(clockwise) Tutors volunteering 15 years or more are: Luz Bobadilla, Ed Tye and
Mine Fong.
• Volunteering 10 years or more are: Clara Pultar, John Jacobson and Mei-Ling
Melton.
• Tutors Volunteering five years or more are: Ann Bugh, Martha Cantrell, Vito Susza and Margi Tajolosa. • Patricia Miranda and her daughter were the recipients of the special rocking
chair.
he tutors of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend are the lifeblood of the council
because of their dedication to helping another person learn to become
functionally literate through basic literacy, ESL or GED instruction. These
tutors were honored at the 2009 Tutor Appreciation Brunch at Pecan Grove
Country Club.
Rosemary Jones, board member, introduced Peter Roussel, the keynote speaker for
the event. Peter is a native Houstonian and has served two tours of duty in the
White House. Most recently, he served as White House press secretary to
President George H.W. Bush. Peter spoke on the value of volunteerism and
entertained the crowd with stories from the White House.
It goes without saying that each tutor has touched the life of another in a
positive way. A slide show of the tutors in action was a highlight of the
morning.
Kathleen Crissman, LCFBC program director, said this year’s theme, Volunteers in Bloom: Giving and Growing, is a great way to describe the
tutors.
“You all give so much of yourselves to help your students bloom and grow, and all
of us at the council are in total awe of how you manage to do that.
” Kathleen continued, “I like to compare the tutors to the little packets of Miracle Grow that are part
of the centerpieces.
”
Student speaker Enrique Aguillon spoke on behalf of the students describing
their appreciation to their tutors.
When Enrique first came to the U.S. he worked 12-13 hour days doing landscape
work. He was determined to learn English so that one day he could own his own
company. And, his hard work paid off because he now owns two businesses where
speaking English well is a prerequisite.
Enrique said, “I would like to thank all of you for the valuable time you give doing such
important work. What an inspiration.
”
Executive Director Brenda Bowman spoke about the light in students’ eyes as they have a special “aha” moment when they have an understanding they didn’t have before.
She honored the tutors by telling them, “You are the keepers of the light. You share with them every day, giving them new ideas, experiences and words to
put around those ideas and experiences making the light in their faces come
alive with understanding. Their success is all because of what they have
learned from and with you.
”
At the end of the celebration, Patricia Miranda was the winner of a drawing for
a one-of-a-kind rocking chair.
To become a partner in the Literacy Council’s efforts to help determined adults in our county change their lives by
improving reading and writing skills, go to
www.ftbendliteracy.org or call 281-240-8181.
