East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way, East Greenbush

 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.

 Bring a lunch.  Beverages will be provided. To register, call 274-8516.

The Culture of Poverty with Debra Fagans, Wednesday, May 8th

Are you struggling to understand the way your student makes decisions, organizes time, and prioritizes choices in life? Former Program Coordinator and longtime volunteer tutor trainer, Debra Fagans will present a workshop on The Culture of Poverty. Drawing from the research of Ruby K. Payne, Debbie will provide valuable insights into the lives of many of the learners we serve.

Pronunciation with Marcia Schultz, Tuesday, May 14th

Does your English Language Learner need help with pronunciation? One of our longest-serving tutor trainers and ELL tutors, Marcia Schultz brings helpful hints and insights from many years of professional and volunteer experience to her workshop on pronunciation. Tutors who are working with English Language Learners at all levels are welcome to learn from a master.

Learning Styles and Disabilities with Donna Gibson, Thursday, May 23rd

As adults, we know we have a favorite way to learn. Adults with disabilities can make educational gains when their learning styles are taken into consideration. Former Executive Director and longtime volunteer tutor trainer, Donna Gibson shares her considerable depth of knowledge on the topic of learning styles and disabilities.

LVORC Newsletter – Spring 2013

Join us for a Student and Volunteer Dinner on Monday, April 15th at 6:00 p.m.  Please bring a dish to share with others as we celebrate 45 years of transforming lives in Rensselaer County. We’ll meet in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Presbyterian Church, 1915 5th Avenue, Troy. Give us a call to let us know how many will be in your party: 274-8526. We’re looking forward to an evening of sharing food and friendship.

The Famous Ladies’ Tea will be held at the historic Emma Willard School in Kellas Commons, 285 Pawling Avenue, Troy, on Sunday, March 10th from 1:30-4:00 p.m. The event will celebrate the 45^th  anniversary of Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County and Women’s History Month.  Each table will be visited by a series of fascinating and influential ladies, portrayed by local actresses in period costume. Enjoy a delicious assortment of tea sandwiches and scones in a beautiful setting as Eleanor Roosevelt, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Emma Willard and other famous women tell their stories. See an article from the Troy Record here.

• Emma Willard will be portrayed by Dawn Weinraub
• Maria Mitchell, astronomer and advocate for women’s education, will be portrayed by Sue Stierer
• Kate Mullaney, activist and founder of the Collar Laundry Union, will be portrayed by Holly Clark
• Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the “Little House” books, will be portrayed by Tish Kelly
• Caresse Crosby, inventor of the modern brassiere, will be portrayed by Liz Hood
• Florence Nightingale, nurse and hospital reformer, will be portrayed by Myrna Bernstein
• Eleanor Roosevelt will be portrayed by Judy Landers
• Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, will be portrayed by Denise Wright

Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets can be purchased by using the button on the right-hand side of the page, or by calling 274-8526.

Many thanks to everyone who attended the Bowlathon on Sunday, February 24th at Uncle Sam Lanes in Troy. Please join us in thanking those who made the event possible:

Sponsors

CAP COM Federal Credit Union

Aflac

Committee Members:

Angela Fecko

Kristin Morgan

With special thanks to Linda Feldmann, Barbara Wyman,

Karen Chandler, Meredith Morgan and Olivia Morgan

Raffle Donors:

LVORC Board of Directors

Barbara Wyman

Christine Helwig

Shay Harrison

Jeanine Falco

William Morgan

Jen Spade

The Glimmerglass Festival

The Egg

Crossgates Mall

DC Gymnastics

BJ’s Wholesale Club

Price Chopper

Zero Gravity

Bob Daubney’s

Hoffman’s Playland

Holmes Engineering, LLC

A Valentine’s Day note from Executive Director, Barbara Wyman:

Love is in the air.  So far I received 2 hugs from our students and 1 from a tutor and 1 from a co-worker.  I stopped at Capital Communications Federal Credit Union, North Greenbush Branch on my way to work this morning.  One of their tellers had just completed the rounds of hugging every other employee.  What a great place to work!  What a great place to bank—enjoyed the delicious hot chocolate while I was there and the friendly conversation.

 I’ve always thought that meeting Laura Ingalls Wilder would be such a treat.  Her books chronicling her life’s many moves by covered wagon across the prairie were a favorite of mine as a child.  How did she ever write them all long-hand?  No copying and pasting for her.  At our Famous Ladies Tea on Sunday, March 10, 1:30 -4:00 PM at Kellas Hall, Emma Willard School in Troy you can meet Laura -well, it really Tish Kelly, but she is excellent at impersonating Laura!  Meet nine other fascinating women including Caresse Crosby (thank you Caresse for inventing the first modern brassiere), Emma Willard, Eleanor Roosevelt and others—as you enjoy a delicious high tea provided by Emma Willard School!  Tickets, $35, can be purchased by using the link on the website (to the right) or by calling (518) 274-8526..

LVORC Newsletter – Winter 2013

To kick off the season of celebrations with family and friends, please join us for dinner on Monday, November 19th at 6:00 p.m.

What is your favorite family tradition?  What do you like to do with your family when everyone’s together?  You can tell us all about it as we enjoy a potluck buffet provided by students, volunteers, and friends of LVORC.

Volunteers from the Women Changing the World class at Russell Sage College will facilitate the evening, which will follow a theme of Being Grateful. The Sage student volunteers will decorate the Fellowship Hall at First United Presbyterian Church, 1915 5th Avenue, Troy, creating a fun and festive atmosphere for the occasion.

Please bring a dish to share with others. Call (518) 274-8526 to reserve a place at a table.

The Annual Report for the 2011-2012 Program Year is now available. To view it now, please use the link at the bottom of the home page. A mailing will be sent soon to volunteers and donors. If you’d like to request a printed copy, please contact us at 274-8526.

Recruitment is now underway for the 2012-2013 English Literacy Civics program. Classes will be held at the Albany Public Library Main Branch on Thursdays and Fridays from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., and at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

EL Civics is a great opportunity for adult English Language Learners to improve their English skills while learning about American systems, including government, education, health care, and employment.

Classes are scheduled to begin on October 11th at the Albany Public Library, and on October 22nd at Blessed Sacrament.To be eligible, a learner must:

-Attend class twice a week for 3 hours per session, for a total of 6 hours per week of instruction
-Attend for 25 weeks between October and May
-Speak and understand at least well enough to answer “who, what, where, when, and why” questions
-Get to class at Blessed Sacrament Church (607 Central Avenue) or the Albany Public Library Main Branch (Washington Avenue)
-Be pre- and post-tested using the BEST Plus oral assessment tool

Finally, 70 percent of these learners must be eligible for employment. We can serve up to 30 people, 15 in each group.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 274-8526.