COORDINATOR'S COLUMN



Dear Tutors and Students,

"We have to remember our beginnings no matter how far we've come in life."

These words of wisdom from FLAIR learner, Martha Marquez, set the tone for our annual literacy awards program this (05/06) year when we celebrated 20 years of providing free adult literacy services to the community. Of course, that wouldn't have been possible without the help of our wonderful volunteers, both past and present.

Look inside this issue of our newsletter for highlights from that joyous celebration.

Also inside - BEE sure to catch the BUZZ on our FUNdraiser in May (Hint: Kathryn, Aracely, and Barbara are very busy bees.)

Happy Reading!
- Kathryn





SPEAKING OF FUNDRAISERS



Your Avon orders earned us $195 for FLAIR programs. Thanks to all who ordered (and to those who didn't, but gave us a cash donation instead) and to Gennie Cole - Avon manager - for sponsoring.





WELCOME NEW TUTORS



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

Judith Beay
Steve Kunze
Juan Corona, Jr.
Brian McCalister

Welcome aboard, FLAIR tutors!





WELCOME ANGELS!



The following volunteers have completed their training and are now official Angels:

Melissa Patterson   -   Irma Velasco

Great to have you on our team!






BIRTHDAYS PAST:
1/9  Jessica Jackson 2/11 Lisa Guina
1/11 Steve Kunze 2/24 Barbara Suggs
1/11 George Appel    
       
3/3  Barbara Hill 3/6  Dave Leonard
3/10 Jean McGregor 3/31 Pam Pond

PRESENT:

 

 

 
4/6  Loree Garibay 4/9  Richard Abbott
4/17 Vic Lopez







FLAIR MILESTONES



In 2005 FLAIR celebrated 20 years of service to the citizens of Santa Paula. At our annual Awards Night Celebration in December the following learners and tutors received certificates provided by State Senator George Runner and Supervisor Kathy Long:

  Learners

Tutors

 
  Sylvia Aguayo
Francisco Ramirez
Rosalba Cardenas
Raquel Tamayo
Luis Hernandez
Lorena Morales
Karina Rojas
Maria Roman

Dorothy Grainger
Richard Halpin
George Appel
Madeline Ricards
Maria Dowdy

 

The following tutors received special trophy awards for their many years of dedicated volunteer service:

Karin Bowers
Richard Halpin
Susan Johnson
Vic Lopez

  8 yrs. - 800+ hrs.
14 yrs. - 2000+ hrs.
  8 yrs. - 700+ hrs.
17 yrs. - 3000+ hrs.
 

**************


Excerpts from an article that appeared in the Santa Paula Times by Peggy Kelly:

Family Literacy Aid In Reading (FLAIR) celebrated 20 years of bettering the lives of Santa Paulans with a special ceremony in December 2005. FLAIR reaches those who want to learn to read with volunteer tutors, who spend several hours a week working with their students, forging relationships that often is equally beneficial.

BCL Librarian Dan Robles thanked the crowd for their interest in the program that almost didn't become a reality. "This is our literacy program's 20th year," and it was founded when BCL was governed by the Santa Paula Union High School District Board of Trustees.... Without the blessing of trustees Robles applied for the grant, and BCL FLAIR program was born.

...FLAIR's first graduates were in 1985; Barbara Rios joined the staff in 1988; Don and Debbie Johnson, owners of the Santa Paula Times, founded the annual FLAIR Spelling Bee in 1989, the same year that Elaine Hunt -- who attended the celebration -- took over the program from retiring Jeanne San Carlo.

Jeri Mead, who attended the Dec. 8 celebration, became the coordinator of the new Families For Literacy program in 1990. In 1997 the FLAIR homework center was started, and the next year FLAIR received its first grant for parenting classes and started the Angels Tutoring program.

Hunt retired in 2001, and Bornhauser became director. Since that time, staff has grown, a Book Discussion Group for intermediate and advanced learners was started and a Financial Literacy class for adult learners was launched.

The community and BCL Friends remain supportive of FLAIR, noted Bornhauser, and added that a video of "success stories of adult learners who achieved is really inspirational." On display were FLAIR scrapbooks, and Bornhauser commented that under Hunt's leadership the "transformation of FLAIR really began... We call her the Godmother of FLAIR."












Dorothy Grainger and Ana Lang have both been recuperating from surgery. Hope you are healing well and can soon return to tutoring. Your students miss you, and we know you miss tutoring them.



ADOPT A FLAIR BEAR!

Your very own FLAIR bear is waiting for you, for just a $10 donation to FLAIR. Get one of our "beary" special mascots from the basket of bears in the FLAIR office.






