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Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek (center) reads a proclamation in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Literacy Volunteers of Otsego and Delaware Counties on the porch of the Rowe House. Joining Drnek, to his left, are LVODC Board Members Ronald Ritter, Ari Niki-Tobi and Andrea Lucas. To Drnek’s right are past LVODC Board President Thomas Beattie, Executive Director Jeanne Ellsworth and Board Member Cindy Struckle. (Photo provided)
Letter from Robin Lettis

LVODC 50th Celebrated

When Dr. Roy Bartoo came to SUNY Oneonta in 1974 and asked a few folks if there was a need for help with literacy in the area, he found a definite opening. He brought the idea of Literacy Volunteers from Syracuse via Buffalo University. Little did he know that 50 years later Literacy Volunteers of Otsego and Delaware Counties would still be going strong, filling in the gaps.

The number of individuals in Delaware County with less than a ninth-grade education is 868. In Otsego County, it is 2,907. The number of individuals in households with limited English proficiency in Delaware County is 1,557. In Otsego County, it is 1,573.

From July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, Literacy Volunteers of Otsego and Delaware Counties has served 62 individuals. Approximately 2,100 volunteer hours of tutoring were conducted by 31 tutors.

The first languages of our ESL students include: Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, Haitian Creole, French, Swahili, Russian, Korean and Arabic. Our native English speakers who needed help were on the radar, too.

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