READ SASKATOON BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The READ Saskatoon board of directors works to ensure the vision and mission of READ Saskatoon is defined and fulfilled and is responsible for the overall operations of READ Saskatoon. This includes explaining, introducing, and developing policies for READ Saskatoon.

The Board also works to:

• Set organizational values;
• Initiate, review and evaluate policy;
• Complete annual performance reviews of staff;
• Establish and review personnel policies and/or employment contracts; and
• Ensure the long-term financial viability of READ Saskatoon.

Ian Smith, President
Ian is an Associate lawyer at MacPherson Leslie and Tyerman LLP practicing in various areas of civil litigation.

Ian’s thoughts on literacy are the following: “Literacy is a fundamental human right which for many of us is taken for granted. Literacy is the heart of all education and is essential to empowerment and development of an individual and of society at large. Without literacy the eradication of other negative social conditions such as poverty and inequality would be impossible.”

Carm Michalenko, Vice President
Carm is Marketing and Strategic Services Manager for Affinity Credit Union and has 25 years of a wide-range of marketing management experience including leadership, facilitation, project management, change management, public speaking, strategic communications and volunteer management.

Carm is currently a board member of READ Saskatoon where she is chair of the PeterGzowski Golf for Literacy Events. She was past chair of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Dinner® and the International Women’s Day event for Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was also past president of the International Association of Business Communicators Saskatoon and past board member Saskatchewan Rotary Youth Foundation (My Future is Here) and an advisor to the International Association of Students of Economics and Commerce (AIESEC, U of S).

For Carm, literacy is reflected in the following quotes:

“No skill is more crucial to the future of a child, or to a democratic and prosperous society, than literacy.” (author unknown)

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope." — Kofi Annan

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” —Margaret Fuller

Genevieve Salamon, Treasurer
Genevieve graduated with BAdmin from the U of R in 1986. She began a career as a loans officer and investment counselor with the RBC and continued to work for them until her health began to be too unstable. She was diagnosed with MS in 1987. In 1998, Genevieve and her amazing husband, Glen moved to Saskatoon. As well as serving on the board of READ Saskatoon, she is also on the Board of Directors for the Saskatoon Jazz Society where both her and her husband are actively involved. Genevieve is a Duplicate Bridge Life Master.

“Literacy is a necessary skill in order to explore our world and begin to dream of the possibilities.”

Kristy Heinbigner, Secretary
In addition to tutoring and serving on the READ Saskatoon Board, Kristy works as a substitute teacher with Saskatoon Public Schools.

“I believe without literacy one cannot navigate everyday life; it is the foundation to becoming a successful and productive member of society.”

Members at Large:

Mary Leggett
Mary has lived in Saskatoon since 1989 and started to volunteer for READ shortly after she arrived. She has been on the board several times in that period, and ithas been a stimulating and exciting experience watching the organization grow and change. Mary’s works as a research scientist for Novozymes. She also serves as a board member for Agriculture in the Classroom -SK and the Canadian Phytopathological Society.

Literacy is a major factor in determining the ability of citizens to fully participate in, and benefit from, the activities in their community. It is everyone’s right to have access to programs that will help them achieve the literacy and numeracy skills they feel they need to interact with their family, friends, co workers and society in general.

Luke Muller
Luke has worked as a lecturer, editor, and communications manager since moving to Saskatoon in 1996 to complete graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Currently, he works at  St. Thomas More College, U of S, where his focus is Communications.

A lifelong learner, Luke believes that literacy is critically important to education, which is the foundation of healthy and  prosperous communities

Millie Reynolds
Millie is a retired home economics teacher whose confidence in students led her to be a lead in establishing a teen parent program and day care in Nutana Collegiate.

“Reading, writing and mathematics literacy is needed for an individual to be a contributing and satisfied person in society and enables him/her to move on into further learning opportunities.”

Roberta Cross
Roberta’s background is in international business, community development, fund-raising, diplomacy, management and communications. Her mother taught she and her brother to read at a very early age, making a life of imagination and creativity possible.

Roberta feels literacy is essential to three of her most valuable treasures -- friendship, ideas and democracy.

Joy Adams Bauer
Joy Adams Bauer has lived in Saskatoon for 25 years. She spent the first part of her career in adult education as a workshop facilitator and a public educator. For the past 15 years she has worked in the field of communications, media relations and public relations. She thinks she has one of the best jobs in the city as the communications officer for Saskatoon Public Schools. Joy is a member of the Rotary Club of Saskatoon and past board member of My Future is Here. She loves jazz music, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, good food and good wine. She and her husband are "child-free by choice". Literacy is a window that opens into a whole new world.

Rick Peddle
Rick is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and a Partner with Salamon & Ratzlaff Chartered Accountants, a client-focused service firm that is dedicated to providing innovative solutions in the areas of accounting, taxation, and business advisory services. Rick's involvement with READ Saskatoon began in 2007 when he became a member of the Peter Gzowski Golf Tournament for Literacy committee. Rick was the Finance Director for the Saskatchewan Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (SYPE) for 1999/2000 and 2003/2004, the Communications Director (2000 - 20004), President for 2005 - 2008 and is currently serving as the Saskatoon chapter Past President and the Saskatchewan Board's Past President. Rick is also a volunteer in many community organizations, including Junior Achievement, the Saskatoon Mustang and Classic Ford Club, the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon, and is a member of the Council for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan.

"The best part of my day is reading bed time stories with my son. As a parent, I see literacy as the key to my son's happiness and to his future success. He is only 3, but the joy that I see on his face while learning to read amazes me daily."