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Spring 2006 |
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Volume 30, No. 1 |
by Debbie Hrach, Stairways Behavioral Health, PAACE President
Dear Fellow PAACE Members:
Spring is here—at least in theory—and our 2006 Midwinter Conference is behind
us. It’s hard to believe that it has come and gone so quickly, but we have a lot
of good memories and new ideas to sustain us through the coming year. I want to
thank all of those who attended and hope that this conference met the challenge
in terms of your needs and expectations.
The PAACE Board has already had its first meeting to plan for 2006. We have an ambitious agenda, driven by our strategic plan, which was rewritten in 2005. Barb Van Horn will lead a task force comprised of several other board members in revising our Operations Manual. It’s been over ten years since a revision has been made, so Barb and her crew have quite a job ahead of them. Their goal is to update the manual so it aligns with the revised bylaws and includes sufficient information to guide the Board members in supporting PAACE activities. The task force has asked all division chairs to assist them by reviewing sections of the manual that pertain to their particular divisions and provide feedback to the task force. The current bylaws and strategic plan can be accessed on the PAACE Resources web page.
Scot Mentzer, technology chair, and Destiny Myers, communications chair, have been working to update the PAACE website. The major focus over the past month has been on uploading all the handouts from the sessions at Midwinter Conference. As Scot receives the handouts from presenters, Destiny creates links on the website to the materials. At this point about a third of the presenters have forwarded their handouts, but we are looking for more. If you have not already done so, please send your presentation handouts to Scot at scot@mentzers.us.
Scot is also in the process of creating a web-based membership database. This database will be password protected and contain the same basic information that is currently in the membership directory. It will have the ability to add multiple agencies, addresses, emails, etc. It will allow for easy input of information from membership applications, which, in turn, will help us track membership renewals. Our intention is that eventually PAACE will move to an online membership application with the ability to pay electronically as well.
The executive board is beginning the process of hiring a new executive director. Their first step is to develop an updated job description that will take into account the future needs of the organization. The committee plans to present this job description to the PAACE board at its June meeting and will then move on to the next step in the process.
Finally, the PAACE board welcomes two new board members. Lori Keefer from Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council will serve as board secretary, and Destiny Myers from Tuscarora IU #11 will serve as the communications chair. We are pleased to have the expertise of both these women and look forward to working with them in their new capacities.
PAACE to host 2007 COABE National Adult Education Conference
by Chuck Klinger, TIU 11 Community Education Services, PAACE First Vice President
In 2007, PAACE will host the Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) National
Conference at the Wyndham (soon to be Sheraton) Hotel in Center City Philadelphia.
The conference will take place from March 26 - 28, 2007 and will replace the annual
Midwinter Conference typically held during February in Hershey. While the COABE
conference will be similar to the Midwinter Conference in many ways, there are
several important differences based on it being a national conference.
One big difference involves the sessions. Hosting a national conference will
allow PAACE members to network with colleagues from across the country. The usual
array of quality workshops representing the best
The location –
The last major difference to consider is the conference will be more expensive
than the Midwinter Conference. Registration for PAACE members will be around $250
and the room rate for the hotel will be $149. Keep in mind, though that these
rates are far below average for a national conference held in a city such as
We are in the process of developing a conference website to allow people to see updates to our planning. To learn more about the conference, visit this website at: www.coabe2007.org. Information about this year's COABE Conference (April 26 - 29) in Houston is available at: coabe06.org. To read more about COABE, visit: www.coabe.org/
Watch out for the UPS truck!
by JoAnn Weinberger, Center for Literacy, PAACE Legislative Committee Chair
Postcards, neon green (for
- For Federal Legislators: increase funding for adult education and Even Start Family Literacy
- For State Legislators: increase funding for adult education and family literacy
With the bundles of postcards is a rationale sheet as to why the fight for increased funding should be waged! Each postcard has a place for the sender to fill in the importance of the programs to the community, to the person, and/or business and industry.
Federal Appropriations Update
At the federal level, the budget/appropriations process began with President
Bush introducing his budget in early February: level funding for adult education
and zero funding for Even Start. Since then, the Senate has approved a budget
resolution calling for an increase of $7 billion for education, health, and job
training. Now, the House has to pass its resolution and a conference committee
will determine the final number. That amount will then go through the Appropriations
Committee process in the Senate and House.
State Appropriations Update
Governor Rendell announced his budget in early February. He recommended level
funding for adult education and family literacy. Again, at the state level, PAACE
members need to push for increased funding. Level funding is not “hold even funding.”
Increases in program costs each year for salaries, benefits, instructional materials,
and transportation coupled with increased numbers of adults wanting our services
represent the key arguments. Adult education and family literacy programs are
both key to a competitive workforce development system in
Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization
No news to report as there has been no action at the federal level.
Immigration Reform
Regarding immigration legislation, the Sensenbrenner bill that passed the U.
S. House is punitive to any relative, employer, coworker, co-congregant, or friend
of an undocumented immigrant by making them an “alien smuggler” and a criminal. This
could have an affect on classes and programs serving illegal immigrants. The Senate
is taking up the immigration issues, and Senator Specter is key to the efforts.
