Whatcom Literacy Council
April 2011Vol 2, Issue 8
 
tutor and learner

WLC Tutor 

E-News

 A monthly publication of
Whatcom Literacy Council
 
Greetings! 

 This looks like it will be my last newsletter update for awhile as my due date is coming up in a couple of weeks.  While I'm away I will miss hearing stories about learner achievements and the breakthroughs that you help to facilitate.  I hope you know how much we enjoy the updates you provide for us each month in your reports and emails.  It is great to share in your progress - and in your challenges - as you work together with your learner towards their literacy goals.

 

As we move into April, we are moving into a time of a lot of transition - and maybe a few challenges - here at WLC.  Soon Summer will be returning to us as our ELL Program Coordinator, and about the time she comes back (or perhaps a week or so before she returns), I will be going on maternity leave.  As there are only 4 people who work in the office - 2 of which are part-time - it will be a bit difficult to cover our office hours in those first 2 weeks of April.  Please keep that in mind if you need to drop by the office.  It will be best to set up an appointment to make sure a staff member is here if you need to visit us during the month of April. 

 

After the first couple of weeks of the transition, our new hours for spring and summer will be:

Monday: 8am to 3:45pm

Tuesday: 10am to 4:30pm

Wednesday: 8am to 6:30pm

Thursday: 8am to 4:30pm

Fridays by appointment only.

 

Thanks for your support as we juggle new schedules and new babies.  I look forward to hearing more of your stories when I return in June.

 

All my best,

Rachel Myers
Executive Director

 

RM couch photo  
In This Issue
Exciting Learner Achievement
Thank You Daniel!
Congratulations Summer!
Quick Links
  
Tutors - We Need Your Reports!
Just a reminder to all of you wonderful tutors that we need to receive a report from you each month to keep us up to date on how things are going with your learner.  Please take a few minutes to click here and send us a report on all of the good work you do!
 

Office Hours Update

Monday          8:00-3:45
Tuesday         10:00-4:30
Wednesday     8:00-6:30
Thursday        8:00-4:30
Friday            by appointment only

 

An Inspiring Update from an ALP Tutor

A couple of weeks ago, we received the following email update from Barb Bailey, an ALP tutor who has been working with her learner, Jennifer, for about 5

months.  We found it so inspiring that we wanted to share it with all of you.  Enjoy!

 

 

Hi Whatcom Literacy Council,
 
I apologize for not getting back to you before now.  Touching base has been on my agenda but things on my end have been very hectic.
 
Jennifer and I are doing wonderful.  First things first, she has begun to believe in herself again!    For the past several months, we were reading her parenting book.  She completed Family Court last week, which I had the pleasure of attending.  She is now working with BTC on getting a Massage Therapist Certificate so today, we completed the FASFA and have begun studying for the CASAS test via the ABE reading and math books from the library. 
 
Our time together has increased from 1 hr a week to whenever our schedule permits - sometimes 2 or three times a week for an hr or 2 at at a time.   There have been times where we just sit and chat about recovery, touching base on where she's at.  I do what I can to offer insight and help relieve her anxiety about life in general.
 
This has been a wonderful fit for both of us.  I see nothing but ongoing progress and success for Jennifer!
 
Thanks so much!!!
Barb

 

Thanks and Farewell to Daniel  

  

As you know, while Summer was on maternity leave for the past few months, Daniel Frlan has been helping us continue to serve our English Language Learners and Tutors.  Daniel has been a great help and we are so happy that he was able to step in for a few months.  Now Daniel is headed back to school to earn his Masters in education, and we want to thank him and wish him the best with his academic pursuits! 

 

  

 

Welcome Back Summer! 

 

Beginning April 11, Summer Ostlund will be back in the office on a part-time schedule Monday - Thursday to coordinate our ELL Program once again.  We are thrilled to welcome her back to the office and are looking forward to lots of visits from her darling daughter, Avery.  As you can see from the picture, Avery is adorable and doing great!

Avery

BP Matches Volunteer Hours with a Donation 

Anna Van Auker, a WLC tutor who also works at BP, recently turned her volunteer tutor hours into a $340 donation for Whatcom Literacy Council! According to Anna, the idea is that communities where BP operates should benefit from that presence. The Employee Matching Fund recognizes employees' gifts to charitable organizations by matching monetary donations dollar-for-dollar, and for each hour of volunteer time, they'll give $10. Also, if employees participate in a sponsored pledge event, BP will match the funds raised for that effort. An employee can apply for any combination of those three, totalling up to $5000 per year, per employee. 

 

Anna first got involved with WLC at the 2010 Trivia Bee, she shares, "I'd been looking for a volunteer opportunity ever since I moved out here in late 2009. Then I was asked to be on BP's team in the WLC trivia bee last year, and I was inspired to give tutoring a try!"

 

Thanks to Anna for volunteering her time and for turning that volunteer time into a donation! If any of you other volunteers tutors work for companies that match volunteer time, please let us know, as every dollar counts as we work to serve as many learners as possible. 

If you have any questions or need help, please contact us at 647-3264 or by email:
Summer Ostlund, ELL Program Coordinator -[email protected]
Jessica Hilburn, ALP Coordinator - [email protected]
Gina Barrieau-Gonzales, Programs Manager - [email protected]
Rachel Myers, Executive Director - [email protected]

Find us on Facebook
Join Our Mailing List!