The Literacy Letter: LVSC's E-Newsletter
Annual Meeting Edition
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A Message from Phil Armenio, LVSC Board President
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Students, tutors, volunteers, donors, and friends of LVSC: it gives me great pleasure to add my thoughts for this newsletter.
As I write this note, I reflect on how we have returned to a more “normal” life. While the pandemic has not disappeared, we have learned how to carry on with our lives and live with the virus. LVSC has returned to close to normal operations while maintaining caution and staying vigilant.
I was excited to see so many of you at the Annual Meeting. I hope you were pleased to see how our programs continue to do great work for our students. The volunteer tutors and the students who were recognized are examples of how LVSC outreach touches so many lives.
In a world that presents us with so many challenges, LVSC remains strong in the belief that by improving the English skills of our students, we strengthen the bonds of our community and promote understanding and dialog amongst people from many different backgrounds and beliefs.
We, Board Members, feel privileged to be in a position to lead and guide this incredible organization. I would like to recognize the great work of our staff. They work around the clock to serve you and to keep LVSC to be such a caring organization.
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Watch Our Year in Review Video | |
A Word from Aimee Lam, LVSC Executive Director | |
After three years of sharing my Executive Director’s Report from home, in front of a video camera, I was thrilled to see so many of you at this year’s in-person Annual Meeting & Recognition Night! This joyful community event marks the end of our financial year. It also provides an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of our tutors and students while reflecting on milestones reached. Here are a few highlights from our year ending June 30, 2022:
- 350 adult students received literacy instruction from 140 volunteer tutors. A 20% increase over last year!
- Volunteers provided 3,500+ hours of free literacy instruction, helping students to meet meaningful life goals.
- After two years of remote-only programming, we started offering in-person programming again at the library. We now have a flexible service offering where instruction can be offered in-person, remotely, or a combination of both.
- Lisa Ries joined our staff, as the new part-time Student Success Manager.
- We introduced a Cultural Literacy program and piloted Family Reading Nights.
- We issued more than 40 communications from partner agencies related to Covid-19 and Hurricane Ida relief and recovery.
Last year we celebrated 40 years of service - a tremendous milestone. This year we have entered our fifth decade strong, stable, and flexible, thanks to you, our courageous students, dedicated volunteers, generous donors, and caring community partners. I am hopeful for the future and grateful for all of you.
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Congratulations to LVSC's 2022 Annual Meeting Award Recipients | |
Student of the Year: Veronica Perez
Veronica (pictured left) has overcome many obstacles to learning English, and one was learning new computer skills. She and tutor Christine began meeting just as the pandemic started so in-person instruction wasn't possible. But that didn't stop Veronica from learning English remotely. Hard work and determination have paid off: Veronica is now more confident speaking English and can independently navigate daily life in the United States. Says Veronica’s LVSC tutor, Christine, "Veronica is not the same shy, quiet young woman I met two years ago; to say I am proud of her would be a great understatement."
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NJ Association for Lifelong Learning Writing Contest Winner: Andrea Serrano
After studying English for just two years, Andrea won a statewide writing contest for one of her poems. Andrea has been a dedicated participant in LVSC's Zoom conversation groups and also an insightful member of our Cultural Connections project. She is a prolific writer and frequent contributor to LVSC's Student Newsletter.
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Tutor of the Year: Maureen Wilson
Maureen’s can-do attitude inspired LVSC to adopt virtual programming in the early days of the pandemic. In March 2020, while many of us were sitting at home in shock, Maureen was already meeting with her student on Zoom; she had seamlessly transitioned to remote tutoring. Since that time, Maureen has gone above and beyond for our program and for her students. She has worked with three students, challenging them with reading and discussing our book club books, supporting them not just with their English goals, but helping with their larger needs, seeing them through some difficult times.
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Volunteers of the Year: Elizabeth Breedlove & Allison Caulfield | |
Elizabeth and Allison helped 25 LVSC students become U.S. citizens this past year! When the pandemic started, we had to pause our citizenship classes, but thanks to these two amazing volunteers, we could remotely help students achieve this critical goal. For the past two years, when a student contacted LVSC to say that they had their date for their citizenship test and interview, we simply passed their name on to either Elizabeth or Allison. And they took it from there. Elizabeth and Allison contacted the students, sent them study materials, and evaluated how many tutoring sessions were needed: sometimes one or two, sometimes many more. A month or so later, LVSC would get a picture of the student, proudly standing in front of the American flag with an accompanying message: "She passed!" | |
Alma C. Liotta Award for Excellence: Susan Engelstein
Alma C. Liotta was a retired school-teacher, who formed our organization at her kitchen table in 1981. This award is presented to an individual who has given extraordinary service to LVSC.
