PROVIDING FREE ADULT EDUCATION SINCE 1991
VOLUME 5
Spring 2012
Sylvana’s Stories
Many people go through life without a set goal. Sylvana
Proanio is definitely NOT one of those people. She always
wanted to be a writer. But there was one slight hitch – having
immigrated from Ecuador in 1995, she first had to improve
her English and hone her writing skills.
Sylvana enlisted the help of LitNet. In the last thirteen
years she has worked diligently with three different tutors:
Gloria Lempky, Rose Mary Borsody, and Shirley Vincent.
During that time she also married her Ecuadorian highschool sweetheart and had two daughters. Indeed, Sylvana
is most proud of fostering two cultures in one family,
“…with love and respect for both the country I am from
and the country that is our home.”
Sylvana is currently in a program to earn her Medical
Interpreter certification. She reports it is “intense.”
Here are portions of a letter Sylvana wrote to a LitNet staff
member last year, which pretty much tells it all.
I want you to know that I’m having such a good time with my
tutor Shirley Vincent. She is a wonderful person and a very patient
teacher. I have been learning so much throughout the Literacy
Network program.
About twelve years ago I had my first tutor, Gloria Lempky. She
was another great person. She was very kind, very generous…to this
day we are still good friends.
After a few years I continued learning with my next tutor Rose
Mary Borsody. We concentrated on reading skills. She would bring
me magazines or chapter books to read in class and talk about it.
LitNet‘s Annual
Appeal
We’ve reached our majority! Now in
our 21st year, LitNet continues to enable
members of our own community to help
themselves through literacy. Whether
learning to read — as an adult — working toward a GED or learning and
improving non-native English-speaking
skills, LitNet students work hard everyday
to expand and improve their own lives. By
extension, the life of the community is
enriched through their hard-won efforts.
LitNet has helped hundreds of people
Sylvana Proanio with her daughters, Isabella and Daniella.
Now for the last year and a half I’m improving my writing with
Shirley’s help. I have always wanted to be a writer and because of
the Literacy Network and the wonderful tutors I always have, I’m
pleased to say that I have had two articles published in a local
magazine Berkshire Family. In February I wrote a story “The Loss
of a Loved Pet,” a real incident with my two daughters and their
lost cat. My second article “The Gift of Two Cultures” came out in
March; in this article I describe life being bilingual.
Thank you to the Literacy Network for the dedication throughout these years, not only to me but also to the Latino Community.
I’m looking forward to writing more articles, and my book.
Sylvana has reached her goal; wouldn’t you agree?
reach these goals and make possible it is simple to make your gift.
their version of the American Dream.
Please give today, and consider how
Our 100-plus trained and loyal many of your friends and neighbors help
volunteers — your friends and neighbors and have been helped by LitNet.
— work diligently with each student to
Thank you!
achieve their goals and dreams. Please
support LitNet as we strive to meet our
A Chorus Line is coming –
Annual Fund Goal of $25,000.
see story on page 3.
Every contribution counts!! If you’ve
not received your Annual Fund letter
recapping the last year’s accomplishments
you should have it in your hands shortly.
If you’d like to make your tax-deductible
gift today, please phone our office (413)
243-0471 and we’ll be happy to help, or
visit our website www.litnetsb.org, where
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Three new members have taken their
seats on the LitNet Board of Directors
early in 2012, taking the place of retiring
members.
The new members are Lucy Prashker,
Cris Raymond and Susan Weintraub. Lucy is
managing partner of the Cain, Hibbard &
Myers law firm, with offices in Great
Barrington. In addition to LitNet, she serves on
the boards of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts
Center and the Berkshire Hills Fund for
Excellence, an educational enrichment fund
that supports the Berkshire Regional School
District. Cris, now retired from a career in
book publishing, has been a LitNet tutor and
active supporter for more than ten years.
Susan also is a LitNet tutor and holds degrees
in speech therapy and speech pathology.
