THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 8, 1996 TAG: 9609060190
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: CLOSE-UP
SOURCE: REBECCA MYERS CUTCHINS
LENGTH: 122 lines
Betty Cornetta has eliminated the word illiterate from her vocabulary.
Cornetta instead prefers to use non-reading to describe the scores of adults who never learned to read.
The newly elected president of the Tidewater Literacy Council, Cornetta even has had the word changed in the organization's mission statement.
``To me, when someone hears the word illiterate, it sounds like a disease,'' she said. `I don't like that word. It has such a stigma to it.''
In celebration of International Literacy Day today, Cornetta invites everyone to join her in helping to eradicate the word as well as what it stands for.
According to a 1992 study, there were 113,000 non-reading adults in the Hampton Roads area. Many mask their inability to read by using phrases like, ``I've forgotten my glasses. Can you please read this for me?'' They also get through life by being excellent listeners and having incredible memories, Cornetta said.
In her year as president, Cornetta hopes to spread the word about the Literacy Council through speaking engagements and through major fund-raising that will enable the organization to grow and help more students.
Cornetta first was introduced to the Tidewater Literacy Council five years ago after moving to the area from Baltimore to marry a Portsmouth optometrist, Dr. Jim Cornetta.
She decided almost immediately to get involved with the organization, which trains volunteers to teach adults to read.
After completing a tutor training workshop, Cornetta was assigned her first student, a woman in her early 40s who spent three years mastering the reading program.
When the two first met, the woman wouldn't look Cornetta in the eye.
``But when she finished up, she became a whole new person,'' Cornetta said of her student. ``She just blossomed.''
Cornetta says the woman now does things ``that before she would have never dreamed she was going to do.''
Reading aloud in her church is just one example. She also has learned to drive and now has her own checking account.
``And she has much better self-esteem,'' Cornetta said.
It takes two to three years to complete the four workbooks that comprise the Literacy Council's curriculum; however, most students participate just long enough to reach a personal goal, like reading the Bible or getting their driver's license.
``But some do complete it and go on to get GEDs, which is what we hope for,'' Cornetta said.
Cornetta met with her student once a week for 2 1/2 years and twice a week during the last six months. During that time, the pair took only one break from each other - a monthlong hiatus for each to take a vacation.
In addition to her work with the Literacy Council, Cornetta is also president of the Virginia Optometric Association Auxiliary and is one of the founding board members of the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation.
Until very recently, Cornetta was also a board member for three years with the Portsmouth Host Lions Club.
``I'm still a member but not on the board of directors,'' she said. ``I was overextending myself.''
Prior to relocating, Cornetta was a successful career woman in Baltimore for 12 years, selling frames and lenses to eye doctors and conducting sales seminars.
``I moved to Portsmouth for love,'' she quipped. ``I had been dealing with my husband's practice for two years, but I mainly dealt with his father. Then things just kind of changed, and it just blossomed from there.''
A self-described ``Air Force brat,'' Cornetta lived in Texas, California and Italy before settling in Maryland and attending the University of Maryland to major in health science and policy.
Cornetta and her husband are the parents of a 21-month-old daughter, Victoria, and live in Hatton Point.
Name: Betty H. Cornetta.
Nickname: Bettina (``Little Betty'' in Italian).
Neighborhood: Hatton Point.
Number of years in Portsmouth: Five.
Birthplace: Wichita Falls, Texas.
Birthdate: Jan. 9, 1960.
Occupation: Wife, mom and community volunteer.
What job other than your own would you like? Diane Sawyer's job as an investigative reporter.
Marital status: Married five years to Dr. Jim Cornetta.
Children: Victoria Sabra, 21 months.
Fondest childhood memory: Living in northern Italy for five years, from ages 9 to 13, and traveling around Europe with my family.
First concert: Beach Boys and Chicago, 1975.
What song or book title best describes your life? ``Shower the People,'' by James Taylor.
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you would buy? The New York Mets with my husband as manager, with Tony Nicolo and Steve Liles as coaches (Have fun, guys!).
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Mother Teresa, despite the emotional job of nurturing the poorest, sickest children back to health and witnessing many deaths, she maintains a sense of humor, the purest of grace and her faith in God. That would make me a better person.
Biggest accomplishment: Ending a 12-year successful sales career to raise our healthy, happy, beautiful little girl.
Most embarrassing moment: I was the ``new kid'' in my eighth-grade class. I walked in from the girls restroom and everyone was smiling. I thought, ``How nice,'' then quickly realized that the back of my skirt was tucked in my pantyhose.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Talk slower.
Perfect way to spend the day: Hiking in the mountains.
I can't resist: Touching. I'm a very touchy-feely person.
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Brutti's.
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: My back yard. It's on the water. Almost every day we see egrets, great blue herons and ducks. It's beautiful.
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Its image.
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
Have a huge positive publicity campaign.
Continue to renovate downtown Portsmouth and include its surrounding areas like MidCity.
That people would appreciate the value of Portsmouth and what it has to offer.
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? The commitment of its citizens to help make Portsmouth a better place to live. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Betty Cornetta relaxes with her 21-month-old daughter, Victoria, in
her favorite spot - her back yard. by CNB