TWO NEW MEMBERS FOR YELL BOARD

Jeanine Dobbins, coordinator of the Missouri Statewide Early Literacy Intervention Program at Southeast Missouri State University, and Cathy Evans, assistant superintendent over elementary schools in the Cape Girardeau School District, are the two newest members of the 15-member YELL Foundation board of directors.

The YELL Foundation board acts as the decision making body for the foundation, which raises funds for literacy programs and the Newspaper in Education programs in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. YELL stands for Youth, Education, Learning, Literacy.

Members of the foundation board come from major corporate sponsors, education and those dedicated to improving literacy.

Karen Green of Firstar Bank is president of the YELL Foundation board.

Other officers include Joe Sullivan, Southeast Missourian, vice president; Nancy Jernigan, Areawide United Way, treasurer; and Mark Kneer, Southeast Missourian, secretary.

Green first became involved with YELL when she served as captain for the bank's YELL team, which sells the annual YELL newspaper.

"Reading is very important," said Green, who is serving her third year on the board and her second as president. "The benefits of reading is a person's ability to succeed."

Green and Firstar, along with a number of other businesses, have joined the Southeast Missourian and Area United Way in support of the YELL program.

Dobbins, who also works with reading recovery programs across Missouri, said she is excited about serving on the YELL Foundation board. "I'm excited about what YELL has done, and what it will continue to do," said Dobbins, who has worked with literacy programs since 1972.

"Reading is absolutely critical," said Dobbins. "It enriches people's lives in so many ways."

Dobbins says her primary concern is that young children are able to read and enjoy reading.

"If that is established early, you have a lifetime reader," she said. "With a reading background, children can skyrocket."

The Missouri Statewide Early Literacy Intervention Program administered by Dobbins at Southeast Missouri State University has three tiers:

- Reading recovery for students in the first grade.

- Literacy group instruction for children who need extra help in kindergarten through third grade.

- Workshops for classroom teachers to help build literacy environments.

"During awareness sessions," we show examples of children's works before, during and after the program," said Dobbins. "The changes are phenomenal."

Most YELL sponsors, ranging from Supporters to Champions, participate in the program. Many employees of various sponsors can be found on street corners selling YELL newspapers. Sponsor categories include champion, patron, sponsor, friend and supporter.

A special YELL publication newspaper is hawked on street corners on the Tuesday morning of the SEMO District Fair. Funds raised are divided between the NIE program and youth literacy programs.

During the previous nine YELL Days, funding for literacy grants in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City has topped the $349,000 mark. Of this amount, $154,700 has come from YELL newspaper sales.

The YELL Foundation is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization formed for educational purposes. This means all donations from businesses and individuals can be written off as charitable contributions on tax forms.

Other members of the YELL board:

- Christie Adams, a pediatric nurse at St. Francis Medical Center.

- Donna Bedwell, a teacher at Central Junior High in Cape Girardeau.

- Nancy Bray, director of marketing and communications at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

- Julia Jorgensen, librarian at Cape Girardeau Central High School,

- Dennis Marchi, store manager at Schnucks.

- Kim McDowell, assistant to the president of Rust Communications.

- Jeanine Dobbins, coordinator of the Missouri Statewide Early Literacy Intervention Program at Southeast Missouri State University,

- Cathy Evans, assistant superintendent in charge of elementary education for the Cape Girardeau School District.

- The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer, pastor of the Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson.

- Valerie Tuschoff, retired owner of Val's Upholstery in Jackson.

- Pat Zellmer, director of advertising and regional advertising coordinator at the Southeast Missourian.