Members who have retired from the
LitNet board are Enid Michelman, Ginger
Schwartz and Suky Werman. A long-time supporter and advocate for LitNet, Enid had served
her second set of terms on the board before
retiring in January. Her good humor and ready
willingness to lend a hand will be missed.
Ginger brought to LitNet her great experience in
non-profit fundraising, serving for several years
as chair of our Development Committee. Suky
Werman served on the Education Committee
and graciously donated use of Stonover Bed and
Breakfast (which she and her husband Tom own
and operate) for LitNet functions and parties.
The entire LitNet community expresses
deep appreciation to Enid, Ginger and Suky for
their service and looks forward to the board
tenures of Lucy, Cris and Susan.
LitNet Welcomes Back
Laura Qualliotine
LitNet extends a warm “welcome back” greeting to Laura
Qualliotine, who starts on June 4 as the new Executive Director/
Education Director. Laura succeeds Pam Kittredge, who has been
executive director since May 2010.
Laura served as LitNet’s interim education director in 2005
Laura Qualliotine
before moving to the Gray House program in Springfield, where she
was director of adult education for three years. Laura also served as
ESOL program coordinator at the Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence in
2009–10. Since the fall of 2010 she has been a lecturer and program assistant at the ESL
Institute of the University of New Hampshire in Durham.
Laura has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology from Smith College and
a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the School for
International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.
With her extensive background in adult education, Laura will help LitNet retain an
intense focus on its core mission of helping adults in South Berkshire help themselves
through education.
Laura says: “I’m delighted to be returning to the Literacy Network of South Berkshire
and looking forward to working with the learners, volunteers, staff, board members and
wider community. For me, this opportunity feels like ‘coming home.’ ”
In recent weeks LitNet also has welcomed our new administrative assistant, Shelley
Lester. Shelley came to us from Canyon Ranch, where she worked in the Health and
Healing department until the birth of her son last August. Shelley succeeded Sara
McDonald, who is now working on writing projects.
The entire LitNet community of students, tutors, board members, and supporters
expresses sincere appreciation to Pam Kittredge for her dedicated work on behalf of
LitNet over the past two years. Pam will increase her course load at Earlham School of
Religion working toward her Masters of Divinity and spend time training for another
half marathon coming up this fall. She says that, upon leaving LitNet, she can, unfortunately, find no further excuse to avoid cleaning her house or doing her yard work!
100 Main St. • Lee, MA 01238
(413) 243-0471
www.litnetsb.org
Board of Directors
Lois H. Lenett, Co-President
John Felton, Co-President
Richard Taylor, Treasurer
Adrienne Cosel, Clerk
Lisa Cavender
Bill Dunlaevy
Patricia Flinn
Leon Glazerman
Selina Lamb
Robert D. Montgomery
Daniel Paquette, Board Liaison
Mary J. Philpott (on extended leave)
Lucy Prashker
Cris Raymond
Brian Tobin
Sue Weintraub
Laird White
Staff:
Pamela Kittredge, Executive Director
Margaret Swann, Education Specialist
Shelley Lester, Assistant to Executive Director
LitNet Gazette Committee: John Felton,
Patricia Flinn, Pamela Kittredge,
Laird White, Shelley Lester
Photos: Pat Flinn, Dawn Simmons,
Neil Brander, Molly Cosel & Kevin Sprague
Layout: Kathy Szpak
Printing by The Association of Marian
Fathers, Stockbridge
Who We Are. What We Do:
The Literacy Network of South Berkshire provides
free, one-on-one, confidential tutoring for
Southern Berkshire residents who are over 16 and
not enrolled in school.
Literacy Network’s staff trains volunteer tutors
and provides tutors with materials, meeting
locations, and ongoing educational support. We
match individual tutors with students based on
compatibility, location and times available. Often,
pairs become good friends and build long-term
relationships.
Volunteers provide their time, talent and energy.
