|
PAACE News is New!
by Tana Reiff, Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13, PAACE News Editor Publish PAACE News online? A little daring, isn't it? Will members actually go online to read the newsletter? The PAACE News editorial board and the PAACE Board considered the proposal carefully and, in light of what our organization spends to print and mail its newsletter, as well as the volunteer labor-intensive work required to produce a print newsletter, decided to give it a whirl. So this is the first issue of a pilot plan to publish PAACE News online. I'm hoping that the new look and delivery method will spark your interest! And we'll know just how many of you are tuning in because we can count "hits" to this Web page. So please give it a chance. We're saving lots of time and money. Plus, PAACE News is always here, so you can check back anytime. We've mailed all members a letter explaining this move and offering hard copies to those who request them. If you have Internet access, please simply print out what you see here. The hard copies are for those members who do not have Internet access. Thanks ... now read on! Back to Top
  PAACE Moves Forward into the 21st Century
by Jeffrey Woodyard, Tri-County OIC, PAACE President
Well, PAACE members, what do you think? Let's start with the obvious. We've gone high-tech with PAACE News. After years of discussion and some heavy soul-searching, the PAACE board has endorsed a yearlong pilot effort to publish an electronic version of the newsletter. Now, we know that there are pros and cons to both electronic and print versions of the newsletter, and, indeed, the board heard many of the pros and cons during our discussions. However, the final decision is up to the membership. Your input is critical and will ultimately decide how effective the electronic newsletter becomes and how useful it is to our members and stakeholders. We are asking PAACE members to contact their regional representatives with comments and suggestions about the electronic newsletter. We will review and evaluate the suggestions at future board meetings.
With that out of the way, I want to publicly thank all who helped with the Midwinter Conference. The 1st vice-president’s primary responsibility is to coordinate the conference. However, without the help of the conference committee and all the volunteers and staff they enlist to help, the conference could never occur. It really is a daunting task accomplished by a nearly all-volunteer group of workers. There were more conference attendees this year than ever before. Our keynote speaker, Greg Marsello, charged the group with rethinking how their respective organizations define themselves in the 21st century. Generally, the conference was well received and met the needs of the membership. For those of you with ideas for Midwinter 2001, I am sure that Karen Mundie, our current 1st vice-president, would welcome your suggestions and help in planning next year's conference.
This upcoming year is very important for PAACE. There are many issues that we face as an organization and many decisions that will have to be made regarding our direction and continued leadership in adult education. Our 2nd vice-president, Linda Herr, is responsible for developing a strategic plan that will guide the organization over the next several years. Additionally, we hope to continue to strengthen our relationship with CEA/PA and have higher education play a prominent role in planning and operations. This year PAACE will have to fill several critical committee chair positions, including legislative and awards. The strength of the organization lies in our willingness as members to volunteer to meet the needs of the association. To this end we are inviting members to participate in each of the PAACE board meetings. Meetings will be held across the state (you can get a list of dates and locations from the PAACE Web site). Members are welcome to attend these open meetings and participate in the decision-making process.
Finally, I personally am accepting the challenge to work with the membership committee to increase the PAACE numbers among volunteers, students, alumni, and retirees. While our membership is nearly 1,000 strong, there are still segments of adult educators that can be served well by PAACE. As we reach out to bring in new members and new constituents, we ask that those of you who are currently members to join in spreading the word of the benefits of PAACE membership and the importance of participating and supporting your professional organization.
Back to Top
Midwinter Conference Draws Nearly 800 If attendance at the PAACE Midwinter Conference is any indication, adult education is very alive and well in Pennsylvania. The final registration tally was nearly 800, and there were sessions and events of interest to all. Officers for 2000-01 were installed: Regional representives installed were: (You may use the e-mail links to keep in touch with your officers and regional reps.)   The annual Outstanding Adult Educator Award went to Deb Burrows (left), Director of CIU 10's West Branch Technology Center and PAACE Treasurer, while the Service Award was presented to Dave Fluke (right), Editor of What's the Buzz? and chair of the PAACE Membership Committee, in absentia. Congratulations to these deserving recipients!
