The
Highlighter
March 2011
Vol 84 No 9
Table of Contents
Literate Women Do Not Produce Illiterate Children
Roger Schulte
Most
of us take literacy for granted. It's the schools' job; the parents'
job; not Rotary's.
But Rotarians help. We provide
books to children, we donate to city libraries in the name of our
speakers, and on March 3, the National Read across America Day in honor
of the birthday of Dr. Seuss, some of us volunteer to read to elementary
school children. We might even fund training of community literacy
programs for adults and immigrants or participate in buying computers
for schools. In the United States, however, as in most developed
countries, most Rotary clubs do not see literacy as their primary local
community need.
There are exceptions in our district,
such as when clubs adopt a Title I school in a low socio-economic area
and develop a comprehensive, in depth partnership with that
school-community. These clubs work closely with the administration,
teachers, and children and their families. Major changes happen because
together specific unmet needs are identified that can addressed by
Rotarians.
Frequently these needs go beyond literacy
and are directly related to how well children learn, e.g. providing
nutrition information, arranging for health screenings, funding
additional professional training for staff, and/or serving as outside
advisors on a school's decision making committees. Throughout the year
funds are raised for supplementary learning materials. Rotary volunteers
work weekly in the classrooms directly with children, providing
one-on-one reinforcement and practice of classroom lessons. Indirectly
Rotarians become role models and life mentors. At the high school level
such assistance can be expanded to include vocational literacy and
business plan development.
Rotarians, however,
often view literacy differently when involved with international
projects in developing countries. Frequently literacy becomes a core
component of our humanitarian efforts. We dig water wells, but do so
near schools so that children have another reason to come to school.
After the tsunami in Sri Lanka, it was Rotarians who joined together to
actually build 25 new schools destroyed by the disaster. Education and
literacy go hand in hand with increasing the possibilities open to a
person; they also can change a community.
A close
friend I most admire is my governor counterpart, Deepa Willingham from
Solvang, California, in District 5240. Originally she was a native of
Calcutta and over the years has been moved by the lack of education of
young Indian girls. She believes that the education of girls is a major
step to combating poverty and providing them jobs which will not only
improve the lot of their own families but also their communities.
Deepa established as a prototype the PACE School for girls in 2003
outside of Calcutta in Piyali Junction, India. Currently there are over
145 girls in attendance with 200 on the waiting list. She believes that
a holistic approach benefits the whole family and promotes sustainable
change. The school focuses on girls because the women of a community
play a key role in the future literacy of their children - "Literate
women do not produce illiterate children," and when educated, most often
women will remain in the rural community, marry later, have children
later in life and, if given the chance, through a micro-lending program,
run successful businesses.
The school reaches beyond
the students with a banking and micro-lending facility. It plans to
expand its vocational training to the entire community though organic
farming techniques, co-op animal husbandry and other in-home business
opportunities. When fully implemented, other needs of the community will
be addressed, such as clean water/sanitation, solar energy
implementation, rain water harvesting and adult literacy.
Experience indicates that schools such as PACE built in very
impoverished areas, become the focal points for changing communities.
Deepa's vision is to duplicate this model in many other parts of the
world. Her motto: Changing the Face of Poverty, One Girl at a Time...One
Village at a time...One Community at a time.
Through
our literacy efforts Rotarians Build Communities and Bridge Continents.
An aside: A dozen Rotarians from District 5300 traveled to India
in February to vaccinate children against polio during the National
Immunization Day on February 20. Afterwards some took a side trip to
Calcutta and visited this school in Piyali Junction. A highlight of the
District Conference in June 9 - 12, 2011, will be to hear of their NIDS
experiences as well as of their tour of the PACE School.
Group Study Exchange
March 12
Centennial Hills Clothing Swap
March 18
Las Vegas Fremont 25th Birthday Celebration
March 19
March 22
Glendora "Rotary Hoopla" FUNraiser
March 30
Foothill Communities' 3rd Annual Put Polio on Ice Event
March 31
La Verne's Friendship Tour of Turkey
May 7 - 8
June 9-11
June 12
October 9
Centennial Hills 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Deadline Fast Approaching for 2011 Matching Grants
The Gift of Light-500
cataract surgeries. Building a village toilet block for women's sanitation
needs. Equipment for a neonatal intensive care unit. Water filters for
schools. Early childhood development. Clean water for an orphanage.
Construction of artesian wells. Shelter boxes for housing flood victims.
Audiology equipment for the hearing impaired. Drug prevention through sports
programs. Ambulance transport for an orphanage. Mid-day nutritional meals
for poor children.
What do all these have in common? They
are just some of the current District 5300 Matching Grants international
projects funded with club funds and District Designated Funds, and matched
by The Rotary Foundation. The projects are in Mexico, the Philippines,
India, Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria, Argentina.
Your
money is helping thousands across the globe with food, housing, clean water,
sanitation and health!
The deadline for new Matching Grants
to be proposed, funded, and submitted is fast approaching. If your club has
already done a project - great! But this year we are offering up to an
additional $5000 for clubs able to do more! If your club has not yet
submitted, then do so! Find a project on matchinggrants.org. Determine how
much you have to spend and pledge it.
Projects must be
submitted to Dr. Clive Houston Brown (Pomona), Matching Grants Committee
Chair, not later than March 20, as the TRF deadline is March 31, 2011.
Contact him directly with any questions. We have matching funds at the
District level waiting for you to ask for them! We want to spend these funds
to do good in the world.
District Simplified Grants - We Are Giving Away Money. Simple.
District Simplified
Grants fund smaller local or international projects that are new, have a
hands-on Rotarian involvement component, and which can be completed this
Rotary year. Simple. District Designated Funds (DDF) reflects Annual Program
Funds money you gave to the Rotary Foundation three years ago. 50% of the
money comes back to District 5300 to be allocated to help clubs. It's at the
ready, waiting to be distributed. Thousands of dollars are pushing at the
(bank) gate, waiting to be set free. Thousands of dollars want to be spent
in our communities to do good in the world, not be sent back to The Rotary
Foundation office in Evanston.
The deadline for this Rotary
year is March 31, so applications must be completed and submitted to the
District Chairperson Yvonne Flint (Arcadia) not later than March 24, to be
evaluated and approved by her committee. The application is a simple one;
the process is simple too. The application can be found on our District
website, or one can be emailed to you upon request.
Thanks
to Las Vegas West, Las Vegas Fremont, Duarte, Industry Hills, Las Vegas,
Victorville, Laughlin, Sierra Madre, Covina, West Covina, Pomona, Claremont,
Mesquite Sunrise, San Gabriel and Chino, who have submitted successful
applications.
Identify a need, meet with your Club Board,
complete an application, then submit it. Simple. We can match your funds on
a 1:1 basis for as small a grant as $500 to as large a one as $1500 - which
would mean a $3000 local project, done by your club for the real cost.
Take the simple step of applying for a District Simplified Grant this
Rotary year!
Next month's theme
Rotary Magazine
Click here for publishing guidelines.
[Editor's Note] We would like to have participation and contributions from members of your Interact Clubs. Please encourage them to contribute to The Highlighter. Interactors can receive The Highlighter by sending their names, club names, and email addresses to highlighter@district5300.org.
The Making A