We have more than 110 tutors, who volunteer
11,440 hours of their time every year.
LitNet receives no government funding. All of
the revenue to support our work comes from
generous individuals and businesses.
LitNet to Honor
The Masiero Family at October Gala
The Masiero family – well-known
throughout the Berkshires as the owners
of Guido’s Fresh Marketplace and Baba
Louie’s Sourdough Pizza Company
– will receive the annual Founders
of America Award at LitNet’s annual
gala on Saturday, October 13.
Brothers Chris and Matt
Masiero are the co-proprietors of
Guido’s, which they founded in
1979 as a fruit and vegetable
market on Route 7 and have since
developed into hugely popular
markets in Pittsfield and Great
Barrington. The markets are named
in honor of their late father Guido.
Their brother Paul is proprietor of
Baba Louie’s, which has expanded
to three successful restaurants in
Great Barrington, Pittsfield, and
Hudson, New York. Mother Renie
— who at first thought the idea for
Guido’s was crazy — has been an
active supporter of her sons.
Ever since their grandparents came
to the United States from Italy early in
the twentieth century, the Masiero
family has been the epitome of the
American story: immigrants who arrive
with little in the way of material possessions but then, through hard work and
determination, build successful careers
and become valued members of their
communities.
LitNet created the Founders of came to the United States in the early
America Award in 2009 to honor the 1950s.
Last year, LitNet honored classical
contributions immigrants have made to
pianists Yoko Nozaki and Emanuel
“Manny”) Ax. She came to the United
States from Japan when her father
became a research scientist at Duke
University. Manny Ax came from
Poland, via Canada, after his parents
Masiero brothers Matt and Chris
at Guido's by Kevin Sprague.
the building of America.
Our first honoree was Nabih
Nejaime, who, after emigrating from
Lebanon, founded the highly regarded
Nejaime’s Wine and Cheese businesses
in Lenox and Stockbridge. The honorees in 2010 were Edith and Loet
Velmans, natives of The Netherlands
who survived incredible personal hardships during World War II and built
successful professional careers once they
Masiero brother Paul at
his Baba Louie's pizza oven.
survived the German occupation of
their homeland.
The annual Gala will be held again
this year at Berkshire Country Day
School. Look for more information this
summer.
Kick Up Your Heels!!
Get ready to kick up your heels on July 13.
LitNet is having a benefit at the Colonial Theatre in
Pittsfield to see their much anticipated production of the
enormously popular Broadway hit “A Chorus Line.” We have
acquired only 100 orchestra seats so be sure to get yours as
soon as you receive our invitation.
There will be an option for a delicious, convivial and con-
venient pre-theatre dinner, and all LitNet ticket holders will
be feted with a post-production New York-style dessert/ wine
extravaganza in a private section of the lovely Colonial lobby.
Be sure to put this on your calendar and watch for more
details on our web site, www.litnetsb.org, as they become
available. Buy your tickets from LitNet and kick up your
heels with us on July 13!!
LITNET’S GENEROUS 2011 DONORS
Marion Adler
Adam and Rachel Albright
Denny Alsop and Nina Ryan
Glynis Arnold
Emanuel and Yoko Ax
Barbara Badeau
Joe Baker
Christine Baldridge
Lisa Baldwin
Joan Bancroft and Donald Grody
Bank Of America Matching Gifts
Edward Baptiste and Wendy Philbrick
Ann Barrett
Nancy W. Barrocas
Roberta Beeker
Sarah Higginson Begley
Sarah and William Bell
Benchmark Real Estate
Stuart and Diane Benedict
Berkshire Bank Foundation
Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Lila Berle
Paul and Phyllis Berz
John and Patricia Bevan
Robert and Dolores Birch
Mary Blair and Stephen Murray
Lee and Sydelle Blatt
Mel and Rita Blieberg
Charles and Birgit Blyth
Jay and Dena Bock
Jeannene Booher
Michael Book
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Thomas and Lorita Bosworth
John and Natalie Boyce
Sarah and Bronly Boyd
Carl and Stephanie Bradford
Jane and Jay Braus
Arline Breskin
Pamela and Andrew Breslin
Marilyn and Arthur Brimberg
Michael and Doris Bronson
Larry and Nancy Bronstein
Sally Brooke
Beverly Brunette
Thelma Bullock
Deborah and Richard Burke
John and Ann Burnham
Ms. Jane Butler
Cain Hibbard & Myers PC
Mario and Laurel Caluori
Robert and Mary Carswell
Lisa Cavender and Nicholas Kierstead
Eric and Lisa Chamberlain
Carol Chapman
Roselle and Alan Chartock
Claudine Chavanne
Mike Cheftez and Nancy Feldman
Chicago Albumen Works, Inc.
