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VALUE
Holding Annual Election
(Posted January, 2002)
VALUE members are now in the middle of their annual election. In January members will elect four new board members, to replace past members whose terms in office have expired.
Seven adult learners from around the U.S. were nominated by fellow adult learners. These seven candidates are running for four openings on the VALUE board. The candidates include three former members of the board.
The board is composed of adult learners who are elected by adult learner members of VALUE. The board makes decisions about VALUE and does much of the organization’s work.
Ballots are being mailed to members in early January. Results of the election will be announced in February.
This year’s candidates are:
- Pat Blackwell (Indiana)
- Ed Castor (Indiana)
- Faye Combs (California)
- Adrien Durenleau (Vermont)
- Eartha Johnson (Illinois)
- Annette Sessions (Connecticut)
- Odessa Whiters (Pennsylvania)
See the end of this section for brief statements written by the candidates.
Good luck to all the candidates!
And THANK YOU, candidates, for being willing to work hard for VALUE, adult learner leadership, and adult literacy!!!
STATEMENTS BY THE CANDIDATES
The seven candidates have written statements about their "History of Student Leadership" and "How I Can Help VALUE and Other Adult Learner Leaders."
- PAT BLACKWELL (Indiana)
- EDWARD L. CASTOR (Indiana)
- FAYE E. COMBS (California)
- ADRIEN J. DURENLEAU (Vermont)
History of Student Leadership
State Student Advisory Board.
Chittenden County Student Advisory Board
Shown pictures and given talks about historical trips
How I can help VALUE and other Adult Learner Leaders
I share my experiences with others. I would encourage others to work harder in what they are doing in their life and their work.
- EARTHA P. JOHNSON (Illinois)
History of Student Leadership
I encourage other students to keep trying, and that keeps me going too. After my teachers asked me to write an essay for a student conference in Bloomington, IL, there was no turning back. After a few years, the program hired me as student coordinator. I am president of New Readers for New Life in Illinois. I attend Lake County Literacy Volunteer Board meetings as a student representative. I have video, television and radio spots that air to bring in new students and tutors. I run new student orientations every other month. I also speak in public and have attended Toast Masters.
How I can help VALUE and other student learners
I have been to local and state VALUE conferences and spoken with Marty and other members. I am not afraid to share my story to help other people take that first step. Students are comfortable talking to me, so I help them by listening and passing on their concerns or ideas. I try talking to people who are in positions to help adult learners.
I have spoken to mayors, state representatives, school boards and superintendents. I am writing to the Secretary of State of Illinois to ask for more money for adult students to participate in conferences. I also do fundraisers and make phone calls to get donations for local programs. I give support to other students in other programs telling them how to raise money to support their students to go to local and state conferences
- ANNETTE F. SESSIONS (Connecticut)
History of Student Leadership
I am a board member of the LVA National Board with regard to taking student-related issues and other problems, to the Board. I also work for LVA-NH as a community outreach coordinator and spokesperson for my organization. In 1996, I served on the Student Advisory Board as Vice Chair and Chair of Student Track for Literacy Volunteers of America. I am currently serving on the New Task Force Committee for LVA/LLA.
How I can help VALUE and other Adult Learner Leaders
In any way I can. Maybe I can be helpful by making referrals. Contacting some of the organizations I have served with or am serving on. I also feel I can help VALUE with some possible recruitment of student, practitioners, and maybe even some business partners.
- ODESSA WHITERS (Pennsylvania)
History of Student Leadership
As a Student of Adult Literacy, I talk to all I know about returning to school and getting their GED. If a 72 year old "teenage" senior citizen like me can go back to school, they can do better than me. They should use what they have or they will lose it.
How I can help VALUE and other Adult Learner Leaders
I can try to get others to join the VALUE Program, to do all I can to keep up the good work, and that VALUE is a good Program and working together, things can be better.
History of Student Leadership
I became an Adult New Reader at age 43 and had a tutor for four years and started at about 6th grade level. I started a local support group and ran it for five years. I served with the Indiana Adult Literacy Coalition for about six years and was Chair or Co-Chair for the Indiana State Student Congress. I’m now serving as Student Advisor to Laubach Literacy Action for three years.
I am a founding board member of VALUE and served this past year as Vice Chair. I serve on the Indiana Literacy Foundation.
I have also worked with Governor Baky and Governor O’Bannon. I’ve done leadership workshops for the Laubach Literacy Action and Literacy Volunteers of America Conferences as well as VALUE.
How I can help VALUE and other Student Learners
I hope to keep being a leader and working with the Board to see that our voice is heard. We can make a difference for the ones who still need help, as well as ourselves. We can do more by staying together and working as a unit. We need the older and wiser as well as the younger Adult New Readers to serve on this Board (and I’m one of the older ones) so we have a mix of ideals to go forward. I like to think I am a peacemaker — and will help to keep a balance in the great ideals that we all have.
History of Student Leadership
I have worked as a Learner Leader for the past 15 years. I helped develop and lead a $30 million Educational Program for the UAW/GM. This program was to help employees who needed Basic Educational Training, as well as other educational needs. I have worked with the past three governors of the State of Indiana (in basic educational programs). I also worked with the former First Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush, as she helped to promote literacy throughout the United States.
I have worked extensively with local literacy programs throughout the State of Indiana. I belong to or work with LLA, LVA, the National Institute for Literacy, and am the Vice Chairman of the Indiana Literacy Foundation. Also, I served ten years on the Indiana Literacy Coalition. I am a founding board member of VALUE.
How I can help VALUE and other Adult Learner Leaders
I believe with my literacy experiences over the past 15 years and the many contacts I have made, I could help VALUE in many ways. With my learning differences, I understand a great deal about our needs. I seem to be able to speak to others about our needs. I am retired now, and have the time to spend with VALUE and other Learner Leaders.
History of Student Leadership
I have been in the Richmond Literacy Program and Berkeley Reads Program for a total of seven years. I am a student learner leader and speak publicly on adult literacy; help train new tutors using my personal experiences; help plan and conduct workshops throughout California about multi-sensory tutoring approaches; and help other students with their reading and their confidence.
I coordinate the Meals on Wheels program for homebound seniors in Berkeley. I am also an active member of my church. I am an elected delegate to many conferences; I am a member, National Economic Development Fund, for 17 years; I am a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Monrovia College in Africa and earned the Distinguished Woman of the Year Award for 2000.
I am active in my community. I am president of the Oakland Schools Follow-Through Program for the past five years. I volunteer by making daily calls to seniors for Alta Bates Hospital. I am a motivational speaker for the Florence Crittern Home for Unwed Mothers (where I lived 42 years ago) and a member of the West Oakland Acorn Tenants Association.
How I can help VALUE and other Adult Learner Leaders
I can help VALUE by using my leadership skills to plan and present workshops and organize conferences; help raise funds; help to recruit members; speak in public about literacy experiences; be a good listener and a team player; and follow through on projects.
Revised 1/15/02