The Greater Moncton Literacy Council
A Member of Laubach Literacy of Canada

MARCH 2001

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Hello to all our members who work so hard in the cause of literacy. Thank you for your continuing support of our valuable community effort.

On February 9th and 10th a Basic Tutor Workshop was presented at the NBCC here in Moncton and 17 new tutors are now available to help as volunteers. A special thanks to Peter Sawyer who made the bulk of the presentations during an intensive 10 hour program. Two of our adult learners, James and Roger, attended the workshop to discuss the students point of view, and also, to answer questions. They captivated their audience and reinforced for them the idea that the commitment to tutoring is challenging but, it can also be very rewarding.

Please note on your calendar Tuesday, April 17th, because that is the day that the Annual ALPHA AWARDS are being presented in Fredericton. I have received information from a very reliable source that several people from the area (even some from the GMLC) will be receiving awards. Look for breaking news in mid April.

Another date to keep in mind is April 3rd. On that evening the Annual General Meeting of the Gr. Moncton Literacy Council will be convened at 7:00 pm in room C-3040 NBCC on Mountain Road. Traditionally this meeting is very short and sweets with coffee to follow are an added incentive to keep the reports brief. It's a good opportunity to meet your executive who really are just regular folk. And I promise that no one will twist your arm to sit on a committee or assume another responsibility. But the executive do need to meet the tutors and students to reinforce their faith in the Laubach program. Most members of the executive are tutors, former tutors, or students and they appreciate feedback from others who are actively involved.. New ideas and positive suggestions are always welcome.

Little known fact:

In 1924 the first crossword puzzle book was published and a world wide craze began that is as popular today as it was from the beginning.

From an essay by Margaret Visser:

We can all take comfort in the realization that nobody thinks English spelling is easy. For four and a half centuries, those who have resented its complexities have fought for simplification and reform. They have wanted to take it upon themselves to regularize patterns, cut out letters, remove exceptions, or replace the alphabet altogether. George Bernard Shaw could not understand why we should wish to live with a language in which fish might as well be spelled ghoti (f as in cough, i as in women, and sh as in nation).