Executive Director, Roanne Patterson

The Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Eastern Orange County, Inc. (LVEOC) Roanne Patterson, in addition to her new responsibilities as Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Eastern Orange County, Inc. (LVeoc), directs the Country House Arts Center, Inc., a professional organization she founded to promote the arts in the community, including among our youth. The Country House strengthens and enhances the visibility and impact of professional artists of many disciplines.

Ms. Patterson is also a cofounder of River Valley Arts Partnership (RVAP) which provides a “Chamber of the Arts” for arts-related organizations, both large and small. Networking, data management and shared advertising are just a few services that RVAP provides. By promoting collaboration among its members, RVAP empowers them to solve shared challenges and maximizes their ability to focus on their common goal: personal and public enrichment through the arts.

Ms. Patterson’s professional roots at the Riverside Church of New York, a bastion of social justice, have enabled her to flourish in many diverse roles: performer, director and stage producer/manager; director of youth and senior citizens; workshop presenter for the young; coordinator of foreign student placement in American homes; and national lecturer for self-improvement programs. Reflecting her many talents, her exemplary work at the National Council of Churches included coordination of over 300 agencies through the office of Ecumenical Ministries; fund development; promotion of planned giving; and coordination with the White House and other dignitaries for topics relating to the spiritual commitment of our 52 million churchgoers.

Educated at New York’s Fordham University and a drama graduate of the School of Performing Arts, NYC (Yes – the FAME school), Ms. Patterson has broadened her scope by completing professional seminars in management, ethics, public relations, charitable gift annuities and other planned giving instruments, group training, lecturing, computers and personnel training.

Roanne Patterson brings a wealth of experience and commitment to Literacy Volunteers of Eastern Orange County. She is proud to offer her skills for the all important task of teaching our neighbors to read.

Program Coordinator, Paula Cancro

President, Judith McAfee

Vice President, Frank Lanava

Treasurer, Anne DeRienzo

Secretary, Séan Gale

Séan P. Gale was born and raised in Newburgh. A graduate of Mount St. Mary College with a BA in Secondary Education English and SUNY New Paltz with a MS in Secondary Education English, he teaches English at James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls, NY.

Mary Elin Carnes

Mary Elin Korchinsky Carnes, a Newburgh native, taught at North Junior High School and Newburgh Free Academy for 29 years. Now retired, Mary Elin volunteers at St. Luke’s Hospital and as a tutor for LVeoc; is active at her church, St. Thomas’ Episcopal; serves on several committees for the Episcopal Diocese of New York; and helps her husband write and illustrate The American Nation, a college textbook.

Anne M. Coon

Anne M. Coon has over 30 years of professional and volunteer programming experience, both for senior citizens and the general public in a wide variety of settings from cultural to recreational/athletic. Currently she is the Senior Citizens Program Coordinator with Orange County Office for the Aging and was the Director of Senior Citizen Program in the Town of Newburgh, and the Executive Director of YWCA of Orange Area, Vice-President ESPRIT SYSTEMS Consulting, Inc. and Executive Director of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands.

Ms. Coon has her M.B.A, LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, Roth Graduate School of Business, Marketing

Nancy Gross

Deborah Hill

Susan K. Levy

Cynthia McCollie-Lewis

Camille Moriello

Gail Parrinello

Hattie Peterson

Leslie S. W. Riley

Ellen Rones

Richard Smith

Richard B. Smith is a native of Newburgh. A graduate of Newburgh Free Academy, O.C.C.C., and Saint Louis University, he is employed as a Senior Medicaid Liaison for HealthBridge Management, a nursing home management company. Richard and his wife Edwina began as tutors many years ago, in what was then called Literacy Volunteers of Greater Newburgh. Richard later joined the board, where he currently serves as a member of the Grants and Finance Committees, and as Chairman of the Personnel Committee. He is also an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

Priscilla Velez