Neil and Kathleen Chrisman
Walter and Ursula Cliff
Dr. Laurence Cohen
Arthur Collins
Michael and Shawn Leary Considine
Vicky Cooper
Mary Copeland and Joe Gonzalez
William and Adrienne Cosel
Stephen and Sandra Cozzaglio
Susan Crofut and Ben Luxon
Robert and Mary Woodson Crowell
Patricia Curran
Robert and Patricia Curry
Tom and Maggie Curtin
Jean Curtiss
Zoë and Stuart Dalheim
Susan and Edmund Dana
Spencer Day
Barbara Priester Deely
Catharine Deely
Nathan Delsignore
John and Virginia Demos
Rebecca Desjardins
Frayda and Richard Diamond
Herb and Carol Diamond
Jeffrey and Amy Diamond
Barbara and Nathan Doctrow
Timothy and Katie Doherty
Norma and Gilbert d'Oliveira
J. Williar and Susan Dunlaevy
Nancy Duryee-Aas
Hadley and Jesse Dutra
Sally Eagle and Dan Mead
Stewart and Lynn Edlestein
Barney and Julie Edmonds
Tim and Linda Egan
T. Donald and Janet Eisenstein
Clinton and Elizabeth Elliott
Thomas and Elizabeth Ellis
Gray and Marianne Ellrodt
Peter and Patricia Elsbach
George and Ginger Elvin
Janine and Harvey Engel
Monroe and Elise England
Mary Ellen Fahs
Samuel and Betsey Farber
Robert and Dolores Farrell
Federal House Inn
Diana Felber and Stephen Glick
John Felton and Marty Gottron
Charlotte Finn
First Congregational Church Of The United
Church Of Christ
Robin Fleet and Philip Coleman
Patricia Flinn
Bette and Perry Flood
Rita Foley
John and Betty Fontaine
Liza Fosburgh
Andy and Tracy Foster
Frederick M. Peyser Foundation
Don Freedman and Susan Rothschild
Ralph and Audrey Friedner
GE Foundation
Robert and Olive Geehr
Michael and Eleanor Geller
Eve Geller-Duffy
Stan and Marilyn Germond
James and Virginia Giddens
George and Cornelia Gilder
Marion Gilliam
Leo and Lucy Gilson
Ann Stephanie and Robert Gittleman
Murielle Glaser and Henry Aguilar
Leon and Ruth Glazerman
Jane Goldenberg
Ezra and Rhonna Goodman
Google
Milton and Annette Gordon
Maureen Gottron
Richard and Susan Grausman
Great Barrington Rotary Club
Richard Greene and
Lindsay Crampton-Greene
Lorraine Greenfield
Greylock Federal Credit Union
Lina and Raymond Grogan
Guido's Fresh Marketplace
Bobbie Hallig
Yehuda and Hannah Hanani
Scott M. and Ellen Hand
Joel and Marsha Handel
Mary Harrison
Janice Hartford
Ed and Louann Harvey
James Hashim
Donna Hassler
Eric and Carol Haythorne
Peter and Ann Herbst
Rhoda Herrick
Adam and Jenny Hersch
Eliza Hewat
Arthur and Louise Hillman
Judith and Dan Hoffman
Henry Holt
Jill Hornor and YoYo Ma
Peter and Louisa Horth
Joyce Hovey
Judith Hudson
Marilyn and Eugene Hunter, Jr.