ON A SAD NOTE


FLAIR tutor Ellen Appel recently passed away. Ellen had been a devoted volunteer for several years. Her loss is deeply felt by the FLAIR staff and, particularly, by her adult learner, who considered Ellen a family friend, as well as her tutor. Ellen had been married to George Appel (who continues to tutor for FLAIR) for 64 years. To read more about this dear women go to: http://www.mem.com and search for Appel.

**************************

DONATIONS TO FLAIR
IN MEMORY OF FLAIR TUTOR
ELLEN APPEL

Jane Marcus
Craig and Sharon Metter
Lola Law
Barbara Rios
Dorothy Caputo
Bill & Dorothea Armbruster
Earl and Marcia Wakelee
and
collectively her many friends at
Hillview Estates in Santa Paula.
Your support in her memory is
appreciated.





ACKNOWLEDGMENT



Thank you to the following FLAIR supporters who have made financial contributions to the program, thus far, this 05/06 year:

Mal and Regina King
Carol and Robert Hardison
Karin and Don Bowers
Episcopal Church Women
Katie Patrykus
Vic Lopez
Martin Orozco
Madeline Ricards
Scott Rushing
Anita Pulido
Elaine Hunt





And More On
           The English Language....


There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

-submitted by Joe Lyou
Thanks, Joe!





S.P. Council Meeting -
The Inside Story!



Ever wanted to attend a City Council meeting, but were afraid to ask? Ever wondered what goes on when the cameras are turned off?

Well, you are in luck - an experienced attendee (and FLAIR supporter) has volunteered to take anyone who wishes to attend a council meeting with her. She will be there to answer any questions you may have. Give us a call at 525-2384 and we will place you on our meeting attendance list. Regular meetings are held the 1st & 3rd Mondays at 6:30 p.m.





CONGRATULATIONS !!



Congratulations to: FLAIR office assistant Aracely Navarro who made the Dean's List at Ventura College this past fall. This is Aracely's first year in college. She attends full-time, works for FLAIR and tutors in the library's homework center. Wow! Way to go, Aracely!





THANK YOU TO



Patrice Vanlandingham for her donation of ESL instructional materials to FLAIR.

--------------------


Christine Robert for putting us in touch with the Ventura County Elections Division. Subsequently, 3 representatives came out and conducted a workshop on using the new voting machine.





NEW ON FLAIR'S BOOKSHELF



Tales For Everybody
Cuentos Para Todos
                                                    by Maricarmen O'Hara Ph.D.

This little book of short entertaining stories is a hit with tutors and students alike, at all reading levels. New copies of the book are available in the FLAIR office for use while tutoring on site at the library (not for check-out). Thank you to tutor George Appel for recommending it to FLAIR!





LEARNER RECOMMENDATIONS



Up early in the morning? Like to watch t.v.? Then "English, English" may be just for you. FLAIR learners recommend "English, English" on ch. 31 at 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. for developing vocabulary. Give it a try!





LEARNERS ON THE MOVE



Cecilia Cabrera and Araceli Zamora (with the help of their longtime tutors Lori Garibay and Susan Alvarez, respectively) have each tackled Challenger books 1-4 and have moved on to book 5.

* * * * * *


Agustine Nieto (tutor Patrice Vanlandingham) has progressed to Challenger book 6.

* * * * * *


Leticia Valdovinos (tutor Barbara Hill) has completed Challenger book 5 and is currently working in book 6.





ONWARD GRADUATES!



Challenger Series graduates (books 1-8) Rosalba Cardenas (former tutor Richard Halpin) and Francisco Ramirez (former tutor Chuck Molnar) have begun studying for the GED exam! Assisting them in their endeavors are new FLAIR tutors Juan Corona Jr. And Dave Leonard, respectively.





STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS



FLAIR learner Cecilia Cabrera (currently in Challenger book 5) is not content to just receive help, she's already passing it on to others. Cecilia volunteers in the ESL classes, helping instructor Susan Branham teaching conversational English. The adults in these classes work hard to attain the language skills they must have to qualify for a one-to-one tutor. Cecilia "has been there" and now, thanks to her own hard work and the dedicated effort of her longtime tutor Loree Garibay she is already able and willing to give back!

Students - If you'd like to follow Cecilia's example and help a fellow learner, please let Kathryn or Barbara know!





U.S. CITIZEN IN TOWN!


Alicia Aguayo (tutor Karin Bowers) passed her citizenship exam in January of this year.

Congratulations, Alicia!







A HEARTFELT THANK YOU



Thank you to everyone who made donations to help a FLAIR learner purchase landscape tools that were stolen from his vehicle. He writes: "I want to say thank you for your help and the donations. I brought a blower to replace the one that was stolen. Thank you to the people who made donations."

(FLAIR is still accepting donations on his behalf, as many expensive items he uses for landscaping were stolen.)

Click image for website.