Family Literacy
Family Literacy programs celebrate Week of the Young Child
by Susan Mansuetti, Penn State Beaver, Family Literacy Division Co-Director
While it may seem that once the PAACE Midwinter Conference is over and the grants
have been submitted that things will start to slow down for Family Literacy Programs,
nothing could be further from the truth! The first week of April marks the Week
of the Young Child, and the launching of the PA Libraries “One Book, Every Young
Child” campaign. Lindsay Barrett George, author of Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse will be reading her book at many sites throughout the state beginning on April
5 and continuing through May 6. Anyone who had the opportunity to hear her at
the Marketplace knows that the families in our programs will enjoy seeing her.
Check with your library for her appearance in your neighborhood, and plan your
field trip today.
On another note, don’t forget to keep contacting your representatives in Congress. Although Even Start has suffered a great loss in the last budget, the battle is far from over. Take an opportunity to introduce basic citizenship to your students, teaching them some civics lessons and giving them the opportunity to have their voices heard by having a letter writing campaign. Make phone calls as the need arises, and invite your legislators to special events. Last year, I had the opportunity to look at some of work our agency had done in the advocacy area, and I was surprised at how much we did, especially since it seemed like so little at the time. Please, keep up the advocacy work…if Even Start disappears, the entire Family Literacy program in the state is in jeopardy.
Adult Basic and Secondary Education (AB/SE)
Lessons from APEX winners a valuable resource for instructors
by Libby Wilson, GECAC and Stairways Behavioral Health, ABSE Division Director
Attendees at the PAACE Conference AB/SE Ice Cream Social received a copy of the
booklet, Lessons from APEX Winners, 2000-2005. It includes many creative ESL, PACT, ABE, and GED lessons, such as "Sentence
Auction," "Models of Obligations and Possibility: Could You, Would you, Should
you?," "Marshmallow Molecules," "Dictionary of Medical Terms," "Introduction to
the Planets and the Solar System (Toilet Paper Solar System)," "Starburst Geometry,"
"Nerf Hoop Math," and "ESL Stand Up Game with Citizenship Review and Everyday
English Questions." Copies of this booklet are also available online at the PAACE site conference schedule; look for the hand-outs from the PAACE Conference.
We are looking for volunteers to put together a similar booklet of American
history lessons to be given out at the COABE Conference in
Continuing Higher Education (CHE)
PHEAA creates new nursing loan forgiveness program
by Mary Anne Varacalli, Delaware County Community College (ret.), CHE Division Director
In a January 2006 edition of the
It indicated that the program provides loan forgiveness to eligible students over three years of qualified employment. A recently graduated nurse, who is employed in one of the six Pennsylvania State Veterans Homes, can have up to 50 percent, or a maximum of $10,000, of their qualified student loan debt forgiven.
The article quotes state Representative Elinor Z. Taylor, R-156, chairman of the PHEAA Board of Directors: “The board recognizes the tremendous sacrifice our members of the armed forces are making for our country. While also recognizing a serious shortage of nurses, we wanted to support our veterans by helping to ensure that they receive the quality care they deserve.”
The program, in addition to our other nursing loan forgiveness program, helps
address the critical nursing shortage affecting so many organizations and people
in need of qualified health care professionals across
For program applications and complete eligibility requirements, please visit PHEAA.org or call (800) 233-0557 ext 5473.
COABE Conference 2006 in Houston
An opportuninty for national networking and professional development
by Carol Shefrin, TIU 11 Community Education Services, COABE Vice-President and PAACE Past
President
COABE (the Commission on Adult Basic Education) is a national organization whose mission is to provide leadership, communication, professional development and advocacy
for adult education and literacy practitioners in order to advance quality services
for all adult learners.
One of the purposes of COABE is to conduct and/or sponsor professional development conferences and activities that provide a forum to provide staff development and advance adult education and literacy. This includes the provision of a high quality national conference.
Each year in the spring, the COABE national conference is presented by a partnership of COABE and a state affiliate organization. The 2006 COABE National Conference will be held in Houston, Texas, hosted by the Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE).
The 2007 COABE conference will be hosted by PAACE in Philadelphia.
Other national conferences in recent years were held in Anaheim, California (May 2005); Columbus, Ohio (April 2004); Portland, Oregon (April 2003); Charleston, South Carolina (May 2002); Memphis, Tennessee (April 2001); and Chicago, Illinois (March 2000).
The COABE 2006 National Conference will be held in the heart of uptown Houston, April 26-29, 2006. Experts in the education field will offer pre-conference and conference sessions in five special tracks: Improving Teaching and Learning Outcomes, Integrating Technology and Instruction, Linking Research to Practice, Promoting Adult Educators as Leaders, and Advancing Change through Adult Education. Other sessions in general adult education interest areas will present outstanding and innovative practices in basic literacy, basic numeracy, workforce development, family literacy, English as a Second Language, volunteer/community-based literacy, and correctional education.
