Cornelia Fischer turns a page…
At
YLC’s 2004 AGM, we celebrated Cornelia Fischer’s 10 year
service to the YLC Board. As President, Cornelia was at the helm from
1998-2000,
has served as a tutor and a trainer, and a member of committees too
numerous to mention. She took her involvement with the council a step
higher when she "volunteered" at the provincial level… eventually
serving as President of LLC-Q/LVQ. Her leadership and dedication have
contributed positively in many ways to the changing literacy landscape
in Quebec.
Cornelia’s contagious laughter, bubbly
personality, reliability and loyalty to her friends and colleagues, are
traits that are as noteworthy as her accomplishments! Fortunately
for us, although she has "retired" from the Board, she
will continue to train and volunteer at the prison program… and
with a little persuasion and pleading… maybe she’ll continue
to be our
revered calligrapher! Cornelia,
on behalf of YLC ...
thank you for being you!
One of my first memories was of Cornelia, Freda Hudson and I having lunch
together in a tiny restaurant on South Street. We had invited her specifically
to recruit her as our new president and luckily,
she accepted.  Cornelia is one of the most competent people I know, which
is to say that she can handle just about anything that you put to her. This
quality
is apparent to anyone who knows her for any length of time
and is the reason why she is so often recruited, not just by YLC, but by other
organizations as well.
She is a wonderful tutor and trainer. When
pairing her with her first student, I remember watching
how easily she applied her training to his goals. Some of our best times
were spent at Ruby Foos after long days of workshops, as Cornelia delicately
worked her way through a plate of sushi and I
wolfed down my chicken. Whenever I think of
Cornelia, I relive the meetings we sat through together, the visits to the
Cowansville Institution trying to find a way to bring our literacy program
to federal inmates, all the trips to Montreal for conferences. I remember slaving
together over government reports and funding applications, and the many
hours spent side by side at YLC's booth at Brome Fair and Townshippers' Day.
And finally, as I was preparing to retire from my job, setting up the present
office - the two of us laughing as the piece of IKEA furniture that we had
just assembled, rolled lazily across the sloping floor to the other side of
the room. Over the years, we became really good friends and are to this
day. We began by
sharing our love of books and have since shared so much more. YLC was
lucky to have had her serve in her many capacities, and I am luckier still
to count
her as my friend. Donna Ross,
YLC Coordinator 1989-2000 |
