From the Desk of the Director

Transcription

1 Board of Directors Janice Merriam, Chair Trish Burns, Vice Chair Steve Canole, Secretary Janet Hoffman, Treasurer Carol R. Lechel, President Eric Rutherford, Immediate Past Chair Peter Bagley Lindsay Eggers Mary Goedert David M. Hall, Ph.D. Derrick Harge Marisa Horak Belotti Kimberly Johnson Sheri Leaman-Case Jeff McCulloch Matt Peterson Michelle Porra Elinor Saunders Sue Smith Karen Vasold READ Association of Saginaw County 100 S. Jefferson, Suite 401 Saginaw, Michigan Phone: (989) Fax: (989) Hours: T, W, Th. 9am-3pm or by appointment Director/President: Carol Lechel Administrative Assistant: Sara Larsen Office Assistant: Kathy Rogers From the Desk of the Director Happy 2014 to all of our readers! What a winter wonderland it has been. I'm ready for spring, how about you? There are many childhood stories to share as we recall our favorite winter memories. How many remember the toboggan run at Hoyt Park or the snowmobiles that used I-675 as it was being built, well before it officially opened to automobile traffic? And I think many of our readers will remember when we could not predict so accurately that the next day might bring a snow day. Oh the stories we share... I especially like to hear true stories that have a personal connection. These tales always have some type of beginning, middle and most importantly, an end - a conclusion that gives the story meaning. I read recently that family stories and memories shared aloud create a powerful bond, build resilience and even boost happiness. Retelling stories is as much a part of our present as our past. Ask children to retell the story you share with them and listen to what they say. Retelling stories helps with comprehension and remembering important information. Whether you tell, listen or read a story, make it an every day adventure. Carol Lechel Director Vol. 14, Issue1/March 2014 Save the Dates: Books for Breakfast Saturday, March 1 9 am - 11:30 am See page 3 for details. Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Tuesday, May 13 5:30 pm - 7 pm At the Hellenic Banquet Center. Invitations & details will be mailed in April. D.E.A.R. at the Zoo Wednesday, June am - 3 pm

2 WELCOME New Volunteers & Coordinators Four Legged READ Volunteers This school year READ has four dogs and one cat and their dedicated owners participating in our program at three schools. The trained and registered therapy animals and their owners offer Crystal Allison Mary Barr Raquel Cortez Cheryl Coyer Rhoda Dietrich Ray Garcia Kathleen Greenup Sunshine Hall James Hartwig Mary Anne Hoffman Laura Jacob Cherina Johnson Sylvia Lopez Tamara Miller John Miller James Nightingale Karen Ostrofsky Cassandra Phillips Demond Tibbs William Traxler Terri Upton Mentoring Moments I had a great first day at St. Lorenz and I'm very excited to be part of this program. I enjoy working with the kids, it brightens my day and is always the highlight of my week. - Louisa Trott, Frankenmuth Insurance St. Lorenz Elementary Mentor I love to see that WOW look on their little faces when they realize, and you know, THEY GOT IT! - Debbie Reimus, Stevens Worldwide Van Lines, Heavenrich Elementary Mentor I enjoy seeing the students that I work with progressing in not only their reading but their other subjects as well. We not only do school work but chat about their likes and dislikes and they keep me up to date on all the latest toys, cartoons, and fads. It s great to see the kids confidence grow throughout the year as their reading skills increase. - Karen Vasold, Wildfire Credit Union Carrollton Elementary Mentor students a friendly, nonjudgmental audience while practicing their reading skills. Pet owners know that animals provide a general sense of unconditional support, comfort and happiness to those around them. Some children find reading difficult, frustrating, and are unmotivated to read on their own. Reading to a caring and trained therapy animal can make the activity enjoyable and motivate even the most reluctant reader. One of the keys to improving reading proficiency is providing plentiful opportunities for reading practice. Students who read with their furry mentors all agree they especially look forward to their classroom visitors, and reading is fun! 2 READ Association of Saginaw County

