Because of your dedication and commitment to promoting literacy, it is like preaching to the choir when we discuss why your efforts are so very important.

     However, we need to constantly remind ourselves and our friends that low levels of literacy are powerful predictors of welfare dependency and incarceration. In addition to the human factors, just imagine what a drain this is on the state budget, which your taxes fund.

     Nearly 40 percent of our juvenile delinquents have treatable learning disabilities that were overlooked and untreated in school.

     The Orton Dyslexic Society reports that:

75 percent of unemployed adults,

33 percent of welfare mothers,

85 percent of juveniles who appear in court

60 percent of prison inmates are illiterate.

     We're hearing a lot these days about the long-term future of our social security system.

     In only 11 years, there will be only three workers for every retiree on social security, as compared with 16 in 1950.

     What - you may ask - does this have to do with literacy?

     The answer is rather simple. With growing prison populations and the illiteracy rate of those in prison which I mentioned earlier, we are going to have fewer productive workers supporting our retirees.

     Literacy is not just a huge challenge in our country. In fact, it is a crisis in many parts of the world.

     The United National Children's Fund has predicted that nearly one-sixth of humanity, or one billion people, will be illiterate at the start of the new century. The lack of basic education for hundreds of millions of children is cited as the biggest factor behind this distressing statistic.

     While we have understandable concern and are working to reduce the number of our young people who drop out of our high schools, in the developing countries, 40 percent of elementary school-age children either have never attended school or dropped out before learning to read, write, or count.

     Even in many industrialized nations, 15 to 20 percent of students leave school without the basic skills needed for finding and keeping a job.

     Three years ago, the National Education Goals Panel reported that:

75 percent of students in grade four,

72 percent of students in grade eight, and

66 percent of students in grade twelve could not read

at their grade level.

     We all know as work requirements grow more sophisticated and technical, the job applicant who cannot read and understand a complex set of instructions simply cannot find a job that pays a decent wage.

     The higher level skills which are now necessary for most jobs have really changed.

     For example, 50 years ago, 60% of our jobs were for the unskilled.

     Many of you in the audience today are actively involved in business and industry. You know that low literacy and inadequate basic skills represent a hidden cost, a drag on competitiveness and productivity. Our Community colleges do a tremendous job in the training and re-training of workers, but this seems to be a never-ending battle.

     In a survey of Fortune 1000 executives, 90 percent reported that low literacy and basic skills problems affect their corporate productivity and profitability. Ten years ago, the U. S. Department of Labor estimated that literacy problems in the Southeast region alone cost us nearly $57 billion dollars a year.

     IBM's CEO, Lou Gerstner, estimates that businesses spend $30 billion a year on remedial education, and they lose $25 to $30 billion a year because of worker illiteracy.

     The loss of potential purchasing power alone is staggering. Full-time workers with the literacy level of a high school graduate earn approximately 50 percent more than full-time workers at the lowest level of literacy.

     To address these challenges, we need to do several things.

     We need to support the State Board of Education and the Charlotte-Mecklenburs Board of Education as we raise standards and expectations. As we end social promotions, there will be outcries from some groups and some parents.

     Some say we're raising the bar in order to fail students. I can assure you we're raising expectations and standards so our graduates can do well in life, so they can make a decent living, and so we can compete globally and keep the strongest economy in the world.

     We need to convince society that education and training are a continuum which begins at home, in preschool, in K-12 schools, and in our churches, temples, and synagogues.

     Our "get tough" attitude says that business as usual is no longer acceptable. We cannot continue to hand out diplomas to students who cannot read and write at grade level. This policy is designed to identify weaknesses early and work hard and effectively to bring all students up to reasonable expectations and standards.

     Government needs to continue to support education and training, which I believe is its primary mission other than our national defense. This can be done through effective use of tax money and  tax credits and other incentives to help workers bolster their skills.

     And, finally, we must continue to advocate for partnerships and community collaboration to win this battle for literacy and against illiteracy.

     We are fortunate to have many "willing and able" partners in our campaign.

     Our public schools are the first gateway. To those who drop out and for those already past school age, our community colleges offer hope through the Basic Skills program.

     More than 10,000 employees were served at 280 work sites last year as more and more businesses see the value of making literacy efforts convenient and as easy as possible.

     In no place in our state is this partnership more active and more effective than the efforts by the Rotary Clubs in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

     As many of you know, in 1985 Rotary International declared basic literacy to be a fundamental pre-condition to the development of peace.

     Rotarians are urged to address the full range of literacy issues including primary education, vocational education, teacher training, and adult education. A recent survey indicated that more than half of the world's 28,000 Rotary clubs conduct literacy activities.

     Many of you are working on public awareness campaigns, and this is so important because so many are unaware of the seriousness of this issue.

     Our time is very short and very precious, but the rewards gained from tutoring non-readers or poor readers are very meaningful. A growing number of you are serving as volunteer tutors and we always need more.

     Thanks for what you have done, for what you are doing, and what you will do in the future. Your contributions are very important and very much needed.