Literacy Volunteers of Quebec Eleven English literacy councils across the province of Quebec form Laubach Literacy of Canada-Quebec/Literacy Volunteers of Quebec (LLC-Q/LVQ). Each literacy council has one voice as a member of the Board. Through the capable leadership of volunteer President, Cornelia Fischer, LLC-Q/LVQ has moved forward in leaps and bounds. Each of the eleven councils receive funding for operations from the Ministry of Education under the Programme de soutien aux organismes d'éducation populaire autonomes. This funding has allowed all of the councils to have a minimum of one paid staff person providing continuity and presence that is critical to the success of sustained, quality literacy service in the community. All of the councils now have office space, whether it is housed in a school, or a rented location. Members of LLC-Q/LVQ worked diligently over the last year to develop a Mission and Vision statement and a Strategic Plan, which will focus and direct its actions for the next three years. Part of this process entailed the development of a communications plan. Joint federal-provincial funding through Programme des initiatives Fédérales-Provinciales conjointes en matiere d'alphabétisation was received to carry out this work. Many of the literacy councils have similarly developed their own strategic plans. The eleven councils participate in a joint literacy project as a group: The Concerted Literacy Councils of Quebec. Learning Disabilities have been the recent focus of the project. Trainers from the councils participated in a Learning Disabilities Conference in October 2000. Specialists from the field, such as Montreal's own Margie Golick and an American expert, Dr. Loring Brinkerhoff, provided participants with information and tools to add to their training packages. Trainers then participated in a two-day training session which equipped them to return to their council and offer workshops for tutors and students in the area of learning disabilities. A trunk of learning disabilities resources and a facilitator's manual were also critical elements of the project. In Quebec, there is a collaborative relationship between the volunteer literacy groups (LLC-Q/ LVQ) and the school board literacy directors. Together, these groups form the Quebec English Literacy Alliance. This group has met to explore its common objectives and chart a course of action that will combine some of our targeted efforts. LLC-Q/LVQ will celebrate International Year of Volunteers at its Annual Meeting on November 24th in Montreal. Presentation of special pins for volunteers … and what's a party without a cake … will be part of the celebration to recognize the many contributions of literacy volunteers in Quebec. In addition to the direct funding to councils and the provincial LLC-Q/LVQ, the Ministry of Education has supported literacy in several other ways. A provincial literacy campaign was launched on International Literacy Day with the slogan, "Knowing how to read, write and count lets you get more out of life!" A 1-800-361-9142 info alpha phone line refers callers to services in their area. Forum Alpha 2002 is an initiative of the Ministry of Education that will bring together 600 French and English literacy providers from the school boards and literacy councils in April 2002 to participate in training and discussions to address literacy issues specific to Quebec. LLC-Q/ LVQ is part of the Orientation Committee of this project. When we look at the history of literacy service in Quebec, the expression, "You've come a long way, baby!" comes to mind. Literacy volunteers can and do make a difference!
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