National Literacy Volunteer Organizations Authorize Merger Discussions

ProLiteracy Worldwide
Friday, 16 February 2001

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 16, 2001-Laubach Literacy International (LLI) and Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. (LVA), two of the oldest and largest volunteer literacy organizations in the world, have been authorized by their respective boards to initiate discussions regarding a potential merger between their two organizations. Those discussions could lead to a merger proposal acceptable to both boards in the coming months. "LVA and LLI have partnered successfully on many special projects and programs in recent years. This step is a timely and appropriate one," says Marsha L. Tait, president of LVA. Robert Wedgeworth, interim president of LLI, concurs.

The U.S. Department of Education estimates that between 40 and 44 million adults in the U.S. function at the lowest level of literacy skill. LLI and LVA are not-for-profit educational organizations, managed by professionals, that deliver local literacy services through national networks of approximately 160,000 volunteers and 1,450 local, state, and regional literacy providers in the United States. LLI and LVA share the mission of assisting adults to acquire the listening, speaking, reading, writing, mathematics, and technology skills they need to be effective in their roles as members of their families, communities, and workplaces.

Founded in 1955 by literacy pioneer Dr. Frank C. Laubach, LLI has 1,100 member programs throughout the United States and 67 partner programs in 36 developing countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Its publishing division, New Readers Press, produces and distributes 500 titles of U.S. adult educational materials to 46,000 literacy organizations, schools, libraries, and other institutions across the country.

LVA was founded by Ruth Colvin in Syracuse, New York, in 1962. Mrs. Colvin worked with professional reading consultants to develop tutor training which equipped volunteers to tutor adults and teens using curricula defined in accordance with the individual needs and goals of their students. As the effectiveness of the program became widely recognized, literacy programs across the country adopted LVA's student-centered philosophy. Today, LVA delivers local literacy services through a national network of more than 350 volunteer literacy programs serving more than 80,000 adult literacy students and their families yearly.

Laubach Literacy International Board of Trustees

On February 15, 2001, the Laubach Literacy International (LLI) Board of Trustees resolved as follows:

That the LLI Board of Trustees authorize the Chairman to appoint a Merger Negotiation Committee comprised of such members and staff of LLI as the Chairman may determine, and

That the Merger Negotiation Committee be charged with the responsibility in conjunction with its counterpart at Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. (LVA) to explore, develop and negotiate the parameters for, and material terms and conditions of, a potential merger between LLI and LVA, and That the Merger Negotiation Committee report in a timely manner on the progress of the discussions, and

That the Chairman and Interim President are authorized to issue a joint public announcement that LLI and LVA have agreed to explore possibilities that may lead to a merger that shall be distributed to all interested parties as soon as possible, and

That the Merger Negotiation Committee is not authorized to enter into any binding agreement or commitment on behalf of LLI, but is limited to the negotiation of terms and conditions of a merger proposal for presentation to the LLI Board, and

That the LLI Chairman and the Interim President are authorized to take or cause to be taken any action, including retention of professionals, as they may deem necessary and appropriate, to carry out the foregoing resolution between the date of this resolution and the regularly scheduled meeting of the LLI Board, May 16-17, 2001.

Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. Board of Directors

On February 9, 2001, the Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. (LVA) Board of Directors (the Board) resolved as follows:

The LVA Board of Directors believes that the mission of LVA can best be served by exploring strategic alliances with other literacy providers, which may include a merger or other combination of LVA with or into another organization; and the Board accepts the recommendations of the Merger Inquiry Task Force of the Board which was established at the October 1, 2000 meeting of the Board, that the most viable candidate for such a combination appears to be Laubach Literacy International, and that it is in the best interests of LVA and its members that such a combination be considered if it can be accomplished in a manner consistent with the legacy, values, and vision of LVA

In order to carry out this resolution:

1. The Chair of the Board is authorized and directed to create a Merger Negotiating Committee, consisting of such members of the Board and senior staff of LVA or its membership as the Chair of the Board may determine;

2. The Merger Negotiating Committee is charged with the responsibility of meeting with a similar committee to be established and selected by the Board of Trustees of Laubach Literacy International (LLI), to explore, develop, and negotiate the parameters for, and material terms and conditions of, a potential merger or other strategic alliance between LVA and LLI;

3. The Merger Negotiating Committee is directed to report its progress on a regular basis to, and take its direction from, the Board Executive Committee, and to report in writing in a timely manner to the Board, as appropriate;

4. The Chair of the Board and president of LVA are authorized and directed to prepare a joint communication plan with LLI, to issue jointly with LLI a public announcement that LVA and LLI have agreed to explore the possibility of entering into a strategic alliance, which may include a merger, and to convey such announcement to the LVA network, major donors, and other interested parties as soon as possible;

5. The Merger Negotiating Committee is not authorized to enter into any binding agreement or commitment on behalf of LVA, but only to negotiate the terms of a proposal which may be presented to the Board for further action; and

6. The Board Executive Committee is authorized and directed to take or cause to be taken any action, including the retention of professionals, as it may deem necessary or appropriate, to carry out the foregoing resolution between today's meeting and the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.

For more information, or to contact ProLiteracy Worldwide, see their website at: www.proliteracy.org