[NLA] Volunteers and credentials

[Mary Lynn Carver]

Andrea-
Our volunteers attend a 16 hour initial training and are expected to attend at
least 3 two hour workshops each year to stay in touch with new techniques, meet
other tutors and brush up on areas they want more information on.  While we do
have an annual recognition dinner to thank them for their efforts, to a tutor, if
you asked them, their reward is helping the adults who need them.

About half our tutors are retired, the rest work full time jobs.  We have about a
60/40% female/male ratio.  Most of our tutors are NOT teachers in their "other"
life, just generous people who want to help.

Our program staff are all Master's Degreed in Adult Education, Reading, Library
Science or Education.  We write curriculum and training materials, attend
conferences and attend mandatory professional development annually to keep up
with what's new in AE & Literacy, then pass it on to our volunteers.  Last year
we served 300+ students, and we couldn't have done it without our extremely
dedicated (200+) tutors.  Our program is not unique. All the other programs I've
ever seen, visited or heard about work this way as well. We spend our time in the
community, with our students and volunteers and don't have as much time to
read/respond to these lists, perhaps that's where the differences in perception
are.

Mary Lynn Carver
Lake County Adult Learning Connection
Waukegan, IL
mlcarver at nslsilus.org

AWilder106 at aol.com wrote:

> Deborah,
>
> OK, I'll bite, what credentials to do what task?
>
> Do your volunteers  have jobs?  Are they retired?
>
> And--do you give honoraria of any sort to volunteers?  I'm thinking that pure
> altruism  (I've been in the position) can be a tough row to hoe without
> something of worth being given back.
>
> Thanks for your information, it is invaluable.
>
> Andrea
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