John and Marilou Hyson
Solomon and Carole Israel
Lola Jaffe
Myron and Katharine Jaffe
Marion Jansen
Johanna and Werner Janssen
Everett and Margie Jassy
Carolyn Jeffrey
Mary Lee Johansen
Robert and Gay Johnson
Helga Orthofer Kaiser
Chet and Vera Kalm
Nancy K. Kalodner
Seymour Karpen
Holly Ketron
Mary D. Kierstead
Mr. Seymour Robins
Richard and Athena Kimball
Caitlin Kittredge
Pam Kittredge
Kiwanis Club of Otis & Sandisfield
Suzanne and David Klausmeyer
Patti and Harvey Klein
Anthony and Susanne Knerr
Richard and Nedra Koplin
Paul and Joan Kopperl
Bob Kraut and Elise Abrams
Anne Lacourse
Elizabeth Lamanno
David and Selina Lamb
James Lamme III and Wendy Linscott
Robert and Muriel Lazzarini
Aaron and Lynne Leavitt
Lee Bank
Lee Hardware
Legacy Banks Foundation
Stephen and Lois Lenett
Lenox Garden CLub
Sydney and Judith Levine
Mike and Gloria Levitas
Amey and Fulton Lewis
Thomas and Susan Lewis
Ben and Sharon Liptzin
Edwin and Elaine London
Chauncey Loomis
Eleanor Lord
James Lostrangio
Darleen Lynch
Dr. John Lyons
Donald and Ingrid MacGillis
Christopher and Jo Anne Magee
Barbara Mahony
Richard and Cindy Malkin
Matthew and Catherine Mandel
Barbara and Roger Manring
Dennis and Judy Mareb
Wayne and Rebecca Marzotto
John and Kathy Mason
Georgia Massucco
Barbara and Christopher May
David and Betsey McKearnan
Katharine McLennan
Cornelius and Kathleen McMahon
Enid Michelman
Frank and Ellen Michelman
Nancy and Michael Miller
Robert Montgomery and Jane Iredale
John Morse
F. Douglas and Dorothy Munson
Channing and Jane Murdock
James and Elizabeth Murray
C. Twiggs Myers
Alexander and Judith Nardacci
Michael and Anne Nardi
Fadi and Beverly Nejaime
Marilyn and Nabih Nejaime
Leon and Barbara Nesis
Sandra Newman
Faith and Larry Newmark
Nancy Nirenberg
Vaughn and Margaret Nixon
Mary Ellen and Paul O'Brien
Lesley Oransky
Emily Ostrower
James Overmyer and Ellen Weiden
Mary Palmer
Marcia Parnell
Carol Parrish
Tony and Carolann Patterson
Kim Pedersen
William and Marina Perry
Mary and John W. Philpott
Steven and Helice Picheny
Raymond Pieczarka and Mandy Victor
Andrew and Katharine Pincus
Eric and Catherine Plakun
Peter and Jo Podol
Dennis Pollock and Elizabeth Neale
David and Margaret Poutasse
Marcia Powdermaker and Andrew Potler
Jonathan Prince
Bruno and Minkie Quinson
John and Cheryl Raifstanger
Cris Raymond
Charles and Julie Reich
H. Juergen and Leslie Reiche
Don and Judy Reinauer
F. Peter and Mary Rentz
Rick and Nancy Richardson
Ellen Ring
Robbins - de Beaumont Foundation
Robert and Elizabeth McGraw Black Rock
Foundation
Black Rock Foundation Fund
Lesley Roberts
Jennie and James Robitaille
Victor and Janice Romley
Marcie Rose
Bob and Roz Rosenblatt
Jean and Georgeanne Rousseau
Joan and Robert Rubinstein
Amy Rutstein
Jane Ryan
Thomas Sakshauk
Malcolm and Barbara Salter
Wynn A. and Elizabeth Sayman
