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Welcome to the first issue of Networks, the regular NALD newsletter. We chose the name for the newsletter carefully. Networking, reaching out, communicating---those are essential parts of our work in the literacy community. What's more the word "networks" plays on the many ways we use to communicate--by mail, by telephone, and , increasingly, over the Internet on Nald's World Wide Web site.

I deeply value all this networking. Since my appointment as Executive Director of NALD last September, I have been fortunate to meet with many of you working in Canada's literacy community. I am constantly impressed with your dedication and commitment. It gives me great satisfaction to have joined you in your endeavour--to help thousands of our fellow Canadians in their struggle to meet the ever increasing demands of the workplace, and society in general.

At NALD our role in this endeavour, as spelled out in our mandate, is:

"to facilitate the continued delivery of literacy programs in Canada by providing an information network for adult literacy information to serve and support individuals, organizations, government policy setters and decision makers in the field."

I'll be looking for your advice on the kinds of services you think NALD should provide, sharing current information with you, and assisting you in using developing technology to better meet your needs.

So, let's get together ---that's the purpose of Networks.

Charles Ramsey
Executive Director of NALD

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