Several PAACE members will be attending the Houston conference to promote our 2007 conference and to be presenters of PA's work in this national forum.
Apply for COABE Membership online (requires payment by credit card), or download a copy of the membership application.
Mary Anne Varacalli receives award
by Jan Edward Orris, Ph.D., The Pennsyvlania State University - New Kensington
Campus
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| Mary Anne Varacalli |
Wanted: volunteers to share their expertise
The
"Postcards from PAACE to Joan Leopold" DVD available
Our beloved executive director, Joan Leopold, passed away on February 3, 2006.
We paid tribute to her at our PAACE Midwinter Conference. If you would like to
have a copy of the DVD shown at the luncheon on Thursday, February 9, "Postcards
from PAACE to Joan Leopold," please download the order form
. Orders will be accepted until April 21, 2006.
PAACE 2006 Conference handouts available online
As a new service to our PAACE members and conference attendees, a session handouts from the 2006 PAACE Midwinter Conference on Adult Education are now available online. Handouts will be posted to the site as they are received. Check the conference schedule often to download the newest additions posted to the site.
Joan Y. Leopold Endowment Established
This past February, PAACE's beloved executive director Joan Leopold, passed away. Joan was very active in her community. One of her many contributions included serving on the Dauphin County Library's Board of Trustees. Her family has established an endowment in her memory to benefit the library.
Memorial contributions are being accepted for the Joan Y. Leopold Endowment.
Donations can be made payable to to the "Dauphin County Library System" and sent
to the attention of Karen Cullings at the address below:
Dauphin County Library System
Administrative Office
101 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Commission on Adult Basic Education National Conference
Houston, Texas
"Literacy: Another Mission in Texas!
April 26, 2006 Pre-Conference Sessions
April 27-29, 2006 Plenary and Breakout Sessions
More information at www.coabe06.org
Viriginia Association of Adult and Continuing Education (VAACE) Annual Conference
Virginia Beach, Viriginia
"Sail into Spring"
May 3 - 5, 2006
More information at www.vaace.org
ProLiteracy Worldwide 2006 Annual Conference
Atlanta, Georgia
"Linking it All Together"
October 4 - 7, 2006
More information at www.proliteracy.org
Comprehensive conference listing!
Whatever your interest in adult education may be, the LINCS conference calendar
has something for you--actually, LOTS of things for you. Check out this thorough
list of conferences and events related to adult education, technology, and affiliated
topics at: www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/Calendar/calendar_world.cgi
PAACE News available in PDF
For those who like to print out PAACE News, you have the option of printing directly from your browser or downloading a PDF file of each issue.
Download the current issue of PAACE News as PDF file here.
Are you subscribed to the PAACE members e-mail list?
If you are a PAACE member and are not subscribed to the members e-mail list, you may use the simple sign-up process by going to www.paacesite.org, clicking on the link on the main page for the PAACE lists, and following the link for the members@paacesite.org list. Subscribers also may follow the link to change subscription information. Only subscribers may post to the list.
PAACE members are encouraged to be on the e-mail list in order to receive announcements and late-breaking legislative news, especially now!
President: Debbie Hrach (Stairways Behavioral Health)
First Vice-President: Chuck Klinger (Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11)
Second Vice-President: Tana Reiff (Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13)
Secretary: Lori Keefer (Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council)
Treasurer: Mary Hohensee (Literacy Council of Lancaster-Lebanon)
Immediate Past President: Robert McNeill (Delaware Valley College)
Remote Past President: Mary Kay Peterson
Western Regional Representative: Emmett Baxendell (Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh)
Central Regional Representative: Ruth Love-Schooley (Lycoming County Library System)
Eastern Regional Representative: Joe Morales (Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13)
Adult Basic and Secondary Education Division Director: Libby Wilson (Greater Erie Community Action Committee and Stairways Behavioral
Health)
Continuing Higher Education Division Director: Mary Anne Varacalli (Delaware County Community College)
Corrections Education Division Director: Julie Manning (Delaware Co. Community College)
ESL Division: Vacant
Family Literacy Division: Susan Mansuetti (Penn State Beaver Adult Literacy Action), Julie Shumaker (Central
Susquehanna Intermediate Unit)
Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth: Kim Roush (Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth)
Workplace Education Division: KayLynn Hamilton (Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy at Penn State)
Committee Chairs/Full Board list: See the PAACE website.
PAACE News Editorial Board
Destiny Myers, Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 Community Education Services, Editor
Debbie Hrach, Stairways Behavioral Health
Karen Mundie, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
Ruth Love-Schooley, Lycoming County Library System
Tana Reiff, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13
Carol Shefrin, Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 Community Education Services
Mary Anne Varacalli, Delaware County Community College (ret.)
The purpose of PAACE News is to inform members of PAACE about the activities and plans of the Association and how they can participate in them. Remaining consistent with the mission of the organization, the newsletter connects a diverse audience of adult education practitioners, researchers, and students throughout Pennsylvania.
This issue published April 10, 2006
To submit material for PAACE News, please e-mail the editor.