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April Showers Bring
May Flowers Campaign
(Posted April, 2003)
TO: ALL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF VALUE
April Showers Bring May Flowers is VALUE’S annual campaign to allow our members and friends to learn about what we are working on, where we are going, and how you can support us in reaching our goals. This is not just about money — it’s about giving of time, knowledge and using your "connections" to help VALUE grow.
Like a flower, VALUE needs to be tended to and nourished by people who care about adult learner involvement and leadership for it to bloom.
Listed below are the four major components that need attention from our supporters this year:
- National Training Corps (NTC) — One of VALUE’s main goals is to develop a National Training Corps of certified consultants to provide adult learner leadership training and consultation to adult learners and to literacy program staff and administrators. This training will enable adult learners to work in partnership with literacy providers to improve their recruitment, retention, reform and resources efforts.
What we are looking for — We have support from VERIZON and a consultant on board to develop the training. The pilot tests will happen near the end of this year. We are looking to identify states or groups that we would want to partner with in implementing this training in 2004. We need to identify the partners now so we can write them into the proposals for funding. We are looking for at least one practitioner and two adult learners from each LINC region.
- National Resource Center on Adult Learner Involvement (NRC) — We have received a grant from NIFL (National Institute for Literacy) for the development of the resource center. A significant part of the resource center is the development of a national adult learner database that will contain information about adult learners that are working in or for their literacy programs. These adult learners will be a vast resource for other adult learners and literacy programs that need information on how to improve their programs through customer input and guidance. VALUE is looking for funding for the resource center because the grant was provided for development of the database, but not the implementation of it. We need a database input person in the VALUE national office. We would like this person to be a current or former adult learner. We also need adult learners who can be trained to collect the data in each of the five LINCS, a service of NIFL. We also want to partner with state groups to house the collectors in their offices so we can create positions for adult learners in programs at the state level.
- VALUE’s Infrastructure — We need people to volunteer to be on our committees. We need funding to continue to train our staff to support our national office. The national office requires adequate and qualified staff, so VALUE can continue to grow.
- The Third Adult Leadership Institute — In June of 2003, VALUE will host its Third National Adult Learner Leadership Institute in Tampa, Florida. We are anticipating approximately 200-250 adult learners and practitioners to attend. At the Institute, attendees will receive information and "hands-on" training on how to work together more effectively to make their literacy programs customer driven.
We are asking all of our supporters to help get adult learner leaders to the Leadership Institute because this is the best way for them to build their connections and their knowledge of what is going on in the field of adult literacy. We are going to have a drawing for prizes at the Leadership Institute to help cover the costs. If you have anything to donate for the raffle, please send them to Leah Takacs at the Florida Literacy Coalition, 934 N. Magnolia Ave., Suite 104, Orlando, FL 32803.
SUSAN GREEN AWARD — Get your nomination in as soon as possible for the Susan Green Award. We are doing our best to make this a special award. Meg Young is trying to raise funds to help pay for the winner’s expenses to the Leadership Institute. The deadline for the nomination is April 18th 2003.
We are looking for support to help VALUE grow, bloom, and bear fruit. This fruit will nourish other adult learners so that they can grow, contribute, and give back.
If VALUE is to grow and bloom, we need volunteer help and financial support to nurture its growth. Please come and be a part of VALUE’s growth and accomplishments.
1. I am willing to make an in-kind support donation of the following services: ______________________________________________________________________
2. I have or know someone who has the ability to help VALUE with one of its four major components. ____________________________________________________________
3. Our state or group would like to partner with VALUE to implement National Training Corps in our area. ________________________________________________________
4. I know a person or a foundation that would fund this kind of work.
_______________________________________________________________________
5. I would like to make a donation to VALUE. $__________
Name _____________
Address ______________________
____________________________
Telephone (please indicate home or work) ____________________
Please make checks payable to VALUE. Our mailing address is:
VALUE
2217 Providence Ave.
Chester PA. 19013
VALUE is a 501(c) (3) not for profit.
Revised 5/2/03