PAACE News Summer 2002

PAACE Keeps Moving Ahead

by Linda Herr, Lycoming County Literacy Project, PAACE President

It's so hard to believe that we're into fall and moving full steam ahead with PAACE and its constituents. The PAACE Board has been working diligently on updating the strategic plan, reviewing by-laws, and training on Peopleware. As the Board continues to work on PAACE issues which impact membership, please don't forget to tell us about you. Go to the Web site and send us your information on the demographic data form. If you want to know more about your organization, talk to one of the regional representatives or any board member. Get involved with this growing organization and enjoy the opportunities to work with other dedicated adult educators.

Time to Submit Midwinter Proposals

The time is NOW to prepare for the 2003 PAACE Midwinter Conference in February! Our conference, entitled "PAACE Setters: Higher Goals Higher Dreams," will be held February 12 to 14, 2003 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

The Conference Program Committee is accepting applications from individuals and organizations interested in making presentations at Midwinter 2003. Presentation proposal applications are due by October 30, 2002 and can be quickly and easily completed online by visiting the PAACE website at and clicking the 2003 Midwinter Conference Call for Presenters Application button. The committee encourages presentation proposals that are interactive and participatory, offer "hands-on" opportunities and incorporate audio and visual components. Three fully functional computer labs with Internet access will be available at the conference and presenters may request use of those labs for their presentations at no extra charge. So, if you have information, instructional strategies, research, or other valuable material to present, please submit your presentation application by October 30, 2002. (Please note that this is a firm deadline.)

Look for more information about the 2003 Midwinter Conference on the PAACE Web site at www.paacesite.org or contact Jim Yeager at jyeager2@lhup.edu or (570) 893-4038.

Midwinter Conference Home Page: /midwinterconference2003/index.htm

Midwinter Conference Registration page: /midwinterconference2003/registration.htm

PAACE Board Working to Enhance Member Services

Imagine implementing a software program that can improve your productivity and efficiency, freeing up your energies to focus on even more creative and useful projects for your members. That’s what PAACE Board members hope to do as they implement the new Peopleware software that will be used to manage the 2003 PAACE Midwinter Conference and other PAACE activities. On August 23, members and volunteers attended the first in a series of training sessions designed to introduce them to the many functions of the Peopleware software and provide an opportunity to discuss how it might be utilized to enhance administrative functions and optimize services to PAACE members.

"Peopleware promises to catapult PAACE into the twenty-first century. As presented at the first Peopleware training, this database should streamline member services and facilitate conference planning," stated Linda Herr, President of PAACE.

Jim Yeager, a member of the PAACE Technology Committee, facilitated the training, held at CIU #10 West Branch Technology Center in Lock Haven. "It’s a challenge to present such a broad piece of software to an audience with such varied computer backgrounds but Jim did a fine job of addressing everyone’s needs to different extents. It was also impressive to see some of what Jim has already designed and put on line with respect to on line conference registrations and RFP’s for the Midwinter conference," stated Jennifer Wood, MIS Manager of the Mid-State Literacy Council and current PAACE Secretary.

Peopleware is a relational database designed to be an organizational and marketing tool. It comes ready to use but also allows customization. Debra G. Burrows, First Vice-President of PAACE and 2003 Conference Program Chair, states, "Peopleware will enable members to register for events online, receive automatic confirmations and invoices, and update their contact information. The new system will also enable PAACE as an organization to track and manage budgets, communicate with members more efficiently, provide much more detailed information to officers, division directors, and committee chairs, and facilitate conference planning. This is especially valuable to an organization such as PAACE, which relies heavily on volunteers. By allowing the software to handle many of the time-consuming and tedious tasks, volunteers, officers, and members will have more time available to focus on higher-level activities, planning, and member services."

Wood explains, " Even though it is always a lot of work to implement new systems, once the initial blueprint is done, it will be a breeze to ‘click and replicate’ most of the functions necessary for planning future conferences, managing memberships, etc."

