Check Out the Changes on VITA's Website VITA's website (vitalaf.org) has been updated. The new website offers the same information as our first site with new additions. Included on the VITA home menu are: How the Program Works, Programs, Students, Tutors, FAQ, ESL, Newsletters, Donations, Board of Directors, History, Links, Literacy Statistics, Contact Us, and Home. Of special interest on the tutor menu are Forms (monthly report, group reports, blank calendar); Links for Tutors (lesson plans, ideas, activities, and games); Questions?; and Frequently Asked Questions. At the bottom of the home page, you can find our Facebook link and click "like" to become a fan of VITA. Annual Recognition Banquet Sunday, September 26, 2010 6 p.m. at Vermilionville Tickets will be mailed to tutors, students and friends of VITA VITA Student Sophia Ismail recently received a certificate for fulfilling the requirements to pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Pictured with Sophia (right) is VITA Staff Member Sheila Stagg. Her tutor is James LaFleur, M.D., a retired physician. VITA Student Passes the TOEFL Sophia Ismail, a VITA student from Egypt, recently passed the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). This difficult exam is required by foreign students to enter American universities. Sophia hopes to continue her studies in pharmacy in the United States. She attends VITA group classes and is tutored by James LaFleur, M.D., a retired physician Sophia graduated from pharmacy school in Egypt and began her master's degree at the University of Cairo. After her marriage, she moved to Lafayette with her husband for his studies at ULL. She plans to work on her equivalency test to qualify for a bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical sciences. After Sophia receives her qualification, she intends to intern for a pharmacist so she can find employment in her chosen field. Upcoming Downtown Alive to Feature VITA Downtown Alive events feature a non-profit during their concert season each week. VITA is the scheduled non-profit program to be highlighted at the November 5 concert. The popular South Louisiana band, Lil' Band of Gold, will perform at Parc San Souci on that date. A VITA booth will be available at the event to offer give-aways and literature about the program. A benefit raffle will be also held that evening. If you would like to assist us with the booth that night, please call 234-4600. Downtown Alive offers a free, family-friendly, outdoor concert each Friday evening in one of the parks in downtown Lafayette. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with food and beverage concessions, and the musical performances are from 6:00 until 8:30 p.m. Whitney Bank's MoneySmart Program Continues Through December Whitney National Bank's MoneySmart program, aimed at fostering financial education, will be offered to VITA students through December. On the last Thursday of each month, Whitney employees present a financial workshop from 10:30 until 12:00 noon in the VITA Training Room in the Whitney Bank in Lafayette. The MoneySmart program is a free program created by the FDIC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, to educate people about credit and banking services. VITA, together with the United Way of Acadiana, works toward a common goal of helping local families become more financially stable. Thus far the MoneySmart programs have consisted of Bank on It, Check It Out, Money Matters, Pay Yourself First and Borrowing Basics. In the coming months, the topics will include Charge It Right, Paying for College and Cars, A Roof over Your Head, and First Time Home Buyer. Whitney staff members participating in the program are: Tammie Romero, Annette Trahan, Ellen Bordelon, Marla Frederick, Donna Touchet, Lexi Baldridge, Tina Thornton, Cheryl Evans, Sharon Richey, Karen Pierre, Toni LeBlanc and Earl Alleman. We thank Whitney National Bank for their ongoing support of the VITA program. If your student might be interested in attending MoneySmart sessions, ask them to call us at (337) 234-4600. VITA St. Landry Recognizes Recent Graduates In the fiscal year 2009-2010, sixty-five students have earned their Equivalency Diplomas from VITA St. Landry Adult Education. Earning degrees in December 2009 were Daniel Johnson, Tyrone Jackson, Sadie Cormier, Chwayne Espree, Amy Lastrapes, and Keeley Ardoin. In January 2010, Sabra Guillory, Elizabeth Leake, and Jeanne Ned earned their diplomas. Students graduating in February were Phillip Albert, Demond Sonnier, and Jermaine Johnson. In March, Jessica Johnson, Brandon Doran, Daniel Thomas and Alpha Tyler graduated. Graduates for April were Jacqueline Edwards, Joshua Dakota Delozier, and Justin Vige'. In May, students graduating were Reginald Lazar, Tonya DeVille, Larance Goodwin, Spencer Thomas, Jasmie Girouard, and Travis Codori. Earning degrees in June were Ashley Johnson, Matthew Wedlock, Jordan Barnes, Jaquille Barnes, Martina Bellow, Christopher Candella, Mallory Collins, Dustin Corkran, Teranie Daugherty, Cordairo Despanie, Patricia Deville, Tyler Jourbert, Hillary Ridgeway, Kelsy Lauchner, Heather LeJeune, Kelsy Miller, Verna Sago, Lakeitha