Winnebago County
Literacy Council

"We teach so others may reach"

106 Washington Ave
Oshkosh, WI 54901
920.236.5185
www.winlit.org

The Winnebago County Literacy Council (WCLC) has been providing literacy services to adults throughout Winnebago County since its inception in 1989. The primary focus of the agency is to provide one-to-one tutoring opportunities to adults reading at or below a fourth-grade level. The WCLC utilizes trained volunteer tutors to teach adult students how to read and apply basic survival literacy skills to everyday life.

New Benefactors!

Each month, we acknowledge our new or renewing benefactors. These are hard working business people and friends who are willing to share their resources to see the Winnebago County Literacy Council and its programs grow.
To view the list of new or renewing benefactors, click here!

Giving to the WCLC is Easier in 2008!

Beginning in 2008 you may make a monthly contribution to the Winnebago County Literacy Council by having funds from your savings or checking account automatically deposited to the WCLC. You simply decide on the amount you want to contribute, click on our the credit/debit authorization form, complete and return the form to us, and we'll do the rest!

Credit/Debit Authorization Form

New Partners!

Three Heritage Makers consultants are pleased to announce they will be donating 25% of their profits to the Literacy Council for sales generated through people, parties, and events associated with the Literacy Council.  Heritage Makers is a web-based system of creating your own hardcover, professionally-published storybooks, posters, calendars, and cards.  For more information, visit www.AStoryToHold.com or email Carolyn Dargevics at cadargevics@yahoo.com.  You may also phone the consultants: Kate Thome at 920-379-0616, Rhonda Gustafson at 920-740-4277, and Carolyn Dargevics at 920-203-3610.

Support WCLC with Goodsearch.com and raise money!

What if the WCLC earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our cause? Well, now it can!

Use http://www.goodsearch.com/ as your search engine - we earn a penny for every search you do.

GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!

GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter the Winnebago County Literacy Council as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!

"We Care" Pick n' Save

You can support the WCLC each time you shop at Pick n' Save. Stop at the customer service desk and ask to have the WCLC account number assigned to your card. Each time you use your card we get a donation!

What's New

Tutor Resource

Looking for a good website with ideas and literacy tools to use? Check out http://www.thinkfinity.org/home.aspx.

WCLC Board Member

Darcy Duffy

Darcy Duffy is completing her third year on the WCLC Board.  She became involved because her training as a speech and language pathologist gave her insight into the problems that some people have with communication, whether it is verbal or written.  She is originally from the metro Detroit area and moved here with her husband, Mike, almost 26 years ago. Darcy graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Speech Pathology and then completed her Master’s Degree at Eastern Michigan University in Speech Pathology with a teaching certificate. 

She and Mike met in the dorm at U-M, married after graduation, then remained in Ann Arbor while Mike attended medical school there and Darcy was a school speech therapist.  She worked in the schools again during their four years in Minneapolis during Mike’s residency before moving to Oshkosh to start his medical practice.   Darcy decided to stay home to raise her three daughters, who are all college-age and older now. 

After being on maternity leave for 21 years, Darcy renewed her teaching certificate and began doing long-term substituting for speech pathologists in the Oshkosh Area School District.  She enjoys being back in the schools and working with young children, helping them communicate better.  She enjoys reading, singing, playing in a hand bell choir, and following her favorite team, the Michigan Wolverines.

Programs

Location:  Oshkosh Public Library, 3rd floor training room

Dates:  March 4, 11, 18 and 25 (Tuesdays)

Time:   3:00 pm-6 pm

Dates: April 19th and 26th (Saturdays)

Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm

Dates: May 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th (Tuesdays & Thursdays)       

Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Location:  Oshkosh Public Library, 3rd floor training room

Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Time: 9:00am-1:00pm

Date: Saturday, April 5th  

Time: 9:00am   - 1:00pm

Date: Wednesday, May 21st      

Time: 9:00am-1:00pm

Help open someone's world to opportunities once never thought possible.
Give the gift of reading -- register for a workshop today!!!

One-on-One Literacy Tutoring

WCLC provides one-to-one tutoring opportunities to adults and families in the areas of Basic Literacy, ESL, Family Literacy, Math, Workplace Literacy, and Citizenship.

One-on-One Family Literacy Tutoring Program

WCLC will train volunteer tutors to work with families at the library, in their homes, or another mutually agreed upon location in order to improve literacy levels and promote learning together as a family. This program hopes to empower parents to see themselves as their child’s first and best teacher.

Family Literacy Program

The Family Literacy Program serves refugee families needing to learn survival English. This Family literacy Program provides an Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for parents while their children received age-appropriate learning in an Early Learning Classroom at the same time.

For information on any of these programs, contact Raissa Reimer at reimer@winlit.org or call 236-5219 ext. 4802.

Events

Winnebago County Literacy Council Annual Spelling Bee a Success!

St. John Neumann Middles School Team Wins WCLC Middle School Bee!

