook and/or websites.
The secret to our great newsletter is having so many heart-warming and important stories to tell. This is only because of the dedicated effort of our many trained volunteers and the trust their students have in them.
Keep up the good work!