The Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community will sponsor the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce Booster Breakfast on Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Georgia Northwestern Technical College Conference Center. Billie Izard, State Director of the Certified Literate Community Program, will be the guest speaker. Her subject topic will involve the impact that literacy issues have on the local business community and its economic development opportunities.

“The Council is pleased to have Billie Izard speak to the Chamber on a subject we consider vitally important to this community,” said Joni Harbin, Executive Director of the Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community and Director of Communications for the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. She is considered the driving force behind the success of the Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP) in Georgia and we look forward to her presentation.”

Izard has been the CLCP State Director since April 1997 and provided significant assistance to the Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community in its efforts to secure community certification, which it accomplished in November 2001.

“We believe that our program of work has a tremendous impact on the local business climate, since illiteracy not only creates a terrible financial burden on a community but simultaneously deters economic development. Public campaigns such as ‘Georgia Work Ready’ have supported our fundamental premise that a qualified work force is absolutely essential to a successful business climate,”

Harbin continued.

The Council focuses its efforts on family and adult literacy in Gordon County, fostering positive attitudes about education and literacy in young learners while improving adult literacy by supporting adult learning programs. It works closely with both the city and county public schools and the Georgia Northwestern Technical College Adult Learning Center. It also coordinates with other member agencies of United Way of Gordon County to identify and address other literacy gaps in the community.

The Council conducts reading activities, provides dictionaries and library books, sponsors an annual “stay in school” tee shirt contest and maintains a presence in the public schools. It supports Gordon County public libraries and presents an attendance program entitled “Get Ready, Achieve, Dream” (GRAD) that rewards schools and students for excellent attendance.

Adult literacy is an important element of the Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community agenda.

The Council supports GNTC’s Adult Learning Center by providing GED preparation support, funding GED testing fees, hosting events and sponsoring the annual graduation ceremony. The Council also acknowledges GED recipients who have gone on to create meaningful and successful careers with the annual GEDD Wall of Honor Event.

The Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community is supported by United Way of Gordon County, a host of corporate sponsors including Mannington Commercial, Mohawk Foundation, Omnova Solutions and their own fundraising events.

During the Booster Breakfast, Council members will be available to accept the donations of gently used books for young readers. These books will be distributed to children in Gordon County.