With Peopleware Pro, PAACE can manage data for a variety of purposes and it won’t be necessary to enter the same details twice as registrations are collected and reports are prepared. Dave Manzo, PAACE Second Vice-President, says, "The software will be an asset to the organization, not only for the Midwinter conference, but also for member services."

Peopleware Pro’s fully integrated accounting tools will also automate all budgeting and financial management tasks from invoicing and payment processing to ongoing budget tracking. As PAACE membership grows, Peopleware Pro has the ability to allow planning committees to target event announcements to past participants based on their profession, demonstrated interests and demographics.

Nominations Sought for PAACE Board of Directors

by Barbara Van Horn, Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy at Penn State, Past PAACE President

It is now time for PAACE members to consider possible candidates for four Board positions. These positions include Second Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Eastern Geographic Representative. If you are interested in being nominated for one of these positions - or know of someone else who might be interested in serving on the Board* - please contact me, Barbara Van Horn, Co-Chair, Nominations Committee at BLV1@psu.edu no later than October 30, 2002.

* If you are nominating someone other than yourself, you must obtain their permission before nominating them.

Board Meetings

Board meetings are held from 10 AM through noon on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in various locations across the Commonwealth. Board members are expected to attend the meetings regularly and to participate actively in Board business.

The following provides a list of duties and length of commitment.

Second Vice-President
The Second Vice- President makes a commitment to the Board for five years, including serving as Second Vice-President; First Vice-President; President; Chair of the Budget, Finance, and Fiscal Affairs Committee; and Chair of the Nominations Committee.

Duties as Second Vice President include:

Assume duties and functions of the 1st Vice-President in the absence of the 1st Vice-President and to accept other duties as assigned by the President. [NOTE: The First Vice President is responsible for the Midwinter Conference program.]
Chair the Strategic Decision-making Committee. This includes 1) working with Board members to document movement towards strategic goals, 2) updating Board members on progress toward goals at monthly meetings, 3) preparing a report on progress for the Annual Meeting during Midwinter, and 4) coordinating revisions to the goals at the end of each three-year planning cycle.
Guide and assist in development of Program Divisions and Geographic Representatives. This includes 1) encouraging attendance at the Board meetings; 2) proposing new Program Divisions and revisions to the Geographic Regions based on member interests and needs; 3) coordinating work of the Divisions and Regions with the Board, the membership, and Midwinter Conference activities; 4) assisting Divisions and Regions in developing annual objectives and activities; and 5) encouraging and assisting, if necessary, Divisions and Regions in preparing articles for PAACE News, PAACE Journal, or other publications.

Treasurer
The Treasurer is elected for a one-year term and may serve three one-year terms.

The Treasurer has the following responsibilities:

Keep all financial records.
Submit monthly financial statement, a Treasurer's Report, at the monthly Board meetings.
Submit quarterly financial statement reflecting overall financial status of the Association and its various accounts.
Submit annual financial report at the Annual Meeting during Midwinter Conference.
Work with the President and immediate Past President in appointing an Audit Committee to review the financial records of the Association.
Make recommendations to the Board regarding fiscal management.
Assist the Budget, Finance, and Fiscal Affairs Committee in preparation of the annual budget of the Association.
Make recommendations to the Board on deposit of funds.
Prepare and submit annual reports to the federal and state agencies working with legal and accounting as necessary.
Arrange bonding of the Treasurer and President in accordance with guidelines approved by the Treasurer.
Sign all checks that draw on accounts of the Association.
Receive all funds due the Association.

Secretary
The Secretary is elected for a one-year term and may serve three one-year terms.

The Secretary has the following responsibilities:

Prepare and mail notices of monthly Board meetings. This includes soliciting an agenda for the meeting from the President, mailing the agenda to Board members, Committee chairs, and other people recommended by the Executive Director or President. The mailing also includes a copy of minutes from the past meeting, and background information relevant to topics for discussion at the meeting.
Take and keep minutes of all meetings of the Association and Board of Directors, and prepare and distribute the minutes as described above.
Work with the Nominations Committee in preparing and distributing the election ballot. The Secretary reports the results of the election at the Annual Meeting.