3 Join us in celebrating National Reading Month at the 9th annual Saturday, March 1, am -11:30am Sponsored by the READ Association Location: The Hunger Solution Center - Home of Hidden Harvest & East Side Soup Kitchen 940 E. Genesee -between Janes and Thompson St. $3.00 per person (under one yr. free) Tickets available at the door Admission includes a pancake breakfast and literacy activities to encourage and promote family reading time: ALL You Can Eat Pancakes Free New Book for Every Child Costume Characters & Puppets Storytelling Literacy Activities presented by: Mid Michigan Children s Museum Public Libraries of Saginaw READ Association Saginaw County - Birth to 5 Program * Bring a canned goods donation and receive one raffle ticket for each can for a chance to win great books! * Donations benefit Hidden Harvest and the East Side Soup Kitchen WSGW Live Remote sponsored by Carol M. Thomas, Elder Law Attorney This event is made possible in part thanks to the support of the Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation. The READ Association of Saginaw County is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to help students improve their reading skills and discover the joy of reading. Ph: (989)

4 9th annual BEE for Literacy May 7 at Horizons Sponsored by Altrusa International of Saginaw and Rotary of Saginaw. For more information on entering a team or to obtain event tickets, contact Altrusa Members Kathy McKenna at or Beth Bauer at For Sale in the READ Office READ Logo T-shirts in a variety of colors and sizes are available for $9 ($11 for XXL). Z to A in the Great Lakes Bay books are available for $12. Qualities Not Measured by Most Tests As mentors, literacy help is just a part of what you do to help children succeed. With your help students often improve on many of these important personal qualities: Persistence Curiosity Enthusiasm Courage Leadership Creativity Civic-Mindedness Self-Discipline Resourcefulness Sense of Wonder Compassion Reliability Motivation Humor Empathy Spontaneity Sense of Beauty Humility Resilience Celebrate National Reading Month I/We would like to make a general donation in support of the READ Association of Saginaw County. Amount Enclosed: $25 $50 $100 $200 $500 Other $ Donor Name(s): (Please list name(s) as you would like to be acknowledged) Donate to READ Donations may now be made online using PayPal or in the office using a credit card. Phone Address City State Zip This Gift is made: In Memory of In Honor of In Celebration of Person(s)/Occasion Send Gift Acknowledgement to (if applicable): Name(s): Address City State Zip Mail all contributions to: READ Association, 100 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 401, Saginaw, MI Make general contributions payable to READ Association. Make endowment contributions payable to READ/SCF Endowment. 4 READ Association of Saginaw County

