Virginia Literacy Leadership Council
Minutes
February 6, 2007
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.
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.
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