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THE LITERACY
BUZZ
A Publication of
The Literacy
Council
of Clermont and Brown
Counties
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| One Tutor, One Student, One
Word at a Time |
December 2008
Volume 5 | |
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Dear friends,
During this Holiday Season, I am pleased to bring
you a very special letter that was written to Santa
Claus.
What?
You
no longer believe?
Like so many
other non-believers, neither did the author of this
note. Until, one day, something powerful happened in her
life that caused her not only to believe again but
helped her to realize that dreams really can come
true.
Please accompany me on a brief
journey into a world that many of us cannot even
imagine. Pull up a chair, locate your spectacles and
examine the contents of a touching correspondence that
made its way to the North Pole. After being read by the
big guy who likes red suits, the letter found its way to
our doorstep. Perfect timing.
This is our gift to you, to thank you for a
wonderful year. We sing the praises of the staff and
board of directors who help steer the agency's progress.
We hold in our heart the countless hours the tutors put
forth. A gracious thank you for the many times
throughout the year volunteers rolled up their sleeves
and came to our aid. Last, a gigantic cheer to the
students, those brave individuals who battle self-doubt
and years of negative messages to begin the commitment
of learning how to read ... Observing their journey has
taught us more than we could ever teach them. Those
students fuel our days with
inspiration.
"And to all, a good
night."
Happy Reading,
Susan M.
Vilardo
Executive
Director | |
 A Letter from the North
Pole
Dear Santa,
I write this letter as an
apology. I think back on all of the years that I
refused to send my Christmas list. I told everyone
that there was no such thing as a Santa Claus. My
stubborn attitude must have hurt you to the
core.
Now I am ready to admit the
truth: I acted so headstrong to keep everyone from
guessing my painful secret. I did not know
how to write a Christmas Wish List.
Santa, I never learned to read or write the way most
people could. You probably already know this truth
but it can only be real for me when I bring it out into
the open.
 Many years ago I attempted to send
you a letter with my single request. I wanted a
baby doll. I could not spell so my nearly
ill-legible hand writing of "doll" looked more like
"ball" with some backwards/upside down letters adding to
the confusion. On Christmas morning I found it
difficult to hide my bitter disappointment when the
ripped paper revealed a huge green ball. I was
pretty mad at you for a long time after that. I
realize now that it was wrong for me to blame you.
The blame lay with me. It was simply my
inability to capture a "wish" with pen and paper because
I did not know how.
 For the past two years I have been
smitten by an angel. That is what I call
her. She is my Reading Angel. Her name is
Candis and she has helped me. At 57 years old I
have been learning how to read and write. I have
actually gotten very good at it and Candis says I am
improving all of the time. Although there were
days when I just wanted to give up. That's when
Candis did her magic. She hung in there with me
and gave encouragement. She has never once allowed
me to give up. I know for sure that she is an
angel because no human being could be that
patient. Santa, I have kept you long
enough. Now you know the rest of my life
story. In a little while I am going to the store
to purchase a doll for my granddaughter. It is my
Christmas gift to her. I guarantee it will be a
shopping experience of joy. If you are quick, you
will spot me amid the shopping madness with my
granddaughter's special request tucked in my arms
cradling a memory and inhaling the perfect scent of a
brand new baby doll. This year
Santa, I am writing to you because... I
CAN!
 I do believe, Brenda
M. |
 Year End
Contributions
It's not too late to make your
tax-deductible end-of-year gift to the Literacy Council!
Your support helps people in our community start fresh
in the new year by learning to read and
write.
Mail checks (made out to LCCBC)
to:
756 Old State Route 74,
Cincinnati, OH 45245
or call Susan at 513-943-3741
to contribute by credit card.
On
behalf of our students, thank you for your
generosity. |
Mark Your Calendar
- December 24-26 - Agency closed for Christmas
- December 31 - Agency closed at noon
- January 1 - Agency closed for New Year's Day
- January 9 - Book Bee Open House from 11:00 - Noon
- January 19 - Agency Closed - Martin Luther King
Holiday
- February 6 - Book Bee Open House from 11:00 - Noon
- February 16 - Agency Closed - President's Day
- March 6 - Book Bee Open House from 11:00 - Noon
- June 22 - Annual Spelling Bee returns!
Three-person adult teams compete to the
end
Call or visit our web site for additional information
about these events: Literacy Council 513-943-3740,
www.clermontbrownliteracy.org. |
| Busy Bees Buzzzing
About
Gratitude to the "busy bees" that assisted with our
fifth Literacy Council Newsletter: Suzanne Bona
Hatem and Tom Rocklin
A
big buzz of gratitude to our agency
funders. Thank you for your support.
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