5 Thanks for Sharing! GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS Cathy Agnew in memory of Pamela Walton Moorehead Peter Bagley Nick & Jennifer Barris Tom & Judy Bear Patricia Beyer in memory of Brett Marianne C. Bird Dwight & Diane Chisholm Pamela Cole Joseph & Carol DeFrancesco Nancy Deisig & Carol Bates in honor of our parents Robert & Shirley Schaper Mary Lou Ederer Roselyn Ederer Susie Emond Frankenmuth Jaycees - Volkslaufe James Grant Family Jane E. Gugino David & Jackie Hall Beverly & Derrick Harge Cindy & David Houghtaling Leo A. Kahan and Emelie O. Kahan Charitable Foundation Steve & Lisa Kocks in memory of June Gray R. Paul & Sara Larsen Jim & Kathy Lear to Monte & Nancy Czuhai in celebration of Christmas Deana & Tom Leinberger Jeff & Tina McCulloch Morley Companies - Jeans Day Dorothy K. Mull Rose Nickodemus in memory of John Nickodemus No Greater Calling - UAW Region 1D Eleanor Olson Terry & Ethel O'Neill Carolyn Otto in memory of Betty Kushion Marie Pendleton Betty Phillips Tom Reinbold John Revette Jack & Kathy Rogers Joe & Elizabeth Rousseau in memory of Lauren Elizabeth Rousseau Randy & Jean Rupp Hans Schmidt Thomas & Susan Schultz in memory of Kathy Andersen Pat & Bob Schust in memory of Kathy Dickens Patty Shaheen Jan & Mel Skillman in memory of Michele Skillman Lawrence & Susan Smith Dee Storey Special thanks to the following individuals and organizations who have contributed to the READ Association during the period of November 14, 2013 through February 6, United Way of Midland County United Way of Southeastern Michigan Gerald & Joan Wolf In memory of Nadine McGovern from her Bridge Club: Sue Burns Barb Day Leslie Roth June Spence Bonnie Stewart Joyce Van Ochten Pat Washburn BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP Novel Sponsor Covenant HealthCare GM Powertrain Saginaw McDonald GMC Cadillac Book Collection Sponsor Wildfire Credit Union Chronicle Sponsor W. L. Case & Company Storyteller Sponsor Deisler Funeral Home Family First Credit Union Quality Performance Resource Group Saginaw Bay Underwriters Jennifer M.B. Schau, D.D.S. Spence Brothers Team One Credit Union In Memory of Bonnie Vasold: Yvonne & Terry Aide Damaris Belick Jeff & Tracey Bierlein Tom & Sunna Bierlein Other Janet Burk A.C. Coppolino Insurance Agency, Inc. Tom Carter Sargent Docks and Terminal,Inc. Carol & John Davies Coworkers & Friends of GRANT Wendy Riffel at AT&T The Edward & Erna Ederer Family Foundation Richard & Loretta Draves Barb & Marilyn Ducharme SPONSOR A CENTER Sonda & Martin Dumont Charles F. and Adeline L. Barth Charitable Foundation Alexandra Farley Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundations Jack & Carole Fitzgerald Freeland Athletic Association ENDOWMENT Rose Mary Gaumer Susanne H. Beilfuss Larry & Darlene Hair Nancy Bow Herb & Gloris Hansen Dave & Sheri Case Mr. & Mrs. David Harry Thomas & Lauren Deisler Francis & Joan Harry Carl & Lorrie Diola Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Heinzman in celebration of the Golden Wedding Anniversary Humphreys, Campbell, Dust, & of Genaro & Pura Urgel Humphreys, PC Saundra A. Gase in memory of Elizabeth A. Schuch Pam & Ron Knoerr Betty Grills Delores & Richard Kollhoff Barron & Eve Hirsch Claude & Sharon LaFray Bob & Pat Johnson, Cathy Johnson, Tim & Gina Jerry & Judy Leahy Johnson, and Tom Johnson & Nel Delpit Sharon Krause in celebration of Christmas Jim & Marlene Leaman Gregory & Kimberly Johnson Gary & Donna Lewis Carol R. Lechel Bill Merrell Matt & Mary Ann Peterson Carole & Bill Mieras Elinor & Harold Saunders Dave & Cheri Oczepek Jim & Donnal Reichard Lori & Chuch Ricklefs & Family SPONSOR A CHILD Mr. & Mrs. Alex Roth Andy and Andrea Bethune Jan LeCureux Fern Rueger Dave & Sheri Case Bud & Mary Richter Saginaw Valley Business Services, Inc. Janet J. Crane Larry Sims Jim & Linda Sandborn Thomas Hollerback Ron & Michelle Schauman BOOKMARK IN-KIND Jim & Tammy Smith Kelly Stephens Neil & Phyllis Love Central Property Billie Squanda Marilyn & Jim Mangutz Development, Inc Greg & Karen Vasold & Family in memory of Keith Martell Cym Winiecke Marian Miller in celebration of Reading! March

6 READ Association of Saginaw County 100 S. Jefferson, Suite 401 Saginaw, Michigan The READ Association of Saginaw County is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to help students improve their reading skills and discover the joy of reading. The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, and that makes you unique. -Walt Disney Upcoming READ Events: Books for Breakfast: Saturday, March 1, am-11:30am at the Hunger Solution Center D.E.A.R. at the Zoo-Drop Everything And Read: Wednesday, June 18, am-3pm at the Children s Zoo at Celebration Square W. L. Case and Company Funeral Directors Four Locations Serving Saginaw County Since Mackinaw Road, Saginaw 125 East Saginaw Street, Merrill 201 N. Miller Road, Saginaw 5700 Dixie Hwy, Bridgeport (989)