Bill Text: NY J00211 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-01-15 - ADOPTED [J00211 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00211-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 211

BY: Senator BRESLIN

        COMMEMORATING  the  50th  Anniversary  of Literacy
        Volunteers of Rensselaer County to be celebrated  on
        October 5, 2018

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the custom of this Legislative Body to honor those
illustrious institutions of the  State  of  New  York  whose  purposeful
endeavors serve to enhance the quality of life in their communities; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate  the  50th  Anniversary of Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer
County to be celebrated at the Hilton Garden Inn,  Troy,  New  York,  on
October  5,  2018; Journalist and Writer John Gray will be the Emcee for
this auspicious event; and

  WHEREAS, For 47 years, Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County  has
helped  to build a more literate society by providing free, confidential
tutoring to adults and out-of-school  teens  in  reading,  writing,  and
English for speakers of other languages (ESOL); and

  WHEREAS,  Founded  in  1968  under  the  sponsorship of Church Women
United, the office at the  First  United  Presbyterian  Church  in  Troy
opened in 1977; the program began with basic literacy students and later
included ESOL students; and

  WHEREAS,  Following  the  model  created by Ruth Colvin and Literacy
Volunteers of America, Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County recruits
and trains volunteers to  be  tutors;  it  also  serves  more  than  200
learners annually, with programs including one-to-one tutoring and small
group   instruction  in  reading  and  writing,  ESOL,  math,  financial
literacy, computer literacy, workplace literacy, citizenship preparation
and reading mentors for kids in elementary school; and

  WHEREAS, Under the leadership of President Caitlin Stein-Miner,  the
professional staff supports more than 100 volunteer tutors, as well as a
corps   of  tutor  trainers,  event  planners,  and  board  members  who
successfully run the programs; funding is provided by State and  Federal
agencies  as  well  as  corporate  sponsors,  granting organizations and
foundations, and individual donors; and

  WHEREAS, The  many  services  provided  by  Literacy  Volunteers  of
Rensselaer  County  include:  One-to-One  and Small Group Tutoring: this
helps individuals learn to read, to write, and to speak English, and  to
improve  their  math  skills;  tutoring  is  free  and confidential, and
students and tutors work together for an average of two hours  per  week
to meet students' goals; Tutor Training Workshops prepare new volunteers
to  tutor  adults using an interactive, learner-centered, whole language
approach;  and  the  Workplace   Literacy   program   provides   on-site
instruction  for  English language learners working at local businesses;
and

  WHEREAS, In addition, English Literacy Civics classes  meet  for  25
weeks  from  October through May for a total of 150 hours of instruction

to English Language learners in Albany and Troy; the Sewing and  English
Class  gives  women  a  chance to learn valuable employment skills while
practicing their English every Saturday at the former McManus Center  on
Herrick  Street;  the  Citizenship Preparation classes at the Rensselaer
Public Library give students the information and  skills  they  need  to
pass  the  Naturalization  Test  and interview; and a Financial Literacy
program is offered as part of the YWCA's "Ready to  Work"  trainings  at
the Troy YWCA; and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Make the Most of Your Money program serves
women participating in these trainings; Everybody Wins! gives elementary
school  children  a  chance  to spend time reading with positive reading
role models; Reading mentors from area businesses and the community meet
weekly with elementary  children  in  elementary  schools  in  Troy  and
Albany;  Telephone Conversation Partners helps English language learners
practice English on the phone with a friendly volunteer for  30  minutes
each  week;  learners  converse  with  volunteers  on  the  telephone to
strengthen  their  speaking  and  listening  comprehension  skills;  and
Tutoring  at  the Rensselaer County Jail gives incarcerated men a chance
to get reading and math help from volunteer  tutors  while  enrolled  in
Questar III classes at the jail; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of this Legislative Body that when the
noble  aims  and  accomplishments  of  organizations  such  as  Literacy
Volunteers  of  Rensselaer  County  are  brought  to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly proclaim and  commend  them,  their  staff,  and
their dedicated volunteers; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Literacy  Volunteers  of  Rensselaer
County; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Caitlin Stein-Miner, President,  Literacy  Volunteers  of
Rensselaer County.