[AAACE-NLA] Literacy President Petition - a message from Marty Finsterbush

[David Collings]

The message below is sent on behalf of Marty Finsterbush (office at valueusa.org).

David C.
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Dear Colleagues,

I'm hoping I won't be disappointed by our field on December 17th. First, I would
like to thank everyone across the country who signed the Literacy President
petition and helped to spread the word about it. Thanks also to everyone who has
gotten your family, friends, colleagues, and students to sign. This message is
not directed toward any of you. However, with over three million adult learners
in programs, and the staff of several thousand literacy programs around the
country, the goal of 10,000 signatures in a little over a month shouldn't be so
difficult for our field. Why aren't we there yet?!

Anyone can look at the list of signers so far. Who's missing? Where are some of
the leaders of our field? Why aren't their names on this already? Where are the
names of the staff of local, state, and national programs? Why must our field's
funding be threatened before some people will take action? 

There's no excuse not to sign the petition and spread the word. It's not
lobbying. It won't add to your junk mail. It's easy to do - It takes only
seconds. You don't even have to get up out of your chair. In the time it takes
to read this message, you can sign the petition. I've tried to come up with a
valid reason not to - I can't think of one.

As an adult learner leader, I know adult learners across the country will sign
the petition to help the programs that are helping them - if they know it
exists. I hope programs are not being gate-keepers here - not sharing this
petition with adult learners in their program. Why would you not tell learners
that there is something they can do to find out where each Presidential
candidate stands on adult literacy?

The Literacy President petition is a win-win for our field. It's proactive. It's
coming from the field when there's not a crisis. It puts adult literacy on the
radar screens of all the Presidential candidates. Do we need to wait for the
next administration to propose a 67% cut before they learn we exist?

If we can't reach this goal of 10,000 signatures, what message is this sending
to the future President of the United States? Are we saying that the people
running for President don't need to concern themselves with adult basic
education - that the 90 million people who need adult education services don't
really matter? Our field is their voice. Are we going to let them down? 

To sign the petition, go to:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/litpresident/index.html

Marty Finsterbush
VALUE, Inc.