Eastern Geographic Representative
Geographic Representatives are elected to three-year terms. Individuals may serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

Geographic Representatives have the following responsibilities:

Represent PAACE in the Geographic Region at adult continuing education events, providing information on membership and Association activities, as requested by the President.
Serve on the Membership Committee and assist in recruiting new members, contacting people with lapsed membership, and inviting members in the Geographic Region to attend Board meetings
Serve on the Legislative Committee and assist in encouraging regular contact of members with legislators and ensuring that information about legislative priorities reach members in the Geographic Region.
Prepare a written annual report for presentation at the Annual Meeting.

Again, if you are interested in being nominated or if you want to nominate someone for an open Board position, please contact Barbara Van Horn at BLV1@psu.edu no later than October 30, 2002. If you are nominating someone other than yourself, you must obtain their permission before nominating them.

Nominations Open for Outstanding Adult Educator Award

PAACE has established the Outstanding Adult Educator Award to stimulate, encourage, and reward outstanding contributions to the advancement of adult education. The recipient is to be a person (or persons, in the event the award is shared) who, in the judgment of the Selection Committee, has made an outstanding contribution to the development of adult education. The recipient must be a member of PAACE at the time of their nomination. Public (e.g., employees of state or federal Department of Education) and elected officials are eligible for the award after they retire or leave office.

Download the updated selection criteria document for more information. You may also download the Nomination Form here. It should be completed and submitted with a vita of the candidate and a detailed description of his or her contributions to adult education. Nomination packages must be submitted by December 16, 2002. Nomination packages may be submitted via US mail, fax or e-mail to:

Barbara Van Horn, 2002 Adult Educator Awardee
Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy
Penn State University
102 Rackley Building
University Park, PA 16802-3202
FAX: (814) 863-6108
E-MAIL: BLV1@psu.edu

Meetings Scheduled for PAVE, the PA Student Group
by Jessica Zimmerman, Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth

TLC is currently in planning and scheduling the first round of regional meetings for the statewide adult student group that has named itself PAVE, Pennsylvania’s Adult Voice in Education. So far, four of the meetings are scheduled and the rest are currently being worked on. At press time, the following meetings are on the calendar. Please note the date of your regional meeting and encourage all your students to attend. Also watch your mail for advertising materials that you should receive in the next couple of weeks. We would appreciate if you would share the information with your students and assist them in attending the meetings if they are interested.

These meetings are open to all participants in adult education: ABE, GED, ESL, and Family Literacy students. Some of the regional meetings are scheduled during the week, giving instructors the opportunity to bring their classes to participate in the meeting. Tutors, instructors, directors, family, and friends of adult students are all encouraged to attend.

Students will have the opportunity to network with other people like themselves, learn more about PAVE and how they can get involved, and share their ideas and opinions on a very important topic -- the public school system. Most of the two-hour meeting will be based around the National Issues Forum Public Schools: Is There a Way to Fix Them? At the 5th Annual Adult Learner Conference in Harrisburg, PAVE discussed that this topic was an issue that they wanted to address as an organized group. National Issues Forums are set up so that participants all receive the same background information through books and a video, ensuring that participants are all on the same page before starting their discussion.

We feel that these meetings would provide an excellent opportunity for students to expand their horizons and gain new experience in public speaking. We ask that you encourage students to attend and we will be sending you additional information shortly. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact TLC at (814) 867-0203 or by e-mail at literacy@penn.com.

by Carol Shefrin, Tuscarora IU, Past PAACE President, COABE Membership Chairperson

I attended a COABE Board meeting recently in Alexandria, VA. There was lots of discussion about the upcoming COABE Conference for 2003 in Portland, Oregon.

