According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, there are at least 34 million adults living in the United States whose literacy skills are so limited that they cannot function effectively in society or develop their full potential as a family member, worker, and citizen.  Texas ranks 47 out of 50 states in terms of English literacy levels.

     The East Texas Literacy Council (ETLC) seeks to change that fact by changing lives through literacy right here in our own community.  Their annual fundraiser, the BEE for Literacy! Corporate Spelling Bee will have three-person teams from area businesses and civic groups competing against each other to raise funds to support the work of ETLC in our community.  Dorrie DeLand will be a first-time team member competing this year for Texas Bank and Trust.  The 18^th Annual BEE will be held on Wednesday, June 3, at the Pine Tree Junior High School cafeteria. 

     In addition to her support of the ETLC, Mrs. DeLand is a board member of the Adopt A School Partnership of Longview and volunteers for Junior Achievement and the Salvation Army.  Mrs. DeLand is also a member of the Pine Tree (PT) Parent Teacher Association, and serves as treasurer for the PT Baseball Booster Club and as secretary for the PT Football Booster Club.

     The daughter of a career military father, Mrs. DeLand was born in Izmir, Turkey.  She graduated from Radford High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, and received her degree from Sam Houston State University.  Mrs. DeLand and her husband, Michael, have two sons, James, 19, who attends Texas A&M University, and Tyler, 15, a student at PT High School.

     “It is important to give back to your community.  We have raised our boys that you will always give back for what your community has done for you,” Mrs. DeLand said.