There were lots of adult student and teacher awards as well. To read about ABLE winners, go to ABLEsite, the official Web site of the Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education. Our annual Midwinter Conference Photo Collage is online this year. Click here to take a look. Back to Top
 Governor Ridge Recommends 46% Increase in ABLE Funding
by JoAnn Weinberger, Center for Literacy, Legislative Committee Chair In the Governor’s budget recommendations to the legislature for the 00-01 fiscal year beginning July 1, Governor Ridge included the following: - An increase of $2 million for family literacy programs in unserved counties
- An appropriation of $3 million for a Summer Reading Program to include family literacy programs and libraries
- A 3% increase in ABLE Act 143 programs as a cost-to-carry increase
Please support these requests by writing a letter to your state legislators, both your representative and your senator, by May 1. They need to hear about your support for these recommendations. See also "Stand Up and Be Counted," the how-to-advocacy guide written by Paul Davis specifically for PAACE members. DRAFT LETTER — STATE LEGISLATORS Dear Senator or Representative _________: I would like to urge you to support Governor Ridge’s budget recommendations for adult basic and literacy education programs. In particular, his recommendations to increase funds for family literacy and summer reading programs will provide new and important opportunities for parents and their children. Intergenerational programs help the parents gain new skills and aid the development of the children’s literacy levels at the same time. As a ____________(your role) with the ______________(name of program), I know first hand the importance of providing adult literacy training. Our learners ____________(add a sentence or two on your experiences that personalize this letter). Thank you in advance for your support of adult literacy. We would welcome your visit to one of our programs. Please call ______________(telephone number) to schedule a visit. Sincerely yours, [your name] President Clinton Announces Funding Proposals for Literacy
by JoAnn Weinberger, Center for Literacy, Legislative Committee Chair On February 7, President Clinton released details of his FY 2001 budget proposal that includes: - Proposed increase of $10 million in State Grants. Although the increase in the budget states the $10 million, the President is also recommending moving the $25.5 million for English literacy and civics education to the National Leadership Activities category. Thus, the total increase would be $35.5 million.
- Proposed increase of $26 million in the Reading Excellence Act.
- Level funding for Even Start.
- Proposed increase of $75 million for National Leadership Activities building upon the $25.5 million this year.
- Proposed increase of $500,000 in the budget for the National Institute for Literacy.
- Discontinuance of the funding for Prison Literacy.
Back to Top
Pennsylvania Well-Represented at National Literacy Summit
by JoAnn Weinberger, Center for Literacy, Legislative Committee Chair The National Literacy Summit convened in Washington, DC, February 14 and 15. Participants from Pennsylvania included: - Eunice Askov - Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy at Penn State University
- Marty Finsterbusch — National Institute for Literacy Fellow and former learner
- Patricia Gaul - Delaware County Literacy Council
- Cheryl Keenan — Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education, PDE
- Walter Long - Learner
- Marciene Mattleman — National Institute for Literacy board member from Philadelphia
- Dan Wagner and Chris Hopey — National Center for Adult Literacy at the University of Pennsylvania
- JoAnn Weinberger — Center for Literacy
Two documents, "Creating the Blueprint" and "Draft Action Agenda," which provide a summary of the process to date and the action agenda are available at www.nifl.gov. Please review the Draft Action Agenda, which includes the goal and the priority strategies and action steps and comment. The release of the final document is going to be International Literacy Day, September 8, 2000. Back to Top
COABE Conference Was a Winner
by Carol Shefrin, TIU Adult Education & Training Center, PAACE Past President
COABE 2000 - Class in Chicago, was an exceptional conference. Over 1,200 adult educators from around the nation attended this four-day event in Chicago. Located in a great facility in the heart of the downtown, participants had easy access to the city's offerings. Plus, as an extra bonus, we were blessed with the very unusual temperatures of 70 degrees in March!
The conference itself was run superbly and graciously hosted by the Illinois Adult and Continuing Educators Association. There were 66 concurrent sessions, and Pennsylvania was represented on the program by Richard Cooper and Priscilla Carmen. Hot issues were fully in view, with sessions on the Workforce Investment Act, legislation, youth in the classroom, GED 2001, workplace education, special learning needs, and much more. It was a great learning and networking experience for all who attended. Once again I was reminded how exciting it is to be a part of adult education in Pennsylvania and how our leadership in the state has put us at the cutting edge nationally. The work of Pennsylvania adult educators is well known and regarded in our national community!
This was the first COABE conference since COABE became an independent organization and everyone was feeling very positive about the move. I think that COABE members will see a marked improvement in services with this change. If this conference is any indication, COABE is in for a bright future.
The next COABE Conference will be in Memphis April 1-4, 2001. If any PAACE members get the opportunity to attend I'm sure they'll find the experience worthwhile.
Back to Top
TLC (Teachers of Literacy in the Commonwealth)
by Diana Statsman, SCOLA, TLC Division Director
The 3rd Annual Adult Learner Conference was held March 26 & 27. Pre-registrations totaled 39 adult learners, with 79 people registered for the Legislative Luncheon. Cheryl Keenan was the main speaker. I would like to thank Amy Wilson and Shawn Jenkins, the TLC trainers/coordinators, and the adult learners of the conference committee; James Gourley, Marty Finsterbusch, Walter Long, Patricia Williams, and Isabel Vasquez. They did a wonderful job in putting the conference together this year.
