Ionia County Literacy Council takes part in Reading Month
The Ionia County Literacy Council participated in the community once again during March is Reading Month in 2010. This year, in keeping with the theme of the Winter Olympics, the literacy council gave a copy of the book Curious George in the Snow to every first grade child in Ionia County, including first graders at S.S. Peter and Paul in Ionia and St. Patrick’s in Portland; Emerson, Jefferson, Boyce, and Rather elementary schools in Ionia; Oakwood Elementary in Portland; Saranac Elementary; Ellis Elementary in Belding; Threshold Academy; Gratton Academy; North LeValley School; Coon School; Haynor School; Ionia Seventh Day Adventist School; Faith Community Christian School; Woodland Elementary; Palo School; Twin Rivers in Muir; Clarksville Elementary; and Sunfield Elementary. In addition, literacy council readers, including board members and volunteer tutors, as well as recruited community librarians and others, read to each first grade classroom. The thank-you cards are still pouring in.
Ionia County Literacy Council conducts tutor training
Ionia County Literacy Council Executive Director Gayle Thompson talks to five
new tutors about tutoring adults at this 12-hour tutor training. The training took place over four days in February 2010. The tutor training focused on how adults learn, different learning styles, how to work with different learning styles, learning disabilities, English as a Second Language, teaching strategies, and more. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer tutor should contact the Ionia County Literacy Council at 616-527-1360, ext. 116 for information on the next training.
Linda Stewart joins the Ionia County Literacy Council Board of Directors
Linda Stewart has become the newest member of the Ionia County Literacy Council, joining the board of directors on February 4, 2010. Stewart brings a wealth of financial expertise with her to the council, having worked at FirstBank for twenty-one years. Currently she is assistant manager at the Ionia main office.
Stewart was born in Wyandotte and raised in Lansing, but has lived in Ionia for twenty-three years, stating, “I love the small town atmosphere [of Ionia] and its historical homes and buildings.”
Stewart is an avid reader and become aware of the literacy council through various resources throughout the community. Stewart joined the Ionia County Literacy Council because she feels that “It is important to reach out to individuals in our community who want and ask for help. Our possibilities are endless when we work hard enough to achieve what we want to accomplish.”
Stewart has been married for twenty-two years. She and her husband have six children between them (“his, mine and ours”). They also have two grandchildren, ages 6 and 18 months.
Stewart’s interests include gardening, reading, camping, and “my love of animals and spending time with my family.”
The Ionia County Literacy Council provides individual and small group tutoring in reading, math, and English as a second language (ESL) to those ages 16 and over. The Ionia County Literacy Council is always looking for motivated tutors. For more information on attending classes, receiving tutoring, or becoming a tutor, call the Ionia County Literacy Council at 616-527-1360, ext. 116. Learn how you can make a difference in someone’s life.
Ionia County Literacy Council offers English as a Second Language classes
The Ionia County Literacy Council is offering English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to non-English speaking persons on Monday and Thursday evenings at the First United Methodist Church on Main Street (across from the courthouse) in Ionia. Classes begin at 6:00 p.m. for intermediate and more advanced level English speakers, and a second class is offered at 7:00 p.m. for those with very little English-speaking abilities. The classes are being offered based on an identified need in the community.
Pat Wymer (formerly Havard) is once again teaching the classes. Wymer has taught ESL classes for more than three years for the literacy council. While an English speaker only, Wymer said her inability to speak another language is what keeps her students motivated to learn English – they have to work extra hard to try to communicate with her; they cannot fall back on their own language.
Not speaking a foreign language is also challenging for Wymer, as she must use pictures and “act out” phrases for her students. But more than likely there are a few students who speak some English and can help out in the class.
“Many people ask how I can teach English when I don't know the language of their culture,” Wymer said. “I think it is better to learn when you hear only English,” she stated.
Wymer tells her students that “if they live in the U.S. they need to learn English.” She adds that, “It’s a hard language to learn, but with practice, practice, practice, they will learn. And they do. I am always so pleased with their progress and determination. That’s my reward!”
Initially, Wymer had planned to teach one class two nights a week, but because there was such a diverse level of skill, she divided the class into two levels: intermediate and beginning. Currently there is an average of seventeen students at both Monday and Thursday night classes.
“Those desperately wanting to learn come to both [the intermediate and beginning] classes, so the classes remain rather large,” stated Wymer, “but with my valuable assistants it works out fine. And I love it! It is my niche!”
Wymer also is preparing a training for those interested in learning how to tutor ESL to individuals on a one-to-one basis. Potential tutors should be prepared to make at least a six-month commitment.