The Oshkosh Public Library Team Reclaims Their Title as Bee Champs!

More than $10,500 was raised on February 16th during our seventh Annual Spelling Bee Fundraiser, entitled, “How Do You Spell Chocolate?”  Local businesses and area middle school teams participated by competing against each other in a fun, old-fashioned spelling bee.

The major sponsor for the event was CitizensFirst Credit Union.  Middle School team sponsors were the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Thedacare Physicians and Mick Lang Properties. Knowing the relationship between breakfast and academic performance, Festival Foods graciously donated muffins. Anchor Bank donated the wonderful decorations and fresh flowers that reminded us spring and bumblebees were just around the corner!

The Bee kicked off the morning with the middle school bee competition.  Mark Harris returned as the emcee. Patti Vickman and Deb Zarling, both of the OASD were judges for the event.  Middle school teams spelling in this year’s bee included:  Alps Charter School, Oshkosh Christian School, South Park Middle School, St. John Neumann Middle School, and Webster Stanley Middle School.  Special thanks go out to the teachers and students who participated in this event.  Sam Smith, from St. John Neumann led his team to the title.   Alex Lichtenberg, representing ALPS Charter School finished second.

Jerry Burke presided as the Corporate Bee emcee. Karen Siefert and Ron Harrell judged the event.  This year’s spellers had the opportunity to earn life lines through pledges.  With words such as peristaltic, sonobuoy and zugzwang life lines were in demand. The Oshkosh Public Library over came fierce competition from The Appleton Post Crescent to claim this year’s title. Jeff Gilderson-Duwe and Mara Munroe out spelled Rachel Rausch from the Post Crescent. The remainder of the field included teams from 4Imprint, Aurora Health Care, CitizensFirst Credit Union, Downtown Rotary, Southwest Rotary, The Oshkosh Northwestern and UW Oshkosh Today participated in the event.

Throughout the day, participants and spectators had the chance to bid on silent auction items and to purchase raffle tickets for the Speed Queen washing machine donated by Alliance Laundry. All in attendance helped themselves to free chocolate and beverages provided by The Oshkosh Shoppe, Fox Valley Cheesecake Company, Starbucks Coffee, and Lara’s Tortilla Flats. 

Human Race 2008

Hosted by the Volunteer Center of Oshkosh, the Walk/Run will occur on May 3rd , 2008 at 9:00 am in Menominee Park. We need your help! By participating in this non-competitive 5K Walk/Run you will be helping to generate support for our much needed programming at the Winnebago County Literacy Council.

Here’s how it works:

• First: Have us mail you your own Human Race Application Form or click on the link to download your own, Human Race WCLC Registration Form and ask family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and even the pizza delivery person to donate to a great cause, the Winnebago County Literacy Council. No amount is too small! Feel free to talk up the great successes you are having with your student and how this agency is helping Oshkosh become more literate.
• Second: Collect the pledges as you receive them. Again someone can pledge $5, $10, $20, $50, or $100 any amount is acceptable. Donors are not pledging per mile or anything, just one flat donation. Checks can be made payable to the Human Race. Pledges can be made and collected right up to the event date, May 3, 2008.
• Third: Either turn in your pledges to us at the Winnebago County Literacy Council by May 1st at noon if you want to help, but can’t participate. Or if you want to join in the actual Walk/Run Event, you can meet me and other supporters of literacy at Menominee Park during the event registration which runs from 8:15-9:00 am and turn your pledges in there. All Walkers/Runners who turn in at least $25 in pledges are eligible to receive a t-shirt to remember the day by.

Thanks and we hope to see you there! Please invite your student to walk with you in the event. We are trying to have a visible presence at this year’s event. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us.

Liz, Nancy & Raissa

Coming this September, our 1st Annual

SCRABBLE BEE

Watch for details in upcoming issues

Volunteer Spotlight

Each month we will spotlight a WCLC volunteer for their commitment to the Council, but more importantly, for their commitment to the student they tutor.

Carol Reigh & Victor

The prospect of retirement can be both exciting and frightening so when my husband and I decided to retire in 2001, we developed a plan that would keep us active and occupied. We knew boredom would not be an issue – we have eight grandchildren involved in a variety of activities, which we attend as often as time permits.

High on my agenda was to pursue my love for reading and writing. One day I saw an article in the paper about the need for tutors for the Literacy Council and I was hooked.

My student is a 40 year old Hispanic man and we have worked together for 5½ years. Why do I continue to tutor?

• Because of the smile on his face when he learns a new word
• Because he now initiates conversation.
• Because he’s no longer apprehensive about asking questions.
• Because when he reads to me there is emotion in his voice.
• Because sometimes he takes the initiative to bring material to class. (newspapers, books, letters.
• Because classes are fun and spontaneous.
• Because of the look on his face the first time he wrote his name in cursive.
• Because he is sincere about wanting to learn.

