Coordinator's Column

Dear Tutors, Learners and Supporters:

This newsletter is reaching you on the heels of our Library Literacy annual meeting. This is when all of us involved with library literacy (102 California libraries!) meet, review, plan and recharge our cumulative batteries. Here is an interesting and encouraging partial profile of our FLAIR Program, based on our 04/05 "report card" received at this year's conference in Pasadena.

Female Tutors:	77%
Female Learners:	53%
Male Tutors:	23%
Male Learners:	42%

When compared to like size libraries FLAIR receives 49% more Local contributions and 44% more Individual donations when compared to like size; as well as, All California libraries! In addition, our faithful tutors and supporters volunteered a total of 3,588 hours, (that's 824 more hours than like size programs) with each learner receiving an average of 55 hours of individualized instruction! Now that's something to celebrate! In fact, on Thursday, December 8th we will do just that. Learners, tutors and other supporters will be recognized in honor of their efforts this year, as well as the past 20 years. Please respond a.s.a.p.

Here's to another 20 years of
library literacy services in
Santa Paula!

-Kathryn

WELCOME NEW TUTORS

We would like to WELCOME the following new volunteer tutors who have joined the FLAIR team, they are:

Juan Ayon
Susan Cottman
Maureen Harrigan
Bernie Johnson
Dave Leonard
Sonia Rosales
Betty Smith
Beatrice Vargas
Beatrice Zizumbo

A special "Welcome Back" to:
Patrice VanLandingham

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Birthdays

Past:	9/1 9/29 10/13 10/13	Yvonne Flores Beatrice Vargas Richard Halpin Bernie Johnson
Present:	11/4 11/8 11/28	Bill Kendrick Ana Lang Joe Lyou
Coming up:	12/8 12/16	Karin Bowers Connie McCann

Calendar of Events

FLAIR 525-2384

Library 525-3615

FLAIR - Adult Literacy Program
Office/Computer Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 1:00 - 8:00 p.m.

FFL -

Thursdays 6:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Parent Education 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.

COMPUTER TRAINING
Mondays and Tuesdays 7-8 p.m. with Aracely Navarro (or by special appointment.)

BOOK DISCUSSION
Thursdays 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the FLAIR computer room.

GROUP TUTORING
Tuesdays 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Children's Room.

FINANCIAL LITERACY
2^nd and 4^th Wednesday 6-8 p.m.

ESL
Level I Mondays 6-8:00 p.m.
Level II Tuesday 6-8:00 p.m.

ANGELS - in school tutoring program

FLAIR/FFL Staff

Kathryn - Coordinator
Barbara - Office Manager
Aracely - Office Assistant
Alma - FFL Assistant

Financial Literacy
Classes For
Adult Learners

What you've always wanted to know about:

Unit:	Topic:	Date:
Completed
1	You and Your Money	Oct. 12 & 26
2	Budgets	Nov. 9 & 16
Ahead
3	Banking: Opening an Account	Jan. 11 & 25
4	Banking: Checking/Savings Accounts and ATMs	Feb. 8 & 22
5	Tips for Saving Money	Mar. 8 & 22
6	Assets: Buying a House - the Basics	April 12 & 26

FLAIR appreciates volunteer tutor Rose Chacon for conducting Unit 1 and for arranging the guest speaker, Robert Soriano, from the EDD.

Thank you to FLAIR tutor Lisa Gunia who volunteered to facilitate Unit 2 and recruited Erica Prado from the Bank of California to speak about banking.

Help! Help!

We still need 3 volunteers to facilitate units 3, 5 and 6. It's easy! It's fun! Call the FLAIR office to sign up.

Learners On The Move!

Esperanza and Fidelina Magana (tutor Maureen Harrigan) have finished Challenger Book 1, advancing to book 2.

* * * *
Mirna Partida (tutor Thea Seto) continues to advance. She is now in Challenger book 4.

