Laubach's Strategic Plan Now Set in Motion

Gay Hamilton, Executive Director

Laubach Literacy of Canada's (LLC's) Strategic Plan is finished and is posted on LLC's website for all to peruse. While everyone at Laubach can take heart in the knowledge that the strategic planning process was thorough, brought Laubach supporters together to discuss their passions and differences and culminated in a blueprint for change, the work is really just beginning.

The strategies for change have been laid out. There remains the task of deciding what to do, when to do it, who should do it and exactly how it should be done. The strategies form the big picture and LLC's Board of Directors and staff are putting their heads together to determine how the pieces fit together. This will be a tactical or action plan.

Many changes are already happening quickly. The move from the National Development Office in Bedford, Quebec to Ottawa is being finalized and the new Head Office will house the Executive Director plus two new staff members who will take on communications & liaison and volunteer & student support. As planned, the National Development Office will be phased out over the next few months.

It is important to note that volunteers who are tutors, trainers, students, councils and members of provincial Boards are still very much a part of LLC and this year's projects and programs will strive to strengthen and build upon those relationships. All of the areas that LLC's organizational review identified as needing change and all of the strategies that were formulated in response to that need cannot be initiated at once. The timeline for the strategic plan is 2003-2013. We are already well on our way and staff members are very fortunate to have such committed volunteers to support them.

As the tactical plan takes form, the Member Representatives will be able to keep their provincial members informed. After all, first among LLC's priorities is better communication. By year-end, a new communication model, the networks to deliver it and better and quicker responses to queries can be expected. The Student Caucus will be formed and ready for their first Annual General Meeting. The very core of Laubach's existence - training - is a major focus this year and the foundation is being prepared for a review of certification.

Please see LLC's New Staff Positions, page 3.

Literacy Action Day

October 21, 2004

Literacy Action Day (LAD) is an annual event that provides delegates from provincial/territorial and national literacy organizations an opportunity to meet on Parliament Hill with politicians to discuss the importance of literacy.

Representatives from Laubach included Marilee DeLombard, Gary Porter, Valerie McConnell, Gay Hamilton, Sue Price, John DeVries and Josie Gouin.

One of the results of LAD was the meeting that Canada's seven national literacy organizations had with the Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. Minister Volpe spent two and a half hours with the Executive Directors who got to know his staff and had the time to get all of their messages across as well as background information. Mainly, the Minister was asked to lead the implementation of the 2003 report “Raising Adult Literacy Skills: The Need for a Pan-Canadian Response” and to encourage his colleagues in Cabinet to flag literacy as an important component for the improvement in the lives of Canadians.