Lemon, and Jessica Launey. In July, Shimeca Fields and Angelica Poydras graduated. VITA Student Keenan Thomas works with Staff Member Lora Watley on preparation for the Equivalency Exam. VITA Furthers Students' Education Since VITA began supervision of the VITA St. Landry Adult Education program last year, a large number of students have been successful in completing their Equivalency Diplomas. Many credit the program's success to its individualized and group instruction in specific skills needed to pass the exam. One student who is currently enrolled in the St. Landry Adult Education Program is Keenan Thomas. Keenan attended several educational programs in St. Landry Parish and was discouraged by his progress in school. However, when Keenan joined the adult education classes at VITA, he discovered how much the one-to-one and group instruction helped him to understand the lessons. "The teachers explain it to you, and they really make you work," he commented. Keenan's teacher, Lora Watley, said that he's made great progress and will probably be ready to take the Equivalency Exam in October. "Keenan's a smart kid, and he's come a long way. His attendance is awesome and he works hard while he's here," she said. Keenan hopes to enroll at in the T.H. Harris Technical School's welding program after passing his exam. Math Skills Class Offers Individualized Instruction VITA Staff Member Kathy DeGlandon uses an individualized approach to teach math skills to VITA students during her weekly class. The Math Skills class is taught on Fridays from 10:00 until 12:00 noon in the VITA Training Room. The instruction includes lessons in basic math skills, decimals, fractions, percents, algebra and geometry. Materials used in class are Mastering Math, Pre-GED Mathematics, and GED Mathematics. Kathy notes that students often work together and help each other to understand the math concepts. When asked for their comments about the class, some of the students said: "This program has motivated me to work harder and move toward my goals." Kami Poirier "The math is really helping me. I'll keep practicing." Alfred J. Bernard "I think the program is great." Yvonne LeBlanc "This program can help me to get my G.E.D." Sherlynn Washington "The math is really good for me, and the teacher is nice." Brenda Daniel "I'm glad there's a program available for students to learn math." Jennifer Sam VITA Welcomes New Board Members and Officers The VITA Board recently elected new officers for 2010. Huey McCauley, Ph.D. will now serve as president and Bill Bowers, as vice-president; John Hebert will continue as treasurer; and Gene Cole will serve another term as secretary. New VITA Board member this year is Bruce Snow. DonorSense Offers a Donation Option The Community Foundation of Acadiana offers a new online database of South Louisiana nonprofit agencies. The website presents information on local agencies and assists in donating to the programs. If you wish to donate to VITA online using DonorSense go to http: donorsense.guidestar.org and search for VITA under organization names. If you click on Volunteer Instructors Teaching Adults, Inc., you will find our agency profile. Click on Donate Now to contribute to the program. Special Thanks to Barbara Hanson Barbara Hansen recently retired from the VITA Board after ten years of service. She also tutored thirty students during her years twenty-two years as a VITA volunteer. We wish to thank VITA Tutor and Board Member Barbara Hanson for her many contributions to the program. Barbara recently retired from the VITA Board after ten years of service. In addition to her years on the board, Barbara tutored VITA students from 1986 until 2000. She received the Outstanding Tutor Award in 1994. Barbara also trained volunteer tutors at training workshops and spoke on behalf of the program at community events. She volunteered for RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) promoting tourism in Acadiana. In January 1997, Barbara was named Acadiana Volunteer of the Month, an award presented by the Volunteer Center, a division of the United Way of Acadiana. In 2000, VITA presented Barbara with the Donna Groth Delhomme Memorial Award for dedicated service to others and a commitment to literacy. A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Barbara has lived in Lafayette since 1963. She did serve in the Peace Corps from 1988 until 1992, teaching young people in rural Guatemala. When she returned to the States, Barbara tutored with the VITA program again, bringing her interest in other cultures and teaching experience back to share with her students. We at VITA appreciate Barbara's many years of assistance and support. VITA Training Seminar Schedule VITA training seminars are tentatively planned this year. The following seminar is scheduled to be held at the VITA Training Room in the Whitney Bank in Lafayette. Dates and Times Thursday, September 9, 5-7:30 p.m. and Thursday, September 16, 5-7:30 p.m. VITA Welcomes New Tutors Todd Andrepont Stephen Bilich Daphne Broussard Tanya Broussard Carolyn Chretien Leslie Endris Rudell Jones Michael Lell Carissa McDaniel Secious Porche Eileen Rowe Nohemi Torres