Mayor proclaims September to be Salem Literacy Month
 
In keeping with National Literacy Month, Mayor David Bower signed a proclamation declaring September to be Salem Literacy Month and asking all citizens to celebrate the gift of reading. 
 
The proclamation states, "Whereas all adults in Salem and Washington County have a right to read, write and speak English in their everyday life situation; and whereas adults with limited literacy skills seek to improve these basic language skills; and whereas the citizens of Salem wish to decrease poverty and the need for public assistance and increase learning and growing; and whereas we should join together to ensure that all adults in Salem and Washington County should be encouraged to read, write and speak English, Now, therefore, I, David L. Bower, Mayor of the City of Salem, Indiana, do herely resolve that September 2010 is proclaimed as Salem Literacy Month and ask all citizens to celebrate the gift of reading."
 
One way to celebrate reading and give that gift to others, according to Marji Morris, Director of Washington County SOAR!, is to sign up to be a SOAR! tutor. The next tutor training will be Sept 14,16, 21, and 23. Each session will be held at the Community Learning Center from 6-9 pm. Refreshments will be served. New tutors will receive a resource binder to use during the training and as a reference after they begin tutoring. At the conclusion of the training, tutors will be given a ProLiteracy certificate of completion and a tote bag with supplies to use with their student.
 
Tutors must complete 12 hours of training before they can begin working with a student. Following the training, most tutors spend 1 1/2 hours per week in preparation and tutoring.
 
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer tutor should contact the SOAR! office at 896-1515. For more information, citizens can call the office or visit the website at www.washingtoncountysoar.org
 
Another way to celebrate reading is to make a donation to SOAR!
 
"Washington County SOAR! serves the people of our community," Morris said. "We get no federal or state funds. The only way we can keep our doors open and continue to help people help themselves is through community support."
 
Morris said that a donation of $1000 would cover the cost of tutoring one student for a year. For $500, one could sponsor a student for six months. A donation of $300 would sponsor a tutor training. Morris added. "If someone wants to sponsor a student for six months or a year and cannot donate that amount at one time, monthly contributions would be fine."
 
Morris also stressed that donations of any amount would be greatly appreciated.
 
Morris continued, "We have more students than ever--which is a good thing. We are relying on the community help us give the gift of reading by donating their services as a tutor or by donating money."
 
Contributions should be mailed to Washington County SOAR!, 1707 N. Shelby St, Suite 107, Salem, Indiana, 47167. SOAR! is a local independent non-profit organization in existence since 2009.