The Literacy Letter: LVSC's E-Newsletter
Annual Meeting Edition
Celebrating the people who make our vibrant community thrive.
Reflections from the Board President, Phil Armenio
LVSC started its new Fiscal Year on July 1st 2021. This year we celebrate our 40th anniversary. Wow, what a journey! Who would have thought that our founder Alma Liotta’s idea to harness volunteer tutors to teach English to adults struggling with the language, would have inspired so many ordinary citizens to give so much of their time and talent?

Over the years LVSC has had to adapt to the changing times. More of our students now need English as a Second Language versus Basic English tutoring. More of our volunteer tutors are working professionals who are driven by a desire to give back to the community. Many of our donors and supporters recognize that Literacy is a fundamental human right that makes a community more vibrant.

This past year has brought a fundamental change to the way we deliver our services. Now technology is just as critical as the one-on-one intimate human touch between our tutors and students. We like to think that the year of the pandemic is behind us. But the “new normal” does not feel normal at all. We still have to maintain safe health practices, be mindful of the potential flare ups of the virus, include health information in our tutoring, and pursue safe fundraising activities.

Thanks to all of our supporters, LVSC today is as strong and committed to our mission “…to help adults struggling with their English skills to become more confident in their language…”. Thanks to all of you, thousands of adults have gained the confidence of their newly acquired English language skills. As they put those skills to work, our community becomes a better place to live.

To the next 40 years!!!
View LVSC's Transformative Journey
A Word from the Executive Director, Aimee Lam
LVSC concluded a most unusual year in what has become a very usual way - a Zoom meeting. Our virtual annual meeting, held in June, gave us the opportunity to reflect on our year and to celebrate our collective success. (A recording of our Annual Meeting is available here. (Passcode: R11#U#+y)

During the past year, more than 100 volunteer tutors provided virtual services to 250 students! Throughout the pandemic, our programs have been providing not only English literacy instruction but also companionship and connection to vital COVID-relief resources. Generous donors and COVID-relief funding ensured we were able to retain our small staff, pay our bills (internet & phone were never more important), maintain our office space, and provide services in creative new ways. We ended the year grateful to have emerged from the pandemic transformed, and ready to celebrate our 40th anniversary.

You can read more about our program milestones and see my Executive Director’s Annual Report here.

As we reflect on 40 years of service, we recognize that LVSC’s strength and success is the cumulative effort of many people over the years:
  • Resilient, brave students who work hard to reach life goals;
  • Devoted volunteers who have shared their time and talent to teach and nurture;
  • Dedicated board members whose wisdom, guidance, and care has kept the staff on track and the organization strong;
  • Hard-working, creative staff members who have gone above and beyond to deliver the LVSC mission;
  • Generous donors who have provided essential funding;
  • Community partners who have collaborated to serve our neighbors in need;
  • The innovative spirit of all involved. 

We are grateful to you all.
Congratulations to LVSC's 2021 Annual Meeting Award Recipients
Student of the Year:

Monica Oblites

Originally from Peru, Monica and her husband settled in Bridgewater where they raised their two children. Their daughter is completing college and their son graduated college and works as an engineer.

For the past two years, and throughout the pandemic, Monica has been meeting regularly with her tutor, Donna. Donna reports that Monica has shown total dedication to improving her English, diligently attending their weekly two-hour sessions, and completing her homework. As a result, Monica has made great progress in improving her speaking, listening, and writing skills. Monica now writes creative inspirational short stories and has contributed pieces for LVSC’s student newsletter. She has read and summarized six full novels over the last year!

Monica chooses to give back by volunteering both at LVSC's Community Spelling Bee and holiday gift wrapping fundraisers, and by attending LVSC events. She is an amazing individual and treasured member of the LVSC community!
Tutor of the Year:

Lisa Ries

Lisa graduated from LVSC's Tutor Training class in February of 2020, meeting with her student only a few times before we went into lockdown. A pandemic did not stop her. Lisa was one of our earliest tutors working on Zoom. Not only did she figure out that making Power Points was the easiest way for her to share a lesson, but she also had the generosity to share those lessons with other tutors. So, she took it upon herself to create the LVSC Lesson Library an invaluable online resource for tutors to access and share their lessons.

Lisa quickly realized that Zoom offered some opportunities that meeting at the library did not, like teaching the dance moves to Cotton Eye Joe, or making Rice Krispy Treats together -- a delicious tutoring session! This inspired LVSC to think outside the box, and inside the kitchen, and in November 2020, we offered an Apple Pie Making Zoom session – led by Lisa - so that our students could learn to make this classic American dessert for their own Thanksgiving tables.

