Mr. Morgan, who became President and CEO in 2014, explained that those who read and are able to do basic math had someone who taught those skills to them. Yet the general public takes reading for granted. Adult literacy is a huge issue on a local as well as national level.
In 2002 ProLiteracy began with the merger of two national literacy organizations, Laubach Literacy Action and Literacy Volunteers of America. Frank Laubach, a missionary to the Phillipines in the 1930’s, formally began what became Laubach Literacy International in 1955. Ruth Colvin, another literacy pioneer, began Literacy Volunteers of America in 1962 in her basement.
ProLiteracy, since 2002, has been involved in advocacy, its publishing division, New Readers Press, programming, and research. Dr. Bob Laubach, the son of Dr. Frank Laubach, still serves on the ProLiteracy Board of Directors as does Ruth Colvin. ProLiteracy has 1,000 members around the United States and from a recent survey of its members found that adult basic education is still a viable need, as is GED preparation, but English as a Second Language is the fastest growing area. 87% of the tutors across the US are volunteer, and volunteers make adult literacy work.
A question that Mr. Morgan often hears is “Why adult literacy?” To that he says that if one stops in any town in the US, the issues are the same: economic development, jobs, K – 12 test scores, poverty, and crime. If you increase adult literacy, you can impact all of those issues. He cited the statistics that found that 36 million adults in the United States read at the third level or below. Another survey, the PIACC, which tested literacy, numeracy, and technology skills among 24 developing countries, found that the United States did not do well. From the results released in October, 2014, the United States was low performing in the younger generation of 16 – 24 year olds.
Mr. Morgan congratulated the Bradford-Wyoming Co. Literacy Program on its 35th anniversary. The Literacy Program began in 1980 as a special project of the Friends of the Bradford Co. Library. Six people from Bradford Co. attended a tutor training workshop in Elmira, NY, and under the direction of Fanna Proper, director of the Bradford Co. Library, and Joyce Strope Burgart, assistant librarian, began what became the Bradford-Wyoming Co. Literacy Program. Both Mrs. Proper and Mrs. Burgart attended the Recognition Banquet.
Mr. Morgan concluded his address by reading a poem, “Twenty Six Letters,” written by former adult literacy student, Earl Mills from Craven Co., North Carolina. Mr. Mills learned to read in an adult literacy program when he was in his fifties.
Wes Skillings was Master of Ceremonies for the banquet. Faith Jaynes provided musical entertainment.
Kevin Morgan and Literacy Program Coordinator, Michele Robbins, presented awards to volunteer tutors who have reached significant amounts of volunteer tutoring. They presented awards to Dave Prugh, Suzanne Urban, Mary Lou Vanderpool, and Shelley Young for reaching the Senior Tutor level of 40 Hours. Joyce Burgart and Suzanne Urban received gifts for reaching the 100 Hour level. Mr. Morgan and Ms. Robbins presented gifts also to Sue Fahnestock and Gloria Root for their 200 Hours of tutoring. Gloria Root was also recognized for reaching the 300 Hour level. For reaching the 500 Hour level Richard Taubar and Louise Updike received awards for their volunteer work.
Marie Preston was recognized for reaching the 600, 700, and 800 Hour levels during the past year. Adrianne VanNoy also received an award for reaching the 700 Hour level. Claire Borits received an award for reaching the1200 Hour level. Finally, Laurie Anson was honored for her accomplishment of reaching the 1700 and 1800 Hour levels during the past year.
Mr. Morgan and Ms. Robbins also presented certificates to those adult literacy and ESL students who attended the banquet.
Sponsors for the annual banquet included the Fairfield Inn and Suites, Meshoppen Stone, McClain Stone Co., Pickering Winery, Roloson Brothers Maple Syrup, Eb’s Market, Gay’s True Value Hardware, Laceyville Hardware, and Stull’s Flowers & Gifts.
The Bradford-Wyoming Co. Literacy Program, an affiliate of ProLiteracy, trains volunteer tutors and provides free and confidential one to one tutoring for adults and teenagers in reading, math, and English as a Second Language. The Literacy Program is headquartered at 200 Main St. in Towanda and is a member agency of the United Way of Bradford County. To volunteer to become a tutor or for further information about the Bradford-Wyoming Co. Literacy Program, contact Michele Robbins, Program Coordinator, at 570-297-3375 or by email at [email protected].