1985    Dan Dieterich and others started holding meetings to plan for Literacy Council.

 

1986    First tutors trained in Laubach method.   MSTC provided office space for PCLC.  Kay LaBelle part-time coordinator. December 1986 – first tutor/learner matches

 

1987    Moved to office at United Way on Clark St.  2 Laubach tutor training workshops held.  Started to tutor ESL     (especially Hmong) learners – recent arrivals in Stevens Point.  Accepted as United Way agency.  First direct mailing to potential donors

 

1988    Rented office space from American Red Cross on Michigan Ave. Part-time afternoon/evening office hours.  May: Kay Labelle resigned as coordinator. DyAnne Korda hired to replace her.  September: DyAnne Korda resigned, October: Jenny Howard hired to replace her. PCLC, led by Karen Fadner and other teachers, developed own training workshop to replace Laubach model.  First Lerner Recognition Event held.

 

1989    Expanded ESL tutoring, and added separate ESL training for tutors. Red Cross expanding, so PCLC needed to move at end of year.  Assisted with start-up of Literacy Council in Wood County.

 

1990    January:  moved to office in South Hall at UWSP. During the next 3 years we were twice required to move to different offices within the building . First pizza sale fundraiser at Art in the Park.

 

1991    New tutor training format developed, led by UWSP professors.

 

1992    Director’s hours increased to 25/week. First Recognition Picnic for tutors and learners and their families was held at Iverson Park.  Approx. 60 attended.

 

1993    Moved office to Job Service at YMCA as part of plan to become partner in new Job Center

 

1994    As partner in CAP Services program, held ESL classes at YMCA in Summer and gave presentations to parents. Held additional ESL classes in fall at CAP Services. Involved in planning and site selection for new Job Center. Private Industry Council bought and PCLC administered the PLATO computer program, for learners bringing their skills up to GED/HSED level.

 

1995    June, moved into new Job Center office at Maple Bluff Rd. together with  Job Service, Forward Service, CESA 5 (youth) , Portage Co. Health and Human Services, Dislocated Worker program, North Central Community Action Program . Literacy quilt created, with squares contributed by tutors and learners along with the stories behind them.

 

1996    Started tutoring program at Portage County Jail; worked with PRISM Jail Ministry and Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association to get it going.  14 learners were tutored at the Jail this year.

 

1997    A PCLC learner won statewide Outstanding Adult New Reader award organized by Wisconsin Volunteers     in Literacy. This was presented at a ceremony in Madison and our Literacy quilt was also on display. Director and volunteer tutors were actively involved in Citizenship Day, which 200 people attended and approx. 60 people filled out citizenship applications. Tutors also volunteered at Citizenship classes held at MSTC during the year. Book pins were sold as a fundraiser.  Planning began for Spelling Bee fundraiser, spearheaded by Janet Swiston and Kathy Zimdars.

 

1998    Started ESL class for older Hmong at Lincoln Center (28 Enrolled) in collaboration with CAP Services.   1^st Adult Spelling Bee held in March as fundraiser for PCLC.

 

1999    Continued Lincoln Center class Fall semester.  Yang Yang from UWSP acted as an intern, helping with communication with Hmong learners.  A PCLC learner won statewide Lifelong Learner award, and we attended Awards ceremony in Madison in September.

 

2000    Added new hardware and software for ESL and learning disabled.  Received 18 month (January 2001-June 2002) state grant for working with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)-eligible learners.($16,000)

 

2001    ESL video for Hmong learners completed and distributed. Produced bilingual training manual and conducted first workplace ESL program for Spanish-speaking employees at McCain Foods services were paid for by the employer and subsidized using TANF funds.   October – Jenny Howard resigned as Director, replaced by Tom Parker. PCLC served 72 learners.

 

2002    Purchased new computer with funds from Frame Memorial and began computerizing records. Web site www.pocolit.org developed by volunteer Loren Balhorn. Site included learner registration form, Volunteer registration form and a tutor monthly report form all of which could be filled out and submitted on-line. PCLC served 79 learners.

 

2003    Received $18,000 grant from the Department of Labor through the local Workforce Development Board that allowed initiation of ESL classes with child care provided. With the grant the 42 page Portage County Health and Human Services Family Resource Guide was translated into Hmong and Spanish. PCLC served about 100 learners.

 

2004    Classes continued at beginning and intermediate levels moving to the Charles M. White Public Library in Stevens Point. Thai refugee camp, Wat Tham Krabok, was closed by Thai government forcing 15000 Hmong refugees to immigrate to the US. Approximately 150 new Hmong refugees began coming to Portage County swelling the ESL program. A formal cooperating agreement was arranged with MSTC to share a common referral form, employ common evaluation instruments, and regularly discuss programming to maximize resources and minimize inappropriate overlap of services. PCLC served 137 learners.

 

2005    Outgrew Job Center and moved to central location near the public library at 1052 Main St, Suite 104, Stevens Point on July 1 2005. Increased ESL class offerings to Beginning Literacy, Intermediate, and Advanced. Introduced First Annual Un-Scrabble Fundraiser.  Received $25,000 Dept of Labor Grant targeting Faith Based/Community grassroots organizations to expand ESL class offerings. Funding duration July 2005-June 2006 with possibility of an additional $12,500 for 2006-2007.

 

2006    Due to numerous successes the Dept. of Labor Grant was renewed for another year. ESL programs continue to reach new people all the time, and impact the lives of many within Portage County.

 

2007    This year some new staff members joined the team to better assist the ever increasing number of people recognizing their needs within Portage County. Anne Sell, the Literacy Program Manager, keeps track of the tutor program as well as performs a number of administrative tasks. An amazing grant of $60,000 was received for the purpose of including more employment-related services. Therefor an employment specialist has started to help active learners get jobs, and coach them in this pursuit.

 

2008     A new employment specialist, Steve Carlton, came on board this year. Also a rural initiative has been started to serve more of Portage County.