The Ionia County Literacy Council also provides individual and small group tutoring in reading and math to those ages 16 and over. The Ionia County Literacy Council is always looking for motivated tutors. For more information on attending ESL classes, receiving tutoring, or becoming a tutor, call the Ionia County Literacy Council at 616-527-1360, ext. 116. Learn how you can make a difference in someone’s life.
Ionia County Literacy Council Announces the appointment of Petra Laux as its new Board Treasurer
April 2009 – After the retirement of Denise Peabody as treasurer of the Ionia County 
Literacy Council, its members began an extensive search for someone with the qualifications necessary to fill this volunteer position and found Petra Laux. The literacy council board treasurer performs those duties associated with payroll and accounts receivable and payable, keeps track of all account activity, and prepares and presents a treasurer’s report to the full board each month.
Laux previously served as treasurer for the Kent Reading Council for three years, has been president of Mary's Miriam Catholic Church and St. Joseph Catholic Church’s Finance Council for the past four years, and has been treasurer of the Belding Youth Football League for nine years.
Laux earned her bachelor’s degree from Aquinas College in May 2008, has her elementary teaching certificate for kindergarten through eighth grades, and is currently working on earning her certifications in reading and learning disabilities.
Laux has been a sponsor of the summer reading program in Belding for years, is participating in two science camps at Aquinas this summer, tutors children in reading, and is very active in her church.
“I like being involved in my community,” stated Laux. “Reading is one of my passions, and I feel it’s my responsibility to share my passion with others.”
“I’m also very excited to be able to fulfill a life-long goal in July,” Laux said, “and that is to be part of a mission trip to Guatemala with the Shiloh Community Church.”
Laux’s favorite quote, from Eleanor Roosevelt, is "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”
Laux lives between Lowell and Belding with her husband Dennis, son Justin, and dog Bella. They all love the outdoors, including hunting and fishing.
March is Reading Month
During March is Reading Month (2009), the Ionia County Literacy Council presented free books to 857 first graders and coordinated guest readers to read at 40 first grade classrooms throughout the county. Guest readers included Representative Brian Calley, Sister Kathleen (Kit) Kaiser, Joe McCord, Officer Randy Woodbury, Lake Odessa Village Manger/Police Chief Mark Bender, Director of Fathers Who Care READ Jo Ann Carney, and Ionia County Literacy Council Board member Vicki Bradley.
Participating Schools included Boyce Elementary in Ionia, Coon Elementary in Ionia, Ellis Elementary in Belding, Emerson Elementary in Ionia, Faith Community Christian Elementary in Belding, Gratton Academy in Belding, Haynor Elementary in Ionia, Jefferson Elementary in Ionia, North LeValley in Ionia, Oakwood Elementary in Portland, Palo School in Palo, Rather elementary in Ionia, Saranac Elementary in Saranac, St. Patrick's School in Portland, S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic School in Ionia, Sunfield Elementary School, Threshold Academy in Orleans, Twin Rivers Elementary in Muir, West Elementary in Lake Odessa, and Woodland Elementary in Woodland.
While the focus of Ionia County Literacy Council is adult literacy, by providing young minds with a free book, it is hoped they will get a taste of the love for learning -- an early step in the prevention of adult illiteracy.
Doha Orban is appointed to Board of Directors
February 2009 -- After coming to American to visit her cousin in 2003, Doha Orban, a native of 
Lebanon, met, married and settled in Ionia with her husband. Orban spoke English, but, according to her, “not well enough.”
Orban began working to improve her English skills by using the English dictionary, reading English language books, writing in English, and encouraging her English-speaking friends to help her through the mere act of conversation.
Eventually Orban came into contact with the Ionia County Literacy Council. She began taking English as a Second Language classes with Sister Kathleen Kaiser, a current literacy council board member. In time, Orban felt the need to delve deeper and began tutoring one-on-one with long-time literacy council volunteer Rita Perry.
Orban’s long-term commitment to learning English made an impression on staff and board members of the literacy council. She, along with Perry, were invited to attend the January literacy council board meeting, where outgoing board member Denise Peabody was being honored for her many years of volunteer service to the board as its treasurer.
Believing Orban’s self-determination and experience in learning English to be a valuable asset, the Ionia County Literacy Council Board of Directors extended an invitation to her to become a member of the board. She accepted and is its most recent recruit.
Currently the Ionia County Literacy Council has seven volunteer board members, including Peabody, who has agreed to stay on until a new treasurer is found. The literacy council, having just amended its bylaws to include up to twelve members sitting on its board, is in the process of recruiting a diverse array of community members, including those with expertise in finance, marketing, fundraising, law, business, entrepreneurship, education, and human services.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Ionia county Literacy Council Board of Directors, please complete an on-line application and submit it to ionialiteracy@gmail.com, or call the literacy council at 616-527-1360, ext. 116, for an application or to learn more about our programs.
