VLLC Minutes: Williamsburg, October 11

Minutes, taken by Carol Holmquist
October 11, 2007

Present:
Janet Booth- Eastern Shore Literacy Council
Ann Burress- LV Gloucester
Patti Donnelly- Literacy Council of Northern VA
Nancy Bush Fazzone- Rita Welsh Adult Literacy
Paula Ann Gould- LV Shenandoah County
Carol Holmquist- The READ Center
Debra Howe- Loudon Literacy Council
Annette Loschert- LV of Roanoke Valley
Vicky Sanborn- Resource Center
Rhoda Jo Stress- LV of Gloucester
Lisa Youngers- Rita Welsh Adult Literacy

Patti Donnelly reported that there is a strong possibility that in the coming 2008 VA legislative session another bill similar to HB 2937 will be introduced. Last year’s bill, which thankfully failed, prohibited nonprofits from using state or government funding to provide any services to undocumented residents. Patti will keep us posted if there is legislation or bills proposed in the coming year that may effect our service delivery.
CBLOs serving ESOL students need to know who is running on these issues.
There is a decline in attendance due to student’s fear of being discovered.
Students from Northern Virginia, Prince William and Loudoun County are heavily impacted.

Vicky Sanborn reviewed the discussion regarding Plan Adult Education in community college vs keeping it under the State Public Education system. The state currently matches federal money available to Adult Education 1:1. Could the Community College make up this funding? Would CBLOs see an influx of student’s who want free classes?

Group discussed the issue of waiting lists. Is it better to have waiting list because they are powerful as a statement of need for private founders. Of is it better to be able to place students as they request entrance to a CBLO program?

The group discussed recent Department of Education funding.
30 organizations have been funded. For CBLO -15 got DOE grants and 4 received EL Civic grants and make up 80% of counted students

VALit can be export to DOE but this will only be acceptable to DOE for FY08. After that time all grantees will have to report directly into the DOE database.

The group discussed the number and scope of CBLOs in Virginia. A full list of all CBLO is requested for use in communication VLLC’s agenda and interest.
VLLC needs to access the whole group of literacy providers.

Group adjourned at 6:00 PM and will meet next at ProLiteracy Conference in Alexandria VA in November, time and place to be announced at the Conference.

Minutes, February 6, 2007

Virginia Literacy Leadership Council
Minutes
February 6, 2007

Present: Janet Booth, Eastern Shore Literacy Council; Linda Richardson, Eastern Shore Literacy Council;Beth Rodgers, Skyline Literacy Coalition; Suwatna Sugg, Refugee and Immigration Services; Amy White, Hogar Hispano; Phil Spencer, Hogar Hispano; Sonya Jacob, BEACON; Annette Loschert, LV Roanoke Valley; Patti Donnelly, LVNVA Victoire Sanborn, VALRC; Catherine Norrell, Good Shepherd Baptist Church; Caroline Zong, LV of Prince William County; Susan Clemens, Peninsula READS; Carol Holmquist, The READ Center; Nancy Fazzone, Rita Welsh Adult Literacy ;Ginger Hilleary, LV of Fauquier County; Debra Hill, The READ Center; Donna Webster, LV of NRV; and Geri Nardacci, Goochland.

President Patty Donnelly called the meeting to order and introduced Vice-President Annette Loschert, Treasurer Ginger Hilleary and Secretary Carol Holmquist.

Patti discussed the concerns of the Latino Lobby:

House Bill 2937 which includes language preventing the provision of service to illegal immigrants with a felony penalty to service providers.

Senate Bill 1204 which includes language preventing students who are citizens by birth but have parents who are illegal immigrants from receiving instate tuition because their parents are not legal residents of the state.

Deportability of any adult illegal immigrant who is suspected of committing a violent crime is now to be enforced at a local level. The issue is the localization of INS enforcement.

Patti presented a report on the VAAC Day on Capital Hill

VAACE members handed out muffins and VAACE 2006 fact sheet (Click here for the Fact Sheet. Look for it in the information bar on the right side of the VAACE website.)

VAACE request that all VLLC be in contact with their legislators when they return home after the session. Build a relationship with these legislators and keep them informed regarding the needs of Literacy programs and students.

All Adult Educational Funding comes from the General Fund which will be impacted this year if new legislation is passed regarding the Governor’s Transportation requests.

Make sure you know the number of the bill about which you are concerned if you are requesting that your legislator take action.

Suggestions for additional work to encourage funding were:

Writing editorials from VAACE or VAAL might impact legislator as well as the public’s awareness of the funding concerns.

Cards or letters from students including their personal stories.
Making contact with the committee which is studying the bill with encouragement to call you for specific facts.

A discussion followed regarding a more proactive relationship between VLLC and VAACE:

• Community Based Literacy Organizations (CBLO) need to be more represented in the work of VAACE because VAACE is currently made up of mostly GED program leadership.
  
Regional Literacy Leadership Councils (RLLC) need to be more aware of VAACE’s agenda. A joint planning meeting between VLLC and VAACE was
recommended.

The Annual Literacy Fair is in Keysville, VA is on May 17th and could present an opportunity for such a joint meeting.

The ProLiteracy Annual Conference is being held in Alexandria Virginia this year and attendance is highly encouraged. Presentation Deadline is March 1st.

The VAACE Conference is in Williamsburg in October. VAACE will sponsor the regional COABE (Commission of Adult Basic Education) conference this year, which involves a competitive process.

Patty Donnelly discussed staff in her program from Corporation for National Service (Americorp) and Vista Volunteers. These staff are college graduates who work for a modest stipend. Applications are obtained at the state offices of these programs. Her organization has benefited from help from Vista and Americorp volunteers for 10 years. She offered to help any program negotiate the system. Granted, she said, that the paperwork is extensive. But she found that the benefits greatly outnumber the time spent on reporting.

Vicky Sanborn discussed the new VLLC Blog available on the VLRC website. The URL to this blog is http://virginialiteracy.blogspot.com/ , and all VLLC members are welcome to add their comments at any time.

Some programs asked Ms Sanborn, :Who are VLLC members?" All the programs listed on the first post are VLLC members or have traditionally been VLLC members.

Respectfully submitted,
Carol L. Holmquist
Secretary