POWERGRAMS

13 Reading a children's book has a way of taking one back to the carefree days of childhood. It's no surprise that taking part in Read Across America appeals to many members of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO). Eastern, Gaston, Gorgas, Magic City, Mobile and Southeast/Farley chapters took part in the 20th annual reading motivation and awareness program. Many volunteers got into the full spirit of Dr. Seuss Day, dressing in red top hats, wigs in primary colors, multicolor stockings and caps in honor of beloved author Theodor Seuss Geisel, who penned more than 60 children's books. March 1 turned into a day of laughter for Ernest Tubbs, one of more than 80 APSO volunteers helping in Read Across America. Tubbs said that reading to youngsters was a far cry from his maintenance planner job at Gorgas Electric Generating Plant. "The day I went to T.R. Simmons Elementary, I read to seven or eight classes, and I was beginning to think they weren't going to let us out of there," said Tubbs, who wore a tall, red felt hat. "I read until the point they went to their lunch periods. "It's pretty fun for those little kids," said Tubbs, a Gorgas employee for 37 years. "Little kids will say just about anything." Longtime Gorgas APSO member Terri Black read to kindergarten classes at Valley Elementary School on Feb. 26 and, five days later, took the reading baton at T.R. Simmons Elementary with Tubbs and Gorgas Plant Manager Valerie Wade. "I believe our volunteers look forward to this even more than the students do," said Maintenance Specialist Black. Gorgas members read to more than 750 children from Cordova Elementary, Curry Elementary, Memorial Park Elementary and T.R. Simmons Elementary in Jasper; Oakman Elementary and Parrish Elementary. Bringing laughter to children For five years running, Valencia Chaney chaired Mobile APSO's efforts. She and six other volunteers read to 140 children at Craighead Elementary School, including pre-K, kindergarten and special-needs classes. Chaney said it was a special time to indulge the children, with volunteers dressed in tall, red and green Dr. Seuss hats, gloves and bow-ties. Mobile APSO donated pencils, notepads and a Read Across America rug to the school. "Little children are my passion," said Chaney, who has worked at Alabama Power for 38 years. "You can just read 'hello' and they gravitate to you. They just want you to be there and talk to them." She has a "feeling of home" helping Craighead Elementary students. "I grew up in that neighborhood, and my mother was a teacher's aide at the school," said Chaney, business practices specialist - Mobile Division Office. "My cousin is a special education teacher there." West Jefferson Office employees Natalie Bailey, DeAnn Garrett Volunteers reach out to students during Read Across America BY DONNA COPE APSO Gaston Chemical Technician Andrea Jackson reads in Harpersville.

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