Training available for English literacy tutors

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Wondering what changes you can make in your life next year that might also make a change in the lives of others?

How about taking advantage of the opportunity to help someone improve his or her English language skills?

Mary Marin Lyon, executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, suggests you “Make a New Year’s resolution that will last a lifetime” by becoming an English Language Learners tutor.

LV-Bangor will be offering 20 hours of ELL tutor training from 6 to 9 p.m. on seven dates in January at United Technologies Center, 200 Hogan Road in Bangor.

The training dates are Tuesday, Jan. 2; Tuesday, Jan. 9; Thursday, Jan. 11; Tuesday, Jan. 16; Thursday, Jan. 18; Tuesday, Jan. 23; and Thursday, Jan. 25.

LV-Bangor English Language Learners tutors will help adults to speak English and understand American culture and customs, Marin Lyon explained.

If you are interested in volunteering for this program, call LV-Bangor at 947-8451. The cost for course materials is $25, and scholarships are available.

Marin Lyon reported that LV-Bangor is also accepting applications from adults who want to improve their English speaking skills, and interested individuals can call the number above for more information.

Maine Kids-Kin invites you to attend the first public presentation of “Maine Grandfamilies, A Documentary Film,” at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in the Lecture Room of Bangor Public Library on Harlow Street.

This is the first documentary about these extended family members who are caring for relatives’ children.

The 25-minute film, created by Catama Film and Video of South Portland, highlights challenges these families face as well as their strength and dedication to their children.

For more information, call Families and Children Together at (866) 298-0896 or 941-2347.

FACT, located in Bangor, is one of only four organizations nationwide to receive a federal grant that included resources to produce this film.

The Bangor Nature Club meets at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at First Congregational Church, 35 Church St., Brewer.

The guest speaker is Bangor architect and Keep Bangor Beautiful board member Mike Pullen, who “is currently involved with Keeping Green Spaces and Bangor’s Linking Trails Systems,” wrote BNC board member Ella Waitt.

Pullen’s presentation will include maps and slides, and “guests and new members are welcome,” Waitt added.

You are invited to attend the Waldo County General Hospital Aid annual Silver Tea from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the home of Arthur and Sara Hayes, 35 Church St., Belfast.

Sandwiches and desserts will be served by Aid members, and beverages will include punch, coffee and tea served from silver services.

There is no admission to attend, but a silver bowl near the entrance will be available for your donations to benefit Waldo County General Hospital.

Sandra Gordon of Waldo County Healthcare explained the tea continues a tradition begun in the ’50s, and this year’s host home “is an historical, Greek revival style brick house built in 1846 for William T. Colburn, owner of the Colburn Shoe Store.”

At the tea, the winning ticket for the Aid’s holiday raffle of a collection of family gifts will be drawn. Those gifts are on display in the lobby of WCGH. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for six and are on sale in the WCGH gift shop.

For more information about the Silver Tea or the raffle, call 338-6204.

Nonprofit board members who want to learn how to assess their executive directors can do so by attending a workshop hosted by the Institute for Civic Leadership.

“Assessing the Performance of the Chief Executive” begins with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 14, in the board room of United Way of Greater Portland on the fourth floor at 400 Congress Street, Portland.

The presenter is organizational and clinical consultant Tony Scucci of Mt. Vernon.

Scucci has more than 30 years of experience in human services and is a senior governance consultant with BoardSource, a Washington, D.C., organization with a mission that “is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening their boards of directors,” according to its Web site.

The workshop registration fee is $70 for the first person and $55 for each additional person from the same group.

To register or receive more information, call Merry Fogg, 773-3254 or email mfogg@civicleadership.org.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.