These are just a few of the reasons I tutor and I sincerely hope that my student finds as much fulfillment and satisfaction in the WCLC as I do. It is my privilege to be a tutor.

Wanted!

Adult Literacy Tutoring Program

Magnifying Reading Bars (5)

Cassette player with recording option

Blank cassette tapes

Family Literacy Program

Gift certificates to grocery stores to purchase snacks

Small to medium size foam or Dixie cups

Napkins and paper plates

Play dough

Office Supplies

Post-it notes

Paper shredder

Dry eraser markers (wipe boards)

Copy paper

Manila file folders

Black and color ink cartridges (Black is 96 Color is 97)

Of Interest

Join us as we tune into watch ABC's "World News with Charlie Gibson," the first installment in this special series aired Monday, February 25, 2008.

Living in the Shadows: Illiteracy in America Millions Live With a Crippling Secret That Affects Their Everyday Lives

By PIERRE THOMAS, JACK DATE and THERESA COOK

Feb. 24, 2008 --

It's a chronic crisis of huge proportions, one that keeps millions of Americans living in the shadows. And for nearly all of her of 45 years, Monica Baxley had lived with the crippling secret.

"I cried a lot over this," she said, "when I was alone and just would wonder what could be done, you know, if there was any help out there for me."

Baxley, of the Florida panhandle town of Chipley, was functionally illiterate. She quit school in the ninth grade, and for 30 years kept her secret from friends, family and even her husband.

"I didn't want to be exposed, beyond anything else. That was the most important thing -- for no one to ever learn."

Baxley joins so many others with literacy challenges: 7 million Americans are illiterate, 27 million are unable to read well enough to complete a job application and 30 million can't read a simple sentence.

Her travel was limited because she was unable to read road signs. She was unable to read a newspaper or food labels in a supermarket.

Baxley never voted in an election. "I didn't know who or what to vote for," she said.

Her illiteracy even impacted her physical health, as she avoided seeing the doctor out of fear she would have to fill out a medical form or read a prescription.

"My health is poor now, but I really believe that's because I never went to the doctor and had my physicals and stuff that I should have had," Baxley admitted.

A recent study from the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed patients who had difficulty reading prescriptions were 50 percent more likely to die from disease than patients who were literate.

"It is a life and death issue," said study author Dr. David Baker of Northwestern University. "Literacy affects your health in so many different ways," he said, from inability to properly follow instructions to not knowing about common conditions or what symptoms to look for.

"So when you put all of these things together it's not surprising that people with the lower literacy levels are more likely to die [earlier]," Baker said.

Baker said his team has interviewed hundreds of patients about their experiences, and Baxley's situation was a common theme -- hiding illiteracy from those close to them.

"It's very scary for people" when their first contact with the healthcare system involves filling out detailed medical forms. "That's not a great start," Baxter said, "and then when they are seeing their doctor they're given other information they don't understand" such as prescription information and instructions to take care of themselves.

"Many people are afraid to come in and see the doctor," Baxter said. They don't seek care, resulting in the worsening of their conditions and an increased likelihood of trips to the emergency room.

The American Medical Association Foundation did a private study of patients who could not read. One woman who provided a testimonial said signed a form agreeing to a medical procedure with no idea what it meant.

"The nurse said, how are you feeling since your hysterectomy?" according to the testimonial. "And I acted as normal as I could, but inside, my mouth fell open and I thought to myself, how could I be so stupid as to allow somebody to take part of my body and I didn't know it?"

Another patient took her medication improperly, afraid to tell her physician about her difficulty reading.

"I didn't take it right. I admit it," her testimonial said. "I just didn't have they nerve to ask them and I didn't want anyone to know I couldn't read."

"It's a tremendous problem when you think about the costs for us, economically, health-wise," said Sandra Baxter, director of the National Institute for Literacy.

"For so many adults who don't have the education, it's embarrassing to have to say, would you explain that to me?" Baxter said of potential problems during a doctor appointment. "And so they don't ask the questions that they need to."

Undiagnosed learning disorders, poverty and an unstable home life are all factors.

As for Monica Baxley, she confronted her illiteracy at age 42 and learned to read. But illiteracy persists for millions who continue to live with it in the shadows.

Text link: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/LegalCenter/story?id=4336421&page=1

Video link: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4336780

Business or articles of interest to the WCLC readership.

Do you have an article or item of interest to the business or education community that will benefit our tutors or students? We'd enjoy your input! This is a great way to spotlight your company, message or name! Contact Liz Rice Janzen!

Contact Us!

The easiest way to contact us is using email - you've seen our email address throughout - that of Liz Rice Janzen! Our phone number and mail address are:

920.236.5185 phone
920.236.5227 fax
106 Washington Ave. Oshkosh, WI 54901

Closing Notes:

Winnebago County Literacy Council relies exclusively on volunteers and gifts from our community to serve in our community. If you are willing to volunteer time or give a gift of money, thank you!