Loretta Scheel and Bob Bujalski
Joyce and Lewis Scheffey
Martin and Audrey Schlanger
Peter A.V. and Janine Schoeffer
Charles Schulze and Lucy Holland
Schwab Charitable Fund
Ginger and Arthur Schwartz
Carole Schwimmer
J. Peter and Barbara Scolforo
Annie Selke
Regina Serkin
Terrence and Jane Shea
Joseph and Shauna Sheehan
Barry and Anne Sheridan
Arthur Sherman
Thomas and Elizabeth Cornman Sherman
Ruth Shibuya
Nancy Shook
Bill Short
Claudia and Carl Shuster
Joseph and Adrienne Silverstein
Marion Simon
Amy Singer
Christine and Kenneth Singer
Marcia and Jane Slaminsky
Turbi and Paul Smilow
Debbie and H. Ashley Smith
George Smith
Kathleen and Philip Smith
Margaret and Robert Smith
Starbuck and Anna Smith
Jeffrey and Aline Sosne
Jack and Judy Spencer
Mary Spina
Doug and Nanette Spoehr
Ute Spors-Arnold
Jerome St. John and Robin Nolte
Beverly Stawasz
Robert Stern
Sherri Stiffin
John and Katherine Stookey
Alan and Lorraine Strassler
David H. and Lorna M. Strassler
Robert and Leila Strassler
Lawrence Strauss and Fran Weinberg
Suburban Internal Medicine
Lenore and Paul Sundberg
Bill and Margaret Swann
Len and Ellen Tabs
Eileen Taft
Maribeth Tamulevich
Aso Tavitian
James and Caroline Taylor
Richard and Ingrid Taylor
Mori and Percy Tezelnic
The Aquidneck Foundation
The Barrington Foundation
Ms. Lisa Sloane
c/o The Carl and Toby Sloane Family
Foundation
The Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation LLP
The New York Community Trust
The Pumpkin Foundation
Mark Hyman and Pier Boutin
Randy and Sheila Thunfors
Thursday Morning Club
Brian Tobin
Arlene and Franklin Tolopko
Toole Insurance
LITNET’S GENEROUS 2011 DONORS
John Toole
Forrest C. and Margot Towl
Town of Egremont
Brian and Sidney Urquhart
Laughran Vaber
Kate Van Orman
Vantage Press
Hester Velmans and Peter Cherneff
Loet and Edith Velmans
Shirley and Reginald Vincent
Elliott and Harriet Vines
Mitch Vollmers
Barbara Von Clausburg
Barbara Wacholder
Cecille Wasserman
Terry and Lois Weaver
Kolleen and Brian Weinrich
Susan Weintraub
Diana Wellington
Thomas and Suky Werman
Thomas and Margaret Wessel
Jane and George Wheeler
White Pines Condominiums
Reid and Laird White
continued from page 5
Peter and Jean Whitehead
James Whitman
Rita Willey
Joan and Peter Williams
John and Samantha Williams
Mark and Liz Williams
Robert and Carol Williams
Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers
Debby and E.W. Winslow
Wish You Well Foundation
Fran and Joel Wolk
Jeremy and Kathryn Yudkin
HENRY CHUNG Nominated for Business Award
Award Winner Henry Chung
LitNet student Henry Chung is one
of eleven immigrant business owners
nominated for an “Outstanding
Neighborhood Business” award in this
year’s “Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards”
sponsored by the Immigrant Learning
Center in Malden. The awards will be
presented in Cambridge on May 9.