Conference activities run from 4/25-4/30. There are some very special events planned along with the vast array of sessions highlighting best adult education practices nationally. A highlight of the conference will be an afternoon at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry where conference sessions will be presented by expert science, math, writing and reading teachers from around the country. Afterwards attendees will have the opportunity to sit under the stars in the planetarium, and feel the power of an earthquake in the Omnimax theater. For more information about COABE in Portland: http://www.coabe.org

Plans for the 2004 COABE Conference in Columbus, Ohio are well under way also. The Ohio conference committee is looking for volunteers from neighboring states to help with the conference. Are you interested? There should be some good opportunities for PA and PAACE to be an important part of the national conference in 2004.

If you are interested in being involved, please contact me at cshefrin@tiu11.org!

College Level Examination Program Provides Credit

by Jan Orris, Penn State New Kensington, CEA/PA First Vice-President

Better known as CLEP^®, the College Level Examination Program^® is a nationally recognized series of examinations by the College Board that allows a student to demonstrate knowledge acquired in a non-college setting. There are five general exams and 30 subject exams.

Many of you are familiar with the program. Because I believe the exam is so important to the adult student, I wanted to at least provide an update. If you don’t have a test center on your campus, I would urge you to consider it. The test is now completely computer-based. The paper and pencil tests are gone! There are so many advantages to being computer based. There are no tests to order, no scoring to be done, no tests to return, and no waiting time for students to get their scores.

A center can be operated with only a few computers or you can use an entire computer lab. The computers do not have to be designated, i.e., they can be used for other things. At Penn State New Kensington, we are an open test center. This means that we test everyone. You can choose to be a closed test center and test only your own students. We are fortunate to have our own computer lab. However, we have numerous classes and so we test when it is convenient for students and ourselves.

For more information on the CLEP, visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html. If you would like to explore the possibility of being a test center, please let me know. My phone is (724) 334-6013 and by email at jeo2@psu.edu.

The Sixth Pennsylvania Adult and Continuing Education Research Conference, co-sponsored by PAACE, will be hosted by Temple University Harrisburg on March 15, 2003. PAACE members have been mailed the Call for Papers. Deadline for submissions is November 1, 2002. Submissions should be sent to:

Questions concerning the purpose and nature of the conference should be directed to:

Enhancing America's Workforce One Exemplary Program at a Time
Live Webcast: November 6, 2002, 3-5pm

Highlights of 2000 and 2001 Postsecondary Exemplary Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs. Debra Bragg will speak as part of the National Dissemination Center Professional Development Speaker Series.

Contact Information: The National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education
The Ohio State University
1900 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43210-1090
800-678-6011 or 614-292-9931
Fax: 614-688-3258
Contact Email: ndccte@osu.edu
Event URL: http://www.nccte.org

American Association for Adult and Continuing Education Conference
November 20-23, 2002
St. Louis, MO - Hyatt Regency St. Louis at Union Station

Contact Information: Call AAACE at 301-918-1913 for conference information and assistance.

2003 Midwinter Conference on Adult Education: PAACE Setters: Higher Goals Higher Dreams
February 12-14, 2003
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center

This year's conference theme, PAACE Setters: Higher Goals, Higher Dreams, recognizes our aspirations and our faith in the future both as individuals and as an organization. As PAACE Setters, we aspire not only to meet the challenges of our field, but to imagine what our field could and should become as we enter the information age. We invite proposals that will focus on the goals and dreams we have for the many facets of adult and continuing education. We invite you to share with us your aspirations for adult literacy; continuing higher education; research; educational technology; corrections education; family literacy; workforce development; English as a second language; learning differences; and the many other areas of interest within our field. Together, we can explore the dreams and set the goals that will guide our actions and ensure our success.

The recently formed Pennsylvania Adult Voices in Education (PAVE) will hold its conference March 21-22 at the Hilton Gardn Inn in State College. Watch for more details and hold the date!