295 Water St. Suite 103 ~ Olde Federal Building ~ Augusta, ME 04330
295 Water St. Suite 103 ~ Olde Federal Building ~ Augusta, ME 04330
Inside
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Our first Team Scrabble Tournament on April 6 was a major success!! The banquet room at the Senator Inn was full of skilled Scrabble players from Waterville to Saco, and from Farmington to Whitefield. Everyone had a wonderful time including our wise celebrity judges, Bill Stokes, Deputy Attorney General and Mark Johnston, President of Kennebec Savings Bank. Ryan Cote from WABK served as the master of ceremonies. We had 16 teams this year including 4 teams in the “competitive” division. Thanks to all of our great sponsors, volunteers and our word-wise Scrabble players for making this year such a wonderful success and watch for a “save the date” notice for 2009!
Tessie Gray, Paul Rucha, Arlene McVety and Denise Hatch.
“Tile Chasers” from Waterville – won 2 of 3 games (one game with 368 and another with 463 points) and were the overall competitive winners with a total of 1201 points. “Cony Word” from Cony HS, took 1 game with 392 points.
“Maven’s Followers” won 2 out of their 3 games with 301 and 290 points. They also took the overall prize for the social division with 820 points.
“Three Days” took game 3 with a total of 271.
Eryka Wilson Crypto Quip winner: Cindy Willey
More information about the winning teams and sponsors
Each year LV-Maine honors a tutor and student pair from the Maine affiliates at their annual meeting. This year’s event was held on May 7th a the Glickman Library on the USM campus in Portland.
As always, there were many inspirational stories on the accomplishments of LV students. The pair nominated from the Augusta affiliate was no exception.
Woody Tarbuck completed LVA tutor training in Oct 2006 and proceeded to work with several students. Deven was one those students and he has been a delight for Woody to work with, as he watched the positive changes take place in Deven’s personal life. They meet faithfully, usually twice a week. Woody also has become Augusta’s student interviewer and what a wonderful job he does at putting people at ease and encouraging them.
Deven is one of those success stories we all strive for. Right away, he was reading to his toddler son and bonding with his step-daughter over his newly acquired skills. Deven has really worked hard to improve his life and that of his family. He is now looking at advancing his career as he studies for his class A driver’s license. Deven is a strong supporter of LV-A and we were so very proud of him when he addressed the United Way of KV earlier this year, on the accomplishment he has made working with Woody. He is an inspiration to us all. Deven's wife provides plenty of support and was happy to accompany him as he received the award.
Gail Dyer, Coordinator
Harry Sylvester, a frequent presenter at LV-A tutor training sessions, died in January. Harry had several learning disabilities. He and his wife Janet were always delighted to join with tutors and trainers to discuss how learning disabilities affect both children and adults. Harry was generous with his time and energy, always willing to contribute both to help others. Most recently, Janet and Harry participated in the learning disabilities workshop held in conjunction with Waterville Literacy Volunteers.
Harry devoted his last 25 years to learning disabilities, after being diagnosed with dyslexia in his early 50s. He was president of Learning Disabilities of America, and the first person with learning disabilities to serve as president at the national level. He worked with adults and adolescents here in Maine and across the country. He was also very proud of his book, "The Legacy of the Blue Heron: Living with Learning Disabilities," about his journey with dyslexia.
Harry was labeled a failure in school, unable to read or write. He was often punished for "not trying" and was shoved from grade to grade. Always a “tinkerer” with a knack for fixing things, he discovered upon entering high school that he was a whiz at science and higher mathematics. Instructors there gave him passing grades in language courses allowing him to enter college.
He struggled to complete freshman English, just squeaking by later in his college career. His success then was due in no small part to Janet Mayo, a schoolmate who would be his wife for fifty-four years. He earned an engineering degree from the University of Maine, was a master boat builder, and by accounts at his memorial service, a great friend, wonderful father and dynamic leader.
We remember Harry with great fondness and grieve with Janet, his family and friends.
You can learn more about Harry at the website of the Learning Disabilities Association of Maine or the Learning Disabilities Association of America website.
Bob McIntire
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All of us at Literacy Volunteers of Greater Augusta extend a very special Thank You to The United Way of Kennebec Valley. Without their support, we simply could not fulfill our mission. You too can donate to LV of Greater Augusta. Please use our convenient donation form [PDF], print it out and mail it with your check. Thank You!
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Are you running out of ideas to keep your students engaged in their work? There are lots of resources here in the New Reader Library for your use.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, I would be glad to help you locate and acquire what you need.
Gail Dyer, Coordinator Phone 626-3440 email - info@lva-augusta.org Office hours 9 - 2 PM , Monday thru Thursday. Please call ahead if you are making a special trip as I am occasionally out of the office on other business.
Save weather maps, reports, and temperature listings. Read over the material with the student. Ask the student questions such as: "If you live in Pittsburgh, should you wear a sweater today?" "Should you carry an umbrella in Kansas City?" "Will you be swimming in Minneapolis?"
Save greeting cards. Make up a scenario and have the student choose an appropriate card. For example, "With deepest sympathy," "A message to you from across the miles," "Congratulations on your retirement," "Happy Holidays!" Ask the student to write a suitable personal note for the card. Save airline, train, or bus tickets. Ask, "Where are you going?" "When will you arrive?" How much is the ticket?" or other pertinent questions.
- From The Mid-State Literacy Council Monitor, Fall 2002 issue ProLiteracy Web Site.
Bring some of your own junk mail to the learning session. Ask the students to bring some of theirs.
Discuss:
- From ProLiteracy America Web site.
Our 2-day spring tutor training class was held in our beautiful, new conference room just down the hall from our office in the Old Federal Building in downtown Augusta. Once again, we have an exceptional group of new tutors anxious to begin their volunteer work. Several of our tutors bring a lot of education experience with them already and all of them bring their enthusiasm and special talents to our volunteer programs.
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Triple Word Sponsor:
Double Word Sponsor:
Single Word Sponsor:
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Letter Sponsor:
Business Sponsors:
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