Henry, his wife Hue, and his sister
Kim opened Pho Saigon on Railroad
Street in Lee in 2006. The restaurant’s
name comes from the traditional
Vietnamese soup “pho,” a Saigon-style
noodle soup with a rich broth and freshly
cooked meat and vegetables.
All three Chungs were born in China
but raised in Vietnam. They came to the
United States in 1984, following the
GIFT OF LITERACY
Since the last newsletter, LitNet supporters have honored
or memorialized friends and loved ones with donations to
LitNet through our “Gift of Literacy” program:
In honor of:
Lee and Ruth Glazerman — Lesley Oransky
Richard and Ingrid Taylor — John and Patricia Bevan
If you care to honor or memorialize
someone through a tax-deductible gift to
our “Gift of Literacy” program,
please call us at 413-243-0471.
Vietnam War, and ended up in Pittsfield,
where they worked at different jobs until
deciding to take advantage of their love of
cooking and open a restaurant. Pho
Saigon has become a popular destination
for locals and tourists.
Henry is a LitNet student improving
his English skills with his tutor Mario
Caluori. His wife, Hue, and his sister,
Kim, were students of Literacy Network
and their tutors were Carol Wag and Bill
Selke, respectively.
The Immigrant Learning Center is a
non-profit agency that provides educational and other services for immigrants
in the greater Boston area. Additional
information about the awards can be
found at www.ilctr.org/events.
In memory of:
Inga Dean — Sarah Higginson Begley
Susan St. John — Nancy Shook, Janice and Harry Hartford, Debbie and Ashley
Smith, John and Kathy Mason, Douglas and Nanette Spoehr, Robert and Dolores
Farrell, Cornelius and Kathleen McMahon, Bob and Lili Geehr, Pam and Andy Breslin,
Sherri Stiffin, Joseph and Shauna Sheehan, Robert and Gay Johnson, Michael Book,
Paul and Lenore Sundberg, Patricia Curran, James and Elizabeth Murray, Thomas
and Elizabeth Ellis, Regina Serkin, Edmund and Susan Dana, Lenox Garden Club,
Bill Dunlaevy, Thomas Sakshauk, Aline Sosne, Bronly and Sarah Boyd, Stephanie
Bradford, Rita Willey, Roberta Beeker, Rebecca and Wayne Marzotto, Robert and
Patricia Curry, Shirley and Reg Vincent, Carol Chapman, Barbara Badeau, James
Hashim, John and Ann Burnham, Jennie and James Robitaille, Louisa and Peter
Horth, Anne Lacourse, Maribeth Tamulevich, Lisa Baldwin, Peter and Jo Bodol,
Darleen Lynch, Elizabeth Fosburgh, Marcie Rose, Lesley Roberts, Faith Newmark,
Hadley and Jesse Dutra, Jerome St. John and Robin Nolte, Jeffrey Konowitch
Tutoring Toward the “Chat Room”
Student Maria Restrepo (left) with
Tutor Pat Flinn. Photo by Neil Brander
In 2003, Pat Flinn had a friend who
worked with a literacy group in Pittsfield,
teaching students how to read. Pat was
interested, but still busy with her job as
Senior Systems Analyst at Berkshire Life.
A year later, she read a newspaper article
about LitNet and, now retired and available, she joined the organization and
became a tutor.
Since 2005 she has worked with a
student named Celia, who came to the
United States from El Salvador when she
was in her twenties. When she arrived
Celia knew no English except for money
and time, to lead her through the day.
Knowing this, Pat first bought a
calendar decorated with pictures of flow-
ers and they started with colors, months
and days of the week. It was slow, tedious
work. One word after another, but a long
way to the “Chat Room.” (Pat realized it
would take time before Celia would be
comfortable enough with English to
comment and “chat” during class.)
After a couple of years, Celia’s two
daughters came to the Berkshires and she
immediately brought them to the next
class. Pat remembers her smiling a
“Cheshire cat” smile. Celia was not only
happy that they had arrived but eager for
them to meet Pat.
