April Showers Bring May Flowers Campaign
(Posted April, 2001)

This is VALUE’s second annual campaign to get members involved in and excited about the organization (Voice for Adult Literacy United for Education). We ask for your volunteer and financial support once a year, not all the time. This is to let members know where VALUE is heading and how you can participate in making VALUE grow and bloom.

So far, 2001 has been a great year. The outlook for the rest of the year is so bright for VALUE that it can hurt the eyes!! VALUE:

• Has obtained our non-profit status.
• Carried out a successful national election for new members of our board.
• Has established a new national office with an Executive Director and part-time office help.
• Is planning our Adult Learner Leadership Institute (July 19-21 in Columbus, Ohio).
• Is helping with the South Central Literacy Action Conference and the Northeast Regional Conference this June.
• Is developing a database system so that we can become a resource center on learner involvement and leadership.
• Will be expanding our leadership training programs.
• Is trying to establish better communication through our web site (www.literacynet.org/value), listserves, and committees.

We need your help!

We are asking all members, both students and practitioners, to think about joining one of VALUE’s committees. The committees are the backbone of the organization. They require a one-year commitment from May 1 to April 30, then we reorganize them. We need our membership to work with or on these committees. This year, we are seeking stronger practitioner involvement in each committee than in past years. We need your help if we are to grow and bear fruit.

The Committee’s tasks and needs for the year

Program/Conference: Pat Blackwell and Ed Castor, Co-Chairs

Task:

• To make plans for VALUE’s 2001 Conferences/Institute.
• Work with other national organizations and state groups to include student leadership tracks in their conferences.
• Develop VALUE’s other leadership programs and workshops.

Needs:

• Help secure sponsors, presenters and speakers for the 2001 Institute.
• Help to locate and obtain funds or donations for planning expenses, receptions, and materials for the institute.
• The committee needs workshop instructors, presenters and experienced trainers to work on the development of learner leadership workshops.
• The committee is in need of someone who knows how to develop a training system or network.
• This committee makes teleconference calls monthly and needs help paying for these calls.

Fundraising:

Task:

• To raise funds for VALUE’s infrastructure and for its leadership program.
• To make VALUE financially stable through grant and proposal writing so we can continually expand and improve our services.

Needs:

• People who know how to raise money and can train committee members to do so.
• People who can write grant proposals and seek funding.
• Corporate sponsors or other funding. Do you know any individuals or companies that might be interested in contributing to VALUE?
• Professionals (e.g. lawyers, accountants, printers) who can donate their services.
• This committee is in need of more members and a chair. If you can help this committee, please fill out the form in this mailing or call the national office.

Advocacy: Calvin Miles, Chair

Task:

• Prepare political statements on behalf of adult learners and VALUE.
• Represent VALUE and adult learners in discussions of policies which impact us and through political action on issues which effect us.

Needs:

• Help in promoting, Why States Should Support Student Involvement.
• We need someone to help train these committee members to become effective advocates.

Membership: Gloria Ashford, Chair

Task:

• Deal with membership issues (such as who is a member, dues, etc.).
• Planning for the future of VALUE’s database.
• Conduct membership drives.

Needs:

• All members of VALUE need to recruit members.
• On September 1, all memberships will expire. The new membership form will be introduced at the Learner Leadership Institute in July. We will need you to renew your membership soon thereafter.
• We need help launching our membership drive in the fall. We would like our membership to reflect each of the 50 states.
• We need members who can build or support the building of a new database that will enable VALUE to grow and support its members. If you would like to help this committee, please fill out the form in this mailing or contact the national office.

Communications:

Task:

• To update and manage the VALUE website, submitting regular information that is of interest to our members.
• Deal with the internal and external communications of VALUE.

Needs:

• A committee chair who is familiar with websites and computer networks.
• More members on this committee who have computer knowledge.
• Someone to help VALUE with computer training for its Board, Committee, and Membership.
• If you have a connection to teleconference services that can help VALUE with its communications, or if you would like to help this committee, please fill out the form in this mailing.

Budget/Finance: Emma Torrez, Chair

Task:

• Keep track of VALUE’s budget, so that we are sure to have the funds we need to cover our expenses.
• Work with the Executive Director and accountant to prepare financial reports.

Needs:

• Members who can understand budgets.
• People who are familiar with the Quick Books system who can help us to keep our finances and tax/IRS issues organized.
• If you would like to help this committee or work with it on money control and handling, please fill out the form included in this mailing.

Nominating: David Rosen, Chair

Task:

• To look at the process of the VALUE Board members selection this past year, and to make suggestions on how to improve it.
• Start the next election process at the end of this year.

Needs:

• More members and practitioners to sit on this committee.

Our Office Needs:

• Office supplies (e.g. stationary, postage, software) and equipment (e.g. computers) for day-to-day operations.
• Funds to support the office infrastructure.
• Professional business or managerial services to assist in office operations.
• Starting in July, we will need a secretary in the national office.
• If you would like to help, please contact Marty Finsterbusch, Executive Director, at (610) 876-4811.

VALUE

If VALUE is to grow and bloom, we need volunteer help and financial support to nurture its growth. Please come and be part of VALUE’s growth and accomplishments.

I am willing to make an in kind support donation of the following items or services: ________________________________________________________________

I have or know someone who has the ability to donate the following skills:

□ Legal knowledge

□ Accounting

□ Other: ___________________________________

I would like to make a donation to VALUE:

$10 and up _____

$50 and up _____

$100 and up _____

$1,000 and up _____

$ Other _____

Name: ___________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Telephone (Please indicate home or work): ________________________________________

Please make checks payable to VALUE. Our mailing address is:

VALUE

2217 Providence Ave

Chester, PA 19010

VALUE

Membership Update Form

Spring 2001

Please check all that apply:

□ I am using this form to update my personal information

□ I am using this form to sign up for a committee

I am interested in being involved with the following committees:

(Please give several choices as space on the committees is limited to maintain their efficiency.)

1^st Choice: ___________________________________________

2^nd Choice: ___________________________________________

3^rd Choice: ___________________________________________

I am currently a member of the following committee(s):

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Please update my information!

Name: __________________________________________ □ This is a new name or spelling

Address: ________________________________________ □ This is a new address

________________________________________

Telephone: ______________________________________ □ This is a new number

Email: _________________________________________ □ This is a new email

Fax #: __________________________________________ □ This is a new number

Revised 4/30/01