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Susan Engelstein, LVSC’s Program & Events Manager, received the Alma C. Liotta Award in recognition of her tremendous efforts to ensure LVSC's programs continued uninterrupted, despite significant challenges posed by the pandemic. Without a road map, she transitioned all logistics of an in-person program to an entirely virtual program and then to a hybrid format. During the past two years, she single-handedly enrolled, assessed and matched more than 200 students and recruited and enrolled more than 90 tutors! Susan always goes above and beyond to not only provide programming, but to deliver exceptional service. Thank you, Susan for your caring dedication to the LVSC community. | |
Martha Davis Award for Outstanding
Volunteer Service: Lauren Randolph
Martha Davis was a 16-year LVSC volunteer and 10-year board member. This award is given to an individual who embodies Martha’s spirit of volunteerism and dedication to LVSC’s mission.
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Lauren Randolph received the 2022 Martha Davis Award in recognition of her service and support that goes far beyond her commitment as tutor trainer and our humanities scholar on the Cultural Connections project. Lauren is a longtime ESL professional who became LVSC's tutor trainer in 2016. Since that time she has trained more than 375 new tutors! She streamlined our training program to make it more manageable and attractive to potential volunteers, and then she adapted the training program to a virtual format. During the past year, Lauren's expertise, guidance, and vision were essential to our Cultural Connections project which engaged tutors and students in conversations on cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication. Thank you, Lauren, for enriching the LVSC community in so many meaningful ways.
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Watch our
Cultural Connections
Video:
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Community Partner Award: Healthier Somerset | |
This award is given to an organization which provides extraordinary support in collaborating with LVSC. This year, the award was presented to Healthier Somerset, a coalition of businesses, local government, and non-profit organizations whose purpose is to improve the health and well-being of all who live and work in Somerset County.
Healthier Somerset has helped strengthen the LVSC community by sharing critical health information and resources throughout the pandemic, fostering valuable community partnerships, and providing grant funding for our Family Reading Nights partnership with Middle Earth. We value our membership in the coalition and are grateful for all that Healthier Somerset does to keep our community healthy and safe.
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Sustain Campaign - $7,500 Challenge | |
It goes without saying that the pandemic posed challenges on so many levels. LVSC, like many non-profit organizations, is now seeing an increase in demand while grappling with funding lost due to cancelled events and funders who have changed giving priorities. During the past two years we were lucky to replace lost event income with Covid-relief funding and generous donations from people like you. As a result, we emerged from the pandemic financially stable. We are grateful, and relieved, but must plan for a sustainable future in times of rising costs and a turbulent economy.
INTRODUCING THE SUSTAIN CAMPAIGN
Our goal this year is to raise $7,500 to cover monthly costs that are essential to LVSC's existence. The Sustain Campaign will fund:
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$15/month: Office365. Employees use Word, Excel and Microsoft Outlook every single day.
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$30/month: Payroll. Our payroll provider guarantees that federal and state filings are complete and employees are paid on time.
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$40/month: Database. Eleo is the database we use to create online applications so we can efficiently process and track student and volunteer intake forms and activity.
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$50/month: Constant Contact Email Service. We save postage and printing expenses by sending electronic newsletters and event invitations using Constant We also use it to share resources and information with our volunteers and students.
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$65/month: Website. Website hosting and maintenance fees ensure we have a professional, up-to-date website which welcomes students, informs volunteers, and educates the public.
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$80/month: Accounting. A QuickBooks online subscription helps us track income and expenses so we can stay on budget and remain fiscally responsible.
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$100/month: Insurance. We can’t operate without Workers' Comp and general liability insurance, but it costs nearly $100 per month!
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$200/month: Phone & Internet. Where would we be without phone and internet service? It is essential so we can communicate with YOU, our students, tutors, and supporters.
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Will you consider joining the Sustain Campaign by pledging a monthly donation? It’s easy and secure, and can be done via credit card through our website. | | |
Or, please consider a one-time donation to support our programs. Every donation helps. | | |
Save the Date and Plan to Join Us! | |
The Fall Soiree is back
but in a new location!
Friday, November 4, 2022
7 pm at the brand-new
Montgomery Library
Look for an invitation and more party details to come!
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