A turning point came one day when
Pat and Celia were reading an exercise
containing the words “local police.”
Celia thought the word “local” was
“loco,” the Spanish word for “crazy.”
This comment brought giggles, and
giggles meant progress.
On another occasion they were
studying a subject involving numbers.
Celia realized the words “two” and “too”
sounded alike but had different meanings. She laughed. Celia was able to find
something humorous with English.
More progress.
Pat is not a pusher. She lets Celia
direct the progress. She asks Celia “What
words are new for you?” (more positive
than “What words don’t you understand?”), and tries to describe the words
in terms Celia can understand. She especially likes to show when an English word
relates to a Spanish word. For instance,
the word for “sleep” in Spanish is
“dormir.” Pat points out that English has
a word, “dormitory,” which means a place
where students go to bed and … sleep!
Celia nods, smiles and they chat!
Pat also has been a member of
LitNet's board of directors since 2006.
She is our designated proofreader and
inevitably finds a missing E or M in our
reports. This talent echoes her computer
background and her careful, care-filled
method of tutoring.
With Celia the learning continues,
but now happily in the “Chat Room.”
By Laird White
Reaching Beyond Locked Doors
by Natalia Collins
When I look back to who I was three years
ago, I realize how much I’ve grown and
changed as a person. The first time I came to
Natalia Collins
America was as a participant in the Work and
Travel USA program for students. I was studying at Russia State
Social University when I noticed a poster with students’ pictures
and comments about their great experiences in America. I
decided that this was an excellent opportunity for me to learn
about the country, its traditions, and customs.
Living in the USA opened a whole new world for me. At
first I couldn’t speak English very well, and it was a real challenge for me to start a conversation. But I’m really at my best
when I’m challenged. I started to study English in the library
by meeting for private lessons with the LitNet teachers, and I
also went to evening ESL classes that were provided by South
Berkshire Educational Collaborative. As I was studying
English, the inspiration and dedication of my teachers helped
me to move one step closer to my dream. I felt more
confident to get my driver’s license and enter Berkshire
Community College. I believe that the English language
helped me in my developing cultural intelligence and
adapting to a new lifestyle. Also, my becoming more independent has given me a lot of confidence and strength. Now
I’m on my way to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts at
Mount Holyoke College.
The fluency I have achieved in the English language has
opened new doors and created better opportunities for me; it
has given me a voice and power to be engaged in the community. In the future, I hope to work in Barrington Stage
Company’s Playwright Mentoring Project whose mission is to
use theatre as a catalyst to help at-risk youth learn valuable
life skills that will aid them in developing positive self-images.
I want to become actively involved in this project because I
would like to help children with adjustment problems and
improve their lifestyles. This could also give me experience
working with the project’s professional therapists.
Ultimately, I would like to combine my pre-USA background
in theater arts with my current studies in psychology to
design and implement effective and creative employee-training
programs for diverse communities.
Literacy Network
of South Berkshire
Lee Library
100 Main St. • Lee, MA 01238
(413) 243-0471 • info@litnetsb.org
www.litnetsb.org
SAVE THE DATE
July 13: BERKSHIRE THEATRE FESTIVAL’S “A CHORUS
LINE” COLONIAL THEATRE IN PITTSFIELD
Oct. 13: ANNUAL GALA AT BERKSHIRE COUNTRY DAY
2011 GALA
Honorees
Emmanuel Ax
and Yoko Nozaki
Sarah Boyd
Pam Breslin, Bambi Neale
and Toddy Munson
Barkeeps Bonnie and
Lou Carnevale – their ties
say READ
Bronly Boyd and
Dennis Pollock
Michael Geller,
Martin Schlanger
and Lee Glazerman
Wendy Philbrick
and
Ed Baptiste
Carol and Herb Diamond
Enid Michelman
Honorees Manny and Yoko accept their award
Photos by Molly Cosel