Lisa volunteered to become a virtual conversation group leader, and her Friday morning group quickly became very popular. She inspired our new tutors by speaking to LVSC's tutor training class, calming their apprehensions with her relaxed manor and infectious love for teaching.

Lisa is a dedicated tutor, an enthusiastic leader for her conversation group students, a lively participant in all LVSC programs and activities, and a respected colleague.

Alma C. Liotta Award for Excellence:

Mary Riccardi
Mary joined the LVSC board in 2015, following in her mother's footsteps; she has served as a trustee, treasurer, and vice president. Mary is a wealth of knowledge, dedicated, supportive, and a true inspiration. Pictured is Mary and her mom, Peggy, a lifelong educator who served many years as an LVSC tutor and board member.
The Alma C. Liotta Award is named for LVSC’s founder. A retired school-teacher, Ms. Liotta founded our organization in 1981. The award is presented to a volunteer who has given outstanding service to LVSC and has exhibited extraordinary service and leadership.

Martha Davis Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service:

Patricia Flannery

Pat was recognized for her outstanding service and steadfast dedication to LVSC as a board member through thick and thin, tutor, supporter, and role model to other board members. Pat retired from the LVSC board in January 2020 after a 12-year tenure.
 
The Martha Davis Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service is presented to a volunteer who embodies Martha’s spirit of volunteerism and dedication to LVSC’s mission. Martha was LVSC’s board president when she passed away unexpectedly in 2018. Over a 16 year-period, Martha served many LVSC roles: tutor, conversation group leader, event committee member, board member, and 10-year board president.

Says Pat, "I cherished Martha, and what she brought to this organization, so it gives me real satisfaction to receive an award in her name. My years with LVSC were a blessing to me. So many of the students and volunteers were truly inspiring...The work of every member of this organization is so valuable. Thank you all for doing what you do, and for giving me this recognition."

Volunteer Excellence Award:

Mark Winfield Wetherbee

This award is given to an individual who jumps in to help LVSC in a way that is out of the normal scope of our programming. Mark received this award for creating our signature video and expertly capturing the essence of LVSC. The video was particularly important during the pandemic when we couldn't gather, but needed to convey the spirit of our community. 

Says Mark, "It is a delightful confession to say that I am never quite certain what a project will end up looking like until it is nearly complete. The tutoring sessions and conversation groups I visited were usually at libraries, places which are known for their quiet environments. So naturally I was surprised by how lively, joyful, and engaged the students and tutors were. Their genuine smiles, conversational kinship, and optimistic attitudes were humbling and inspiring."

View Mark's video:



Community Partner Award:

Crystal Dionysopoulou of Lucid Fox
This award is given to an organization which provides extraordinary support in collaborating with LVSC. Crystal Dionysopoulou received the award this year for creating LVSC's state-of-the-art new website, pro bono, through the Lucid Fox Community Impact Initiative.

Says Crystal, "I am so completely touched and honored by this {award}. I am very proud to have been able to impact LVSC in such a significant way! I hope the site continues to help you and your volunteers and students."
Make an Anniversary Donation
Your donation to our year-long celebration honors LVSC's 40-year history and helps to secure our future. All proceeds help LVSC train volunteer tutors, match students with tutors, and develop new programs.

Donations can be made as a one-time gift or as a monthly donation. You can also honor a special volunteer or student
with a tribute gift.
Thank You to Our Anniversary Donors*

Benefactor: The Luis and Maria DaSilva Charitable Fund
Partner: The Young Family
Champion: Allison & Patrick Caulfield
Patron: Aubrey Flanagan; Suji Lim & Ji Hoon Kang; Merrill Lynch - Bridgewater NJ
Advocate: Elizabeth Breedlove; Barbara Lawler; Warren Josephson & Jill Brenner, in honor of Kathy England; The Sokol Family
Supporter: Rachel Drascher; Tracy Ho, in honor of Andrea Swykowski.; Nadezda Ivanov; Rosa Merlo; Neal & Teri Nover, in honor of Bonnie Biel; Gloria Rodriguez, in honor of the conversation group teachers; Maureen & Jim Wilson
Friend: Donna & Chris Sturm, in honor of Aimee Lam & Susan Engelstein
*As of August 1, 2021
Save the Date and Plan to Join Us!
We're 40!
Celebrate with Us!


Friday, November 19, 2021
7 pm at the Bridgewater Library


Look for an invitation and more party details to come!