* * * *
Maria Bautista (tutor Ana Lang) has advanced to Challenger book 5.

* * * *
Karina Rojas (tutor Dorothy Grainger) completed Challenger book 6 and will continue on in book 7.

* * * *
Congratulations to Rosalba Cardenas and her tutor Richard Halpin for beginning in Challenger book 1 together and completing all 8 books in the series! Rosalba has since joined the Book Discussion Group, which meets on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

Did You Know?

FLAIR student Cecilia Cabrerra is also a FLAIR volunteer. She assists our ESL instructor Susan Branham, in the level I class on Monday evenings. She also volunteers to help the students with their ESL homework.

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Tutor Lori Garibay has her New tutor tote bag. Tutors: Haven't received yours? Stop by the FLAIR office. It's waiting for you!

Congratulations To

Elia Bedolla (tutor Maria Dowdy) just received a job promotion at Grace Thille School where she works in the cafeteria. She recently earned her certificate from Ventura College on Dean Dr.

Beep! Beep!

Elsa Bracamontes (tutor Vic Lopez) has met her goal of passing the driver's test and getting her license to drive. Bravo!

Book Donations

A big hug and a thank you to Yvonne Flores for donating 2 boxes full of children's books for FFL. Also, kudos and thank you to the 7 year old FFL member who anonymously donated his collection of "beginning books" back to the program for younger FFL children to enjoy.

Your generosity is appreciated!

Believe It or Not!

FLAIR tutor Ana Lang recently announced that she has become choose one):

    a) a grandmother
    b) a great grandmother or
    c) a great-great grandmother.

If you chose "c" you are correct! (Believe it or not!) Congratulations, Ana , on the birth of your great-great grandson Josiah!

WORKSHOPS

Everyone had a great time at the Scrabble Workshop. FLAIR will be hosting a Literacy Game Evening starting in January 2006. If you can't wait until then, why not join tutor Lisa Gunia at Los Arcos Restaurant on Main St. (between 10th and Mill St.) for Santa Paula's monthly game night.

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Unfortunately, our photographer was absent from these additional workshops; however, I'd like to say "thank you" to the following FLAIR tutors who attended.

Creative Workshop From The Heart
(FLAIR Computer Room)

Marilyn Wolever
Barbara Suggs
Madeline Ricards
Jean McGregor
Joe Lyou
Lisa Gunia
Richard Abbott

Grammar Workshop
Sponsored by: Oxnard Library Literacy
Program taught by Dr. Debbie DeVries

Joe Lyou
Marilyn Wolever
Trina Nagele
Lisa Gunia
Barbara Suggs

FLAIR IN THE NEWS

Many of you read Margaret Nesbitt's column about FLAIR in the Ventura County Star Newspaper on November 14th. Several people clipped the article and brought it to the FLAIR office. Thank you! If you missed it, you can check it out on our website under the heading Unlimited Horizons.

"Star Celebrities"

Tutor Maureen Harrigan and her learners Esperanza and Fidelina Magana were recently highlighted in the Ventura County Star Newspaper. Star columnist Margaret Nesbitt wrote:

I wanted to see for myself how a tutoring session was done, so I met Maureen Harrigan, a volunteer tutor who comes to the library after she has finished her regular job. Her learners were Esperanza and Fidelina Magana, Latina cousins.

When I asked, "Are you married?" they both started to giggle, thinking I meant to each other hence the difficulties of learning the English language and of my not making my questions pointed enough. They both want to be able to communicate with their employers and are totally devoted to the reading program. Harrigan has been tutoring them since July and splits the session up by talking with them both about their jobs, and then going into the more difficult test work. They are both eager and interested in learning.

TUTOR TIP:

This tip comes from a fellow FLAIR tutor who says:

"I spend the first 5 minutes of my tutoring session in casual conversation with my student. This seems to help him relax; and I've noticed that his reading is smoother when we do this."