Lance Update

LANCE - Board of Advisors

Meeting Notes and Updates since May 21meeting

Members participating include Felicia Simmons: resident, Rita Irvin: literacy expert, Kate de Gastyne: Growing Tree, Donna Webster: Literacy Vol. NRV, Paul de Gastyne: Director

Director’s Reports:
1. GED Program Progress: Testing scheduled for end of June. elearnva.com: way for students (many too embarrassed to come) to learn GED material from home with computer (requires TABE testing). Possible on site?
2. After-School : 12 core students with a couple more attending infrequently and 2 new students just started. Ended MAY 29 with an awards ceremony and looking to help families this summer but needing more adult volunteers. 3.Tutoring: Some students making great progress. Some infrequently attending students/families are seeking summer help - opportunity to help a number of poorly performing students. 4. Computer Lab: ready to use more (i.e. Summer Program) and advertise as open 5. Volunteers: seeking tutors and lab monitors for summer and lining up for fall (New sources like AmeriCorps, R.S.V.P, S.C.O.R.E., American Legion, Warm Hearth Village retirement community, and others being pursued to find help.)
6. Partnerships: GROWING! Positive meetings with Christiansburg Middle and High School principles; we are working toward “partnership” and a system for referrals. New LANCE brochures and flyers will be finished and delivered soon. Also NRCA (New River Community Action/Head Start) connections have been made and are being pursued. Through Breakfast Ball and Second Harvest, we have increased ability to meet nutrition needs with USDA programs, local bread makers and suppliers, and the Farm Bureau.

The Vision of LANCE to Reach Out to the Community
1. Coordinate with other organizations: Donna Webster is working on a uniting of literacy organizations for a referral system and blog
Increase involvement with residents of Old Farm & Smokey Ridge
2. Connection to Breakfast Ball: “Do Something For Yourself” sessions like Career Development will be offered by LANCE this summer to adult residents during the Sat. outreach program conducted through Life Community Church as children are mentored and fed (with contributions and partnerships with local businesses, Second Harvest and USDA.

Report on MADA (Mid-Atlantic Digital Alliance): National Neighborhood Networks Week is June 25 – 30 (Get to know your neighbor event in the planning stages.)

Other points discussed:

• 2-1-1 system: dial 211 and get referred to social service, self-sufficiency, type needs like Va Adult Resource Learning Center (GED Coach)
• Preparing parents to help children get to college
• PSAT, SAT waiver: free or low cost
• Berea College: offers free tuition to students who grow up in Appalachia and are the first to go to college in the family
• Board told that Passion seems to be our “driving force,” which makes us attractive to other people and organizations
• We, partnered with Life Community Church, should look into more faith based grants
• Getting the word out
• Approach the Town of C’burg board (Ask for matching funds?)
• Speak to the PTA’s
• Inroads through
• Special Education
• Giving SOL support
• Asking schools to distribute our flyers (1^st week of school best time)

May Lance Board Meeting

Thanks Paul. The Lance board meeting was great and I look forward to sending you referrals as I receive them in your service area.

~Donna

Neighborhood Networks Week 2007

The LANCE Center is "Connecting Residents to Opportunities" by celebrating
Neighborhood Networks Week 2007 June 25-30
Every day at Neighborhood Networks centers across the United States, residents are discovering that opportunities surround them. Employment opportunities. Academic opportunities. Life-enriching opportunities.
To pay tribute to the individuals who connect residents with opportunities, and to honor those individuals who have seized the opportunities they have found with the help of a Neighborhood Networks center, Neighborhood Networks Week 2007 will showcase the vital role centers play in connecting residents to opportunities.

Educational Grant Opportunity available for Adult Learners! Up to $10,000. Suave, Dollar General and American Idol Fantasia Barrino are partnering to help raise awareness for education and literacy. Visit www.suaveessaycontest.com.

ProLiteracy is offering an on-line seminar from May 21 through June 3rd on the pitfalls and obstacles to Volunteer Involvement. If you are a literacy provider in the NRV that utilizes volunteers, and need some assistance in this area, Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley would like to help. Contact us at lvnrv@verizon.net.