The children of Gilmer and Fannin counties are in for a pleasant surprise!

In each of these counties, a Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy program is in the startup stages. Modeled after Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the program provides each child in a participating community with a brand new book in the mail every month, from birth through the age of five. The program is free of charge to all participants. Sponsors seek funding to make the program possible; for each child enrolled, the annual cost is $35 per year, which covers the price of new, high-quality, hardback books and fees associated with mailing.

Founded by Robin Ferst, the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy has a goal of bringing its program to every county in Georgia. So far, just over 40 counties (out of 159 possible) are participating. Morgan County is home for the Ferst Foundation; there, kindergarten readiness scores have increased from 46% to 90% since the program began.

Often outreach efforts are aimed toward low-income children, with good intentions and good reason. As the Ferst Foundation points out, approximately 61% of low-income families don’t have in their home any reading materials suitable for young children. However, the Ferst Foundation program is open to all children within a community, regardless of family income. Every enrolled child gets the excitement of receiving his or her own book in the mail, addressed to the child. They can anticipate spending more quality time with Mom or Dad, Grandma or Grandpa, turning pages, seeing words, and pointing out pictures. They learn to become excited about reading!

We are so pleased that one of the inspirations for establishing the program in Gilmer County was the Story Express and its trips to the Gilmer Community Food Pantry. A volunteer at the Food Pantry was touched by the Story Express’ book distribution and its impact on families. She began investigating how to bring the Ferst Foundation program to Ellijay, and the rest is becoming history. Tammy Blair attended the initial meeting in Ellijay, and is serving on the Community Action Team in Gilmer County. Arrangements are being made such that undeliverable books (due to participants moving and not leaving a forwarding address) will be returned to the Center for distribution through the Story Express.

We are excited about the potential impact of all children receiving new books for parents or caretakers to read to them, and are pleased with this new, local initiative. -TRS

Consider this:

• Between 1992 and 2005, the population of 12th graders reading at or above the “proficient” level dropped from
• 40% to 35%. Thus, nearly 2/3 of 12th graders score “below proficient”! (The Nation’s Report Card: 12th Grade Reading and Mathematics 2005)
• 75% of children who are poor readers in third grade will remain poor readers in high school. (www.ferstfoundation.org)
• If a child is a poor reader by the end of first grade, she has a high probability of being a poor reader by the end of fourth grade. (Juel, 1988)
• If a child has difficulty learning to read, he will attempt to avoid reading as early as the middle of first grade. (Lyon, 1997)
• Some states use a formula to calculate the number of prison beds based on how many students are not reading on grade level in elementary school (Ferst Foundation).
• Children who have a family member read to them three or more times per week are nearly twice as likely to score in the top quartile in reading than children who are read to less frequently. (Denton and West, 2002)
  (If interested in full citations for any of these works, please contact the Center.)

DO WE STILL NEED TO PRE-REGISTER

For the Fall Preaching Workshop, now that we will be meeting in a larger room? Yes. Let me explain.

While it is true that our new meeting place, the fellowship hall of the new Cherry Log Christian Church on Cherry Log Street, will accommodate many more attendees, knowing how many will be present is important for planning the continental breakfast, the deli lunch, and for setting up the room with tables and chairs (not too few, not too many).

Mon., Oct. 1, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Theme: “Preaching the Same Sermon to the Same People on the Same Day Every Year”. For you, everything is free.

As of this writing, 80 have pre-registered—FBC


WE’RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD PIECES

Of furniture…

Our furniture distribution inventory is very low. We help many folks through this important outreach program, people whose homes have burned, or perhaps unexpectedly end up with additional family members in their household, or for other reasons may need a stove or a bed. We also accept, and distribute, items to help people set up housekeeping: dishes, bedspreads, lamps, etc. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches are also received.

We store all of these items in an off-site facility until someone calls with a need. We don’t have anyone available to make repairs, so we ask that items that are donated be in good working condition. If you have something of the sort that you would like to part ways with, please let us know. One person’s item at the bottom of a stack in the garage is another person’s treasure. Thank you! - TRS

AN EARLY REPORT CARD

The directors and teachers in the HeadStart schools we serve provide written evaluations of our musicians and storytellers at the close of the school year. We take these evaluations seriously and enjoy the confirmations of our own high esteem of Amanda, Kim, and Connie.

The Director of our Children’s Enrichment Program, who is also a singer and storyteller, is Pam Lindsey. Since Pam is going soon to the Ukraine to sing and tell stories in orphanages of that country, I have volunteered to give Pam an early report card.

Love of children A+
Preparedness A+
Dependability A+
Talent A+
Cooperative Spirit A+
Positive Attitude A+

If you want sometime to visit with Pam (and I hope you do), make an appointment through the Center. You can’t just drop by and see her. She is not here, not because she isn’t working, but because she is. She is with the children.—FBC


APPALACHIAN “CRAFT REVIVAL” WEEKEND

"Makers wove cotton, linen, and wool, weaving a sense of community that contributes to a strong sense of place.  Craftsmen hammered metal, forging partnerships to effect change.  Artisans worked with wood, building a regional economy based on individual talent and entrepreneurship."  These words are taken from the website about the Craft Revival.  (http://craftrevival.wcu.edu/)  This year, our Appalachian weekend will take a closer look at cottage industries and the role they played in the past, as well as the role they can play again in our community. 

Join us as we place our mark on this community by embracing the quilt makers and their role in the Appalachian cottage industry heritage.  To do so, we will be creating painted quilt squares and securing them to barns and old buildings in north Georgia. These quilt squares will represent crafts of our community, and, when secured to these buildings, will become part of the larger “Quilt Trail” which winds its way through Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. To see pictures of the squares along the Trail, visit this website: http://www.quilttrail.org/.

Appalachian weekend will also include lectures by people who have learned the lessons well of rural entrepreneurship; displays of the history of cottage industry and crafts in rural Appalachia; booths showcasing local craft people and their wares; mentoring opportunities for local students and beginning crafts people; and an evening of reflection as we celebrate cottage industries in Appalachia. 
Stay tuned for more details! - SLM


NO, I AM NOT WRITING FROM JAIL

Thanks to Teri Slemons. You see, I thought that securing from the IRS our status of a 501( c )3 organization (tax exempt) was the alpha and omega of our legal duties. Teri came on board, asked me a string of questions about registrations, permits, forms, and documents, managed a thin smile in response to my shrug of the shoulders, offered a prayer in my behalf (“Father, forgive him, he knows not what he is doing”), and went to work.

Exactly 3,427,984 forms later, Teri lifted her weary face from her lap top and announced, “We are now legal”. Always one for a party, I went straight for the Center’s small pantry. “Thank God that’s over!”

“Not quite”, said Teri; “In 7 months it will be 2008.”

I hear every day about undocumented workers. Sounds great; where do we sign up? - FBC