A CURRENT FLAIR LEARNER
EXPRESSES 3 LIFE DESIRES


1. Improve English Skills

I want to speak and read English very well, because I live in the United States of America and it is the official language in this country. I have to learn it because I have two children and I need to help them with their homework and maybe in the future I have to read some official documents like (my children's) college applications and I have to fill them out to know everything about it. The other fact is because when I get my retirement I think I have to read and fill out too many papers. The other fact is because if I can I would like to take some classes in the college to complete my schooling. I want to do it right now because the time goes too fast and the process is going to be slow and this is the reason to not waste time. The other reason to not waste time is because I am an adult and I have to work and I can't be a full time student and I have other activities to do.

I have to do it in a school where I do not have to pay for it and this is the reason I chose the library, where I can have the help of a tutor who is a volunteer. This means this person donates personal time without getting money.

2. Watch My Children Grow

I want to see my children grow up: because I love them very much and I want to see how they will progress in their lives how they get bigger and bigger each day, how they do in school and in case they fall down I want to be there and be helpful in their lives. If one day they want to quit school I will try to find they way to not let them quit.

I want to see them grow up in sports and help them, too. Especially in soccer where I have more knowledge that I hope would help them. I can do it if I be close to them all the time and follow their activities in school and sports.

I want to see it right now that's why I work very hard and after it I try to spend the most time I have with them helping with their homework, taking them to their sport practice as soccer, basketball and softball. When they have their games I like to go with them and see how they do their job. When it is time to go to a meeting at school I do it and I like to talk with their teachers to know how they are doing in school.

3. Provide A Better Life

I want my children to have a better life than I. Because when I grew up I started to help my parents when I was six years old; because at our house we had cows, pigs, chickens and horses. Sometimes I had to feed the chickens and pigs, sometimes I had to help my mom to do the dough to make the tortillas. In winter season there are no rains so we had to bring water from somewhere else and I had to bring it in big buckets, when we had our cows far away from home I had to bring the milk to the house in buckets. Sometimes I had to go with my mom to the market to buy everything she needed in the kitchen and I had to carry bags to my home because there were no cars in my hometown but sometimes we use the horses to carry the items we bought or milk, sometimes we had to bring firewood from the forest of course on the horse but I had to take care of the horse.

This is the reason I want my children to have a different life that I had.

I think they have it because any where they want to go they can go they can go in a car and I had to walk or use the horse, they don't have to carry bags full of vegetables from the market.

- FLAIR student with the
help of his tutor.





Last Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8:00p.m.





FAMILIES FOR LITERACY

Read together, Learn Together!

WELCOME NEW FAMILIES:

The Diaz Family
The Lara Family
The Jacabo Family
The Monreal Family

So glad you've joined us as we travel through books. Speaking of that, check out the places our families have been traveling to recently:

All Around Town
On A Boat
Outer Space
Hollywood
The Zoo
With Curious George At The Movies
Camping With A Dinosaur
A Visit With The Iguana Brothers
A Pajama Party

Who says you can't go anywhere you want? Just open a book and Adios!

APRIL BIRTHDAYS:
  Jordan Rosales - 1 year old!
Kiara Fiorentino - 3 yrs.
Ashley Vega - 4 yrs.

BIRTHDAYS AHEAD:
  May: Yesenia Rico - 6 yrs.
          Joel Iglesias - 6 yrs.
          Yareli Monreal - 3 yrs.

June: Cesar Diaz - 4 yrs.
          Antonio Fiorentino - 5 yrs.
          Julio Icelo - 7 yrs.
          Alan Gonzalez - 4 yrs.
          Cytlali Salgado - 7 yrs.

Join us in May, as we celebrate through books, songs and crafts the love we have for the people in our families and for our friends. See you then!





Spelling Bee, Wed., May 24, 2006





Student Contest Corner


Congratulations to Araceli Zamora and Mirna Partrida, our winter contest winners! Stop by the FLAIR office and claim your prize!




NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

THANK YOU to the following sponsors whose contribution helped pay for the printed newsletter:

Brad Branham
Office: (805) 987-3734
Cell: (805) 407-1949


Gennie Cole
(805) 525-2458
Avon Card

Ed Geis
Office: (805) 525-5523
Cell: (805) 625-3565
Cal West Real Estate


Rick Bianchi
Office: (661) 288-5777
Cell: (661) 644-4063
Centex Homes

Do you have a business or service you'd like to advertise in FLAIR's newsletter? A donation of $25 to FLAIR will provide a business card size ad (like the ones above) for 3 issues of our newsletter. Make a $35 donation and your ad will appear in 6 issues. This newsletter reaches over 150 library literacy supporters in Santa Paula. To place an ad, contact Kathryn or Barbara at 525-2384 or stop by the FLAIR office.

Don't have a card? We'll whip one up for you!



mlb - 05/22/06