No subject

[David J Rosen]

To: nla at world.std.com
Subject: NLA Info: NIFL Board opening
From: Janet Isserlis <Janet_Isserlis at Brown.edu>
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 16:58:44 -0400 (EDT)


David and others,

If you can think of other lists besides this and  NIFL-LD for whom this
message might be appropriate, could you please let me (or this list, if
that makes sense) know?

thanks

Janet Isserlis
______________________________________________________________________
There has recently been an opening on the Board of the National Institute
for Literacy (NIFL).  At present, there are no learner representatives on
that board, and as some of you may recall, this has been a cause of concern
for many in the literacy/adult education communities.

Archie Willard has expressed interest in taking on the challenge of
participating in the board, and has already had support from some notable
people in the community.  I'm posting this message to a few lists, in order
to inform those of you who may not be aware of Archie and his commitment to
the field, and to urge you to consider lending him your support.  Archie is
aware of, and has seen this posting, so questions about his participation
on the board can be sent directly to him at millard at netins.net.

In order for Archie's nomination to be considered, letters need to go to
President Clinton as soon as possible; within the next few weeks at the
latest.  In addition to stressing the importance of learner participation
on the Board to Clinton, you may want to also mention Archie's
contributions to the field specifically.   Some highlights from Archie's
resume:

At the age of 54, long after having graduated from high school with 4th
grade reading skills, and having participated fully in community activities
and leadership involvement in community service organizations, politics and
city council, Archie discovered his ownlearning difference - dyslexia.  As
a result of enrolling in an adult literacy tutoring program, he improved
his skills to a high school reading level.

Since that time, Archie has been a tireless leader, advocate and
spokesperson for and with adult learners, utilizing his skills as a public
speaker, teacher trainer, outreach and recruitment worker, and motivator.
He recently completed a fellowship in leadership training for adult
learners with NIFL and is knowledgeable about learning disabilities,
undertanding teaching techniques, testing for learning disabilities, the
challenges facing adult non-readers and methods non-readers use to mark
illiteracy.

He is currently the Adult Literacy Coordinator of  Iowa Central Community
College, is on the Iowa Literacy Council, the Planning Committee of the
Iowa Adult Literacy Congress, the Iowa Central Community College Literacy
Advisory Council, and the Adult Learner Leadership Academy of America.  He
is also active in the Orton Dyslexia Society, the Iowa Vocational
Rehabilitation Advisory Committee and the Iowa Program for Assistive
Technology Committee.  Honors and awards include the Iowa Governor's
Volunteer Award (1988),  the Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa
Community Service Award (1989), the Learning Disabilities Association of
Iowa President's Award for Service and Support (1994) and the Orton
Dyslexia Society, Iowa Branch, Award in Leadership (1995).  In addition,
Archie has also travelled  with a delegation looking at how  Russia,
Estonia and the Czech Republic deal with learning disabilities

Archie has  launched a very useful website
(http://207.28.234.137/archiew.html ), including information about learning
disabilities, his own story and those of others.


For a more complete look at Archie's resume, please contact LR/RI
(janet_isserlis at brown.edu).

As stated above, I hope that the field will be able to support Archie's
candidacy for the NIFL Board.  His is a voice that speaks from experience
and with and for many of the adult learners for and with whom we are all
doing our work in the first place.

Janet Isserlis
Literacy Resources/RI