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■The INews
-journal
Wednesday, September 10, 200 5
Life Leisure
Hoke Reading/literacy Coimdl marics
25 years of helping people learn to read
Hn I’\I Ai I I N W’ll.SDN
Editor
T he llnkc Reuding IJtcruc) Council celebrates its
25tli ;uini\ersar\ in conjunction with Literacy
Suiulav on Septeniher 14.
I he I iierac\ Council, made up of mostly volunteers,
pro\ ides the opporiunit_\ tor adults to acquire basic literacy
skills.
t.ileracs Council I ;\ecuti\e Director Barbara Buie quoted
in her most lecent new sletter from a 1977-78 newsletter: "If
I \eseen lai it sbecause I am standing on the shoulders of
giants."
"Little did I know that those giants would carry me for
a quarter ol a ccntur\." she wrote in the 2003 summer/fall
newsletter.
Some of those "giants" are Jackie Haddon. the first
Literac) board chairman; Lmma Mims, the first volunteer
tutor trainer; Ra/ ,\utr\ .J.D. McAllister. Harold and Peggy
Cillis and Nellie Flowers.
Some were charter board members, some were there
with encouiagement and financial support, Buie says.
"One time we didn't have mone_\ for the telephone bill, and
a supporter said. ’Send the bill to me until you can afford to
pa\ it."
Buie adds. " I here are so man\ that are still there for us."
I'he I iteiacv Council was originally located in the 12' x
14' back room of a multi-room complex the agency occu
pies now at 12.^ W est Mwood A\ cnuc. "We had very little
space, barely enough lor two desks — two chairs so we
could tutor." says Buie. "One |icrson was doing administra
tive work and the other tutineel."
In the beginning seivice delivery was one on one.
Services have expanded considerably since then, but the
I iferacy Council still operates on a shoe string.
Ovei the past 2'v vears. the l.iteracy Council has added
basic miithematice. 1 nglish as a second language and
technology.
Buie qiK'tes Robert VVedgevvorth, president of
ProLiteracy. "Wherever you find them, our students are
among the most economically and socially vulnerable —
and so are their children."
Wedgevvoith might well have been speaking of Hoke
County, w heie approximately one-third of its citizens lack
the most basic literacy skills.
Buie says it's not easy to measure the successes of the
students in terms of academics. "One person has gone into
his ovv n business, some people are comfortable enough to
read aloud in Sunday school for the first time. People are
writing letters to children and other loved ones for the first
time." says Buie. ".'Nt least three people have been able to
maintain employment as a result of being here.
"We've had those kinds of successes instead of those
with high school and college degrees.”
Anthony Day. 41. went through the regular program to
learn to re.id and improve his skills and hasgone onto work
on computers in the I iteracy Council's lab.
"I feel good now — real nice about it," says Day, who
.spends his davs learning on his ovv n on a computer. There
is a teacher available if he needs help, he says, lie wants
word to get out about the computer classes "1 used to be
quiet." he savs. and is now more outgoing with more
confidence in himself. Fond of traveling, now he surfs the
Internet.
The Literaev Council operates a public computer lab
through the Rural Internet Access \uthority'se-NC Initia
tive. The lab is open and staffed on Mondays and Wednes
days at .8-8 p.m. and .Saturdays at 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The labs are
for beginners or for those w ho want to hone the computer
skills they already possessor learn how to use the Internet.
"Whether vou are a beginner or slightly advanced; in
need of a w ay to check your e-mail or do a fancy report, we
are here to help you." says Buie. "For more information or
to get started, stop by during the times listed.”
21>Literacv Council officers
lM>The 2003 2()04 officers of the Literacy Council are
the Rev. Matthew Rouse Jr., chairman. Trudy McVicker,
vice chair: (iwendolyn McIntyre Quick, secretary; and
John K. McNeill, treasurer. Other board of directors mem
bers are Robert Conoly. Ldna liw ing. Greta Johnson, Rosa
McAllister-McRae and Cheryl Whitford. Deborah Car
penter, Chii.sta Imgle. .laneth lledgpeth, Amy Kirk and
Wavne Simpson were most recent board members.
Still needed are compassionate persons who read well
and can sacrifice three hours a week to teach basic reading.
If vou are that person, call 87.^-214.8 to register for a tutor
workshop to be held September 23 and 25 at 6-9 p.m. and
September 27 at 9 a.m.-3:.J0 p.m. There is no charge for the
workshop.
Buie savs her silver anniversary wish is that the hun
dreds of individuals, numerous religious and civic organi
zations. V olunteers. gov eminent and especially learners are
proud of their involvement with the Literacy Council.
"Thank vou for caring and sharing, she adds.
"It has been a long time but it has been a fun time,” Buie
saysabout her 28 years ase.xecutive director of the Literacy
Council.
,/
R f C »
O ^
A
From left, Barbara Buie, executive director of the Floke Literacy Council; LC. Chapel, public relations; and the Rev. Mathew Rouse Jr., pastor at Mount
Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, also chairman of the board.
TrTZ~nrTTTO-Trr-
1819 20 21 2*' "
25 26 27 21)
Right: Anthony Day surfs the Internet after honing his
reading skills at the Floke Reading/Literacy Council.
Above: Two chairs in a small room are symbols of the
meager beginnings of the Hoke Reading/Literacy
Council's beginning 25 years ago.
Proclamation
Literacy, Sunday
September 14,2003
Whereas, adult illiteracy is a serious problem hampering the
lives of all Raeford-Floke County citizens; and
Whereas, adult illiteracy prevents those affected by it from
fully participating in our civic, social, political and economic
arenas; and
Whereas, we desire that all our citizens have the opportunity
to obtain those skills that will lead them to more productive lives;
and
Whereas, we wish to applaud those adults among us who have
undertaken the task of overcoming their personal illiteracy; and
Whereas, many of our citizens, businesses and institutions
have voluntarily supported adult literacy efforts and deserve our
heartfelt appreciation; and
Whereas, we salute Hoke Reading Literacy Council for twenty-
five years of service to these most in need of literacy skills; and
Whereas, it is desirable to encourage all citizens to become
involved in the efforts to make Raeford-Hoke County more
literate; therefore
We proclaim September 14,2003 Literacy Sunday in Raeford
- Hoke County and commend its observance to all our citizens.
Robert Wright
Chairman
Hoke County Board of Commissioners
Bob Gentry
Mayor
City of Raeford