The TLC training staff was busy at Midwinter this year. Amy and Shawn presented Family Math, Get That Job, and Teaching ESL Pronunciation. The combined attendance at these sessions was 81 people.
NOTE: TLC is looking for a host for the Northeast Regional Conference. Is there a local program or coalition of programs that would like to host the conference? If you are interested, please contact Amy Wilson at the TLC office or any of the TLC officers.
Our next meeting is at State College on May 11th at the Nittany Lion Inn from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the afternoon there will be a presentation on Family Literacy. See you there!
Back to Top
Remembering Gilmore B. Seavers and Kathryn Towns
 Excerpts from notes delivered at at Annual Meeting, Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education, Midwinter Conference, February 3, 2000
by Marlowe Froke, Past PAACE President
Two past members of the Board of Directors of PAACE and Honorary Chairs of the Midwinter Conference died in 1999, Dr. Kathryn Towns on February 22 and Dr. Gilmore B. Seavers on December 15. Both served PAACE at length and with distinction.
Kay was professor of community psychology at Penn State’s Capital College; Gil was president of Shippensburg University. At their institutions and in all of higher education they helped clear the way for adults to storm the gates of higher education in the 1980s and 1990s. Today the older student constitutes an ever increasing percentage of the total number of students enrolled in our colleges and universities.
They were out front, too, in shattering the myths and prejudices against the adult learners held by many faculty and academic leaders. Adults, indeed, could learn. And in terms of time and effort, they were good investments by faculty for individual futures as well as that of our communities and society as a whole. Kay and Gil and the adults they served helped prove merit to the concept of lifelong learning, all the way through advanced degrees and beyond.
The early backgrounds of Dr. Towns and Dr. Seavers were classic to the Twentieth Century. They were at the two great testing grounds, World War II and the Depression of the 30s. In World War II, Kay was one of the first to join the Navy. She served as a WAVE … Gil enlisted in the Army Air Corps.
In their educational careers, Kay devoted her talents and energy to the entry and re-entry of women to higher education. The "displaced homemaker," her terminology, was of professional and emotional concern. Her guiding personal philosophy was applied: "To make yourself happy," she said, "you ought to try to make a difference in someone else’s life."
After his military service, Gil was committed early to an education career, first as a public school teacher, then a principal and a superintendent. It was later he came to higher education and immediately became the leader in moving the Pennsylvania colleges toward greater independence from the state and into university status. He early saw the significance of adult education for them and became the only chief administrator in higher education to serve PAACE as a member, as a Board member, and as an advocate of adult education in all of higher education. At Shippensburg University he founded the Center for Community Education.
Gil and Kay saw in PAACE an important strategy for achieving their goals for adult education. The Association benefited immensely from their interest and commitment.
As we remember Dr. Kathryn Towns and Dr. Gilmore B. Seavers we recognize that they carried well the challenges of adult education in the 20th Century. We are grateful to them for helping to build the foundations for lifelong learning and for establishing our professional opportunities in the field of adult education in this the 21st Century.
Back to Top
 | Ruth Krebs | David Krick | Vincent Kwisnek | | Robert Labar | Joseph Lazarz | Carolyn Linn | | Linda Lokovic | Lorrie Lombardo | Rosemary Lowas | | Angela Mahlandt | Carolyn Malfara | Edward McAtee | | Denise McCollum | Shirley Meathrel | Janet Medalie | | Esther Mefferd | Malinda J. Menteer | Helen Miller | | Yvette Mitchell | Paulette Montville | Rainer Nothacker | | Debbie Pallo | Tricia Patton | Karen Penna | | Bob Piemme | Karen Posa | David Pratt | | Ralph Price | Betty Ranck | Susan Reeve | | Jeremy Rega | Jacqueline Rivera | Ruth Sugar | | Joan Scola | James Shindledecker | Mary Smith | | Christa Snow | Janet Stechly | Marilyn Talboys | | Darcy Tannehill | Edward Taylor | Dorothy Thomas | | Michelle Thomas | Nancy Tovey | Lisa Tystad | | Pamela Voytko | Sheila Wadding | Catherine Walter | | Barbara A. Warner | Michael Westover | Marnie Whelan | | Sharon Wilson | Carolyn Wisman | David Wisman | | Emily Wolfe | Esta Yifrach | Cindy Zimmerman | | Kathy Zimmerman | | | |
