Community Activity Report

by Lynne Powers

After a rather late start this year, the scholarship committee did receive several applications for MERF’s National Scholarship Program.  These were duly processed and submitted, and local ASU Student, Miranda Lyn Birden, was the recipient of a $250 award. Winners were announced at the AG for this year. Miranda is majoring in Journalism and African American Studies and has long range plans to found a magazine, based in the Black community. Congratulations to Miranda! Also many thanks to Mensans Katie Gillen, Max Oppenheimer and David Fidelman for assisting on the committee.

Another Phoenix winner whose scholarship is ongoing is Karri McDowell, of Mesa.  We renewed the J.F. Schirmer Scholarship of $1000 from last year. Although none of the awards are very large, it only takes a short essay to enter, and in many instances, even a little encouragement is a help for the student! It does take some effort on our part to organize, but is certainly a short term commitment to community service. Think about volunteering, or, better yet, do it.

I would like to hear about your community service activities. We have had a number shared this year, but I know there are more. Some of my personal efforts are going to Literacy Volunteers, as a tutor in English for a Bosnian refugee. The Literacy volunteers have a fine training program, running 3 Saturdays, which gives you the tools and techniques needed both to teach reading to English speakers, and English to non-English speakers (who may or may not be literate in their own language). After training, you are asked to commit to two hours a week with an assigned student. You often arrange to meet in a library, or elsewhere where there is some space and enough quiet to talk. Sometimes the student’s home is used, although not required. In listening to other tutors, as well as my own experience, it seems often the case that the contact established is as rewarding as any actual English taught. You maybe the primary contact with the American world! If anyone is interested in learning more about Literacy Volunteers, please give me a call. (602)548-4607.

Lynne Powers, Community Activities Chair