GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs

Education Department

 

 

EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY Division

 

Chairman: Peggy Meola

 

CORD Chairman:  Joann Holder                                                EORD Chairman:  Pat Ketzell

LED Chairman:  Margaret Resar                                               NED Chairman:  Sally Joseph

NWD Chairman:  Roberta Lane                                                 WCD Chairman:  Mary Ann Jung

WORD Chairman:  Lana Moyer

 

 

 

Education in the Community Program

 

Objective: Motivate and arouse curiosity by encouraging responsibility for independent learning.              

 

 Goal: To identify lifelong learning practices, paying special attention to higher education related to lifelong learning. Helping your community to achieve Lifetime of Learning through available resources.

 

Activities

 

-Encourage educational programs for club members and all members of their communities.

-Develop a local resource directory to identify local, county, state and federal programs that offer assistance combine club programming with ESO related activities, such as reading awareness and book promotion.
-Educate club members that Epsilon Sigma Omicron (ESO) is an honorary educational society open to all per-capita paying GFWC federated club members. Combine club programming with ESO related activities, such as reading awareness and book promotion.

-Promote local authors and their work. Sponsor a book review and/or a book signing.

-Sponsor a Peer Support Group for individuals with disabilities that provides direction and community involvement for educating local communities about the (ADA) American Disabilities Act.

 - Support your local libraries; help with reading to children’s groups. Work with the local Bookmobiles through your library, encouraging visits to shut-ins, shelters, nursing homes, and daycares.

-Support and/or sponsor educational tuition-free credited seminars that are designed especially for those who are at least 50 years old and/or retired. Programs and courses that offer learning opportunities in computers, the Internet, estate planning, career enrichment, fitness and recreation, world cultures, astronomy, gardening, history genealogy, antique collecting, creative writing and much more.

-Visit your local Employment and Career Services Center and encourage workforce development.

 

Resources

 

 

 

FOCUS ON LITERACY Division

 

Chairman: Pat Ketzell

 

CORD Chairman:  Joann Holder                                                EORD Chairman:  Pat Ketzell

LED Chairman:  Margaret Resar                                               NED Chairman:  Sally Joseph

NWD Chairman:  Roberta Lane                                                 WCD Chairman:  Mary Ann Jung

WORD Chairman:  Lana Moyer

 

Literacy

Objective:  Educate members and others about low literacy among adults, family and youth, and encourage citizen action to address the impact and concerns related to literacy.

 

Goal:  Examine factors in the community that may affect literacy levels and to educate every member about what can be accomplished with GFWC/OFWC dedication, direction, and use of the many resources available.

 

Activities

ADULT LITERACY

-Recruit qualified club members and the community to become potential tutors. Establish an opportunity to support G.E.D. classes in your community.

 

FAMILY LITERACY

-In striving to eliminate literacy we need to examine the factors that cause family literacy. Most families having a lack of education evolves poverty and low self esteem. Sponsor a program to address “How to become a Teaching Parent.” Improve early childhood development by sponsoring a free Pre-K vision screening.

 

YOUTH LITERACY

-Support the collection & distribution of books to schools, libraries, literacy centers, etc. Schedule a special event or provide time during club meeting to invite children for a “Story Tin” time and present them with books.

- Advocate for in school programs such as Read Across America and celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2 by reading to children at local schools or libraries. 

-Change someone's life by becoming a vision screener. Promote eye health and safety in your community by encouraging club members to become a Prevent Blindness volunteer. Volunteers provide free screenings for preschoolers and older children to find eye problems.

-Volunteer at a local after school or summer program. Encourage older children to become tutors for younger children.

 

RESOURCES

                Encourage Club members to use the resources listed in the GFWC Manual, they are very helpful. 

                http://www.preventblindness.org/Ohio Prevent Blindness Ohio’s Vision Care Outreach program is

                to provide free, comprehensive, professional eye exams, follow-up care, education and eyewear to

                medically indigent children, youth, families and homeless/uninsured adults.

                www.kidsreadingtokinds.org   Reading Improvement – Overcoming environmental conditions

                bringing love into learning.

                www.literacycenter.net   Literacy Center – interactive site helps young students learn letters of the

                alphabet and other basic literacy skills

                Celebrate Dr.Seuss’s Birthday http://familycrafts.about.com

                www.teachers.net Features educational news, chat live and free classroom pintables  

                www.FirstBook.org  Gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own

                their first new books.

 

 

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