New National Adult Student Organization

[Archie Willard]

To the friends of literacy:

It's now been four days since I returned from the Highlander.  What
happened?  I'm thinking so many things, it's hard to put my feelings
down on paper.  It was an historic event, one that everyone who was
there will always remember.  Those who were there can look back and say,
"I was there and I was a part of it."  In our lives a few things happen
that we take part in and at the time we don't realize how important they
are.  As time passes, the people who had some part and/or participated
will always be proud that they participated in this event.

This organizational meeting was a long and tedious process, but was
necessary so that everyone could buy into this new organization.  People
spoke out and every voice was heard.  Now in place is a team of 11 adult
students or former adult students to take on the tasks that were spelled
out at this meeting.  Five committees were formed to help do the work
that needs to be done.  Two team members will serve as chairpersons of
each of the five committees.  Each delegate picked the committee he/she
wanted to serve on.

We selected a name for our new organization.  Many names were listed on
a wall to be considered, then voted on.  The top three were voted on
again.  The final choice is, "VOICES FOR ADULT LITERACY UNITED FOR
EDUCATION"  (VALUE).

When people left they looked overwhelmed by all that had occurred.  It
will take time for all of us to look back and digest everything that
took place.  There is more to this organization than people realized and
the delegates were probably surprised. More things will have to take
place before this adult students' organization is in full gear.
Delegates generally felt this group is up to the task and can meet the
challenges of putting things together and succeeding. They also left
with smiles on their faces and the feeling that they have some ownership
in this organization.  The spirit that the people captured when they
were there made this meeting special. The Highlander is a place where
things like this have happened before.

Since our Academy Workshop in Illinois last summer and now the
Highlander Organizational meeting,  we as adult students and former
adult students have shown we are capable of accomplishing a lot of
things.  I think the literacy field should look to us for leadership to
help make positive changes.  I also think Laubach, LVA, and other
literacy groups should be looking at qualified adult students to work as
full-time employees in their organizations to infuse new energy.

Many  people who were not adult learners gave of themselves so that this
Highlander meeting could take place.  Others gave money and resources.
I will not name all of them at this time, but I will try to thank each
one personally.  On behalf of all the student delegates in attendance at
the Highlander, I do want to say thanks to everyone who had a part in
any way.  To all of you who have shown interest in what we as an adult
student organization have done and hope to accomplish, I'm thankful that
you are out there.

I will write more later.

Thanks, 

Archie Willard

Archie Willard
Eagle Grove, IA  50533 (US)
millard at netins.net
FAX - 515-448-3480
URL - http://207.28.234.137/archiew.html