Literacy

Matters

Jan Feb 2015

Serving the Residents and Employees of Creek County since 1989

Encourage Educate Equip

Save the Date: 17th Annual Creek County Spelling Bee Date Set
17th Annual Spelling Bee benefiting
Creek County Literacy Program
The date is set for Sapulpas most fun and
entertaining event Creek County
Literacy Programs Annual Spelling Bee
is Thursday April 2, 6pm at Sapulpa High
School Commons. Back for the 17th year,

the Spelling Bee will no doubt be another

crazy, word-churning and fun-filled
spelling competition.
What do you want to BEE when you
grow up? is 2015s theme. The Spelling
Bee is back at Sapulpa High School, so
think along the lines of Career Day. (Our
Spelling Bee mascot isnt sure if he wants
to be a firefighter, policeman, teacher or
nurse.) You may want to come dressed as
dentists, chefs, crossing guards,
ballerinas or fast food workers. However
your team comes, make sure everyone is
ready to S-P-E-L-L!
Funds raised from the Bee furthers our
Mission, which is to encourage, educate
and equip aspiring readers to overcome
the barriers of illiteracy, explained
Melissa Struttmann, Executive Director of
Creek County Literacy Program. This
fundraiser makes up 8% of our annual
operating budget.
CCLP is excited to announce Dick Loftin,
Senior Producer and Evening News Host
for KRMG and Cox Media Group, as this
years emcee. Tulsans enjoy his two-hour
Evening News of the top stories of the
day.
This is the highlight of a very long career
in radio. I have many decades in Tulsa
radio and have worked for Tulsas
greatest radio stations, but being
the Host of The KRMG Evening News is a
career milestone. You cant be in Tulsa

radio without being aware of what

KRMG brings to the table, shares Loftin.
Dicks interest in radio began at age
eight after hearing his brother on a radio
station in Muskogee. Dick has worked in
Tulsa radio since the mid-70s. An avid
reader and book collector, his reading
interests include biography and history.
Dicks favorite author is historian David
McCullough.
Put me around a bunch of 'book people'
and I feel right at home, says Dick.
Sponsor information and registration
forms are available online at
creekliteracy.org. For more information,
call 918-224-9647 or email
info@creekliteracy.org.
17% of adults in
Creek County 18
years or older do
not have a high
school diploma,
and 4% of adults
in Creek County
18 years or older
do not have a
ninth grade
education.
Statewide, more
than 400,000
Oklahoma adults
are functionally
illiterate.

CCLP welcomes new Computer Literacy & Technology Coordinator

Scott Cobeen recently
joined the staff at Creek
County Literacy
Program as the new parttime Computer Literacy &
Technology Coordinator.
In this role, he is responsible for providing
technology training classes on a variety of
topics, technology training for our tutorlearner teams, one-one-one technology
training, and maintain the office technology
equipment.
Scott comes to us with a very strong
technology background, and we are
delighted to bring him on staff, shares
Barbara Fuente, Board President.
This position is made possible through a
grant funded by the Oklahoma Department
of Libraries.

Health Literacy continues to be CCLP Receives Funding from

a strong outreach in 2015
Oklahoma Literacy Coalition &
For the past three years, Creek County Literacy Program has
Tinker Federal Credit Union
developed and expanded health and wellness services for adult
learners and individuals who struggle with understanding
important health information. Programming has been made
available to the community as well.

CCLP partners with a number of area agencies to expand basic

literacy services to include health literacy. Local collaborations not
only brought many unexpected partners and resources to the table,
but also helps get the word out and helps educate health
professionals on the importance of using clear communication
strategies and other techniques.
Tai Chi, below, is a great example of this outreach; 55 seniors were
in attendance at a recent class taught by the Creek County Health
Department. Afterwards, a participant signed up to tutor. Twelve
tutors have volunteered through this outreach to date.

The Oklahoma Literacy Coalition and Tinker Federal Credit Union

recently presented a $1,000 grant to Creek County Literacy
Program.
These funds will be used to purchase books for the Caring Grands
program. 135 struggling first and second grade readers are tutored
each week by 58 trained senior citizen Caring Grand volunteers at
eleven Creek County elementary school sites.
Creek County Literacy Program is extremely grateful for the
ongoing partnerships with Oklahoma Literacy Coalition and Tinker
Federal Credit Union!

Seniors are educated on better balance through Tai Chi in CCLPs

health literacy collaboration with Creek County Health Department.

CCLPs Calendar of Events

February
2/9/23 Tai Chi
Library Annex10am

12 Overview of Adult 28 Container

& Family Services-DHS Gardening-OSU
Library Annex5:30pm Extension
Library Annex5:30pm
9 Adult Book Club
17 Board Meeting
Library Annex5:30pm Library Annex5:30pm May
7 3rd Annual Indoor
16 Presidents Day
April
Rummage Sale
Office Closed
2 17th Annual Creek 9:00am-2:00pm
County Spelling Bee
20 Board Meeting
Sapulpa High School
11 Adult Book Club
Library Annex5:30pm Commons6:00pm
Library Annex5:30pm
March
2/9/16/23/30 Tai Chi
Library Annex10am
3 Tutor Talks
Library Annex10am11am and 4pm-5pm
9 Adult Book Club
Library Annex5:30pm

16 Volunteer
Appreciation Banquet
Library AnnexNoon

19 Board Meeting
Library Annex5:30pm

26 Food Demo
13 Adult Book Club
(Freezer Jam, Fruit
Library Annex5:30pm Salad, Flavored Water)
OSU Extension
21 Board Meeting
Library Annex5:30pm
Library Annex5:30pm

The Mission of the

Creek County Literacy Program
is to encourage, educate and equip
aspiring readers to overcome the
barriers of illiteracy.

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of inclement weather, CCLP will
observe the Sapulpa Public Schools Inclement
Weather Policy. This information will be
communicated through a notice on CCLPs
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
CreekCountyLiteracyProgram.

Attendees enjoyed the recent health literacy

workshop presented by Life Senior Services,
Your Guide to a Healthy Brain

How You Can Help Creek County Literacy Program

Financial contributions from individuals
and organizations are vital to the ongoing
work of CCLP. With your help, we can
continue to reach the increasing number of
residents and employees of Creek County
who need basic literacy services. CCLP is a
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Donations are tax deductible.
Here are some of the ways you can help:
Financial Contributions
To make a tax deductible contribution,
please send your check to:
Creek County Literacy Program

Literacy
Matters

Creek County Literacy Program

15 North Poplar Street
Sapulpa, OK 74066

15 North Poplar Street

Sapulpa, OK 74066
Through Special Events
CCLP hosts several special fundraisers
throughout the year.
We also encourage organizations and
businesses to sponsor special events that
benefit CCLP. These include book fairs,
silent auctions, and other creative ideas.
With In-Kind Products or Services
We are always in need of educational and
office supplies including:

Postage Stamps
Letter size or 11 x 17 copy paper
Mailing Labels
Childrens books
Paper Products for kitchen & bathroom
Bottled Water
3 x 5 Index Cards
Stickers, bookmarks, small incentives
If you wish to donate business products or
professional services, please contact Melissa
Struttmann, Executive Director at 918-2249647 or mstrutt@creekliteracy.org.