The first big step toward a new Laubach occurred on September 16, 2004 when Laubach Literacy of Canada formed its new Board of Directors under the revised June 2004 bylaws. Two positions will continue from the former Board of Directors for the 2004-2005 year, President and National Student Representative. I will assume the responsibilities of the President again this year with the able support of the National Student Representative, Gary Porter, and the eight Member Representatives appointed by Laubach provincial organizations.

The move to Ottawa is underway and our National Literacy Secretariat funding was approved in September. The latter enabled LLC to pursue the “Aligning Materials and Training Systems with Current Needs in Literacy” project, which encompasses four major initiatives in line with LLC's strategic plan.

LLC has embarked on a major effort to review and improve its training methods for literacy practitioners. A project entitled Laubach Enhanced Training System (LETS) will enter its final phase and trials of this new way of conducting basic tutor training will be monitored and evaluated. The end product and the way it was achieved will form the basis for reviewing other areas of training and ultimately Laubach's certification process.

LLC will establish a communication and liaison model to ensure co-ordination and information sharing between all levels of the organization - local, provincial and national – and to promote alignment of objectives and projects with emerging literacy needs.

LLC will expand its support to literacy learners and ensure that their needs and projects have an appropriate venue for development. LLC will also support volunteers in their tasks as literacy providers.

Further, LLC will respond to the call for Canadian materials for literacy practitioners and students alike by researching ways to make Laubach materials more widely accessible.

The strategic plan involved a lengthy process and Laubach tutors, trainers, students and the many volunteers who help out at the council and provincial levels have been very patient. In November the new Board of Directors will consider a draft tactical plan, which aims to implement the strategies adopted at the June Annual General Meeting. This will enable the organization to better organize its financial and human resources and work to accomplish Laubach's entire plan over time. Some results will be felt quickly and others will come over the long term. Again, we enlist your patience as Laubach Literacy of Canada transforms itself into a high-performance organization better geared to the needs of its constituents and better integrated in the literacy community.