I read with interest Steve Myrick’s account of the presentation of the study of adult education commissioned by Adult and Community Education of Martha’s Vineyard (ACE MV) appearing in the Gazette Friday, Oct. 2. Mr. Myrick offered a concise and informative summary of the report. As principal author of the first phase of the study, I would have attended the presentation had I not been recuperating from surgery. I would like to acknowledge here a few of the people who made the study possible, including first and foremost the 45 community leaders who generously made themselves available for interviews.

Taking time from busy schedules these folks shared their concerns, hopes and vision for a stronger Island community, and ideas for how ACE MV could help to realize that vision. The staff of two Island libraries, especially Edgartown Library reference librarian Nis Kildegaard, and Allyson Malik, head of adult and technology services at the Oak Bluffs Library, provided excellent support for the scholarly work of developing the original proposal. My colleague and collaborator in the needs assessment, Dr. Heather-Lyn Haley of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, stepped up to deliver the project presentation as a solo rather than a duet on short notice, and by all accounts did a fine job.

Deep appreciation goes also to the members of the needs assessment work group who conducted the interviews and helped to analyze the qualitative data: Peg Regan, Sam Hart, Lynn Ditchfield, Shari Geisfeld and Leigh French. Over the 12 months of the study I was privileged to work with a dedicated, highly educated group of volunteers whose efforts were rewarded with a report that will continue to be of value to ACE MV as the organization seeks to plan ways to maximize its contribution to the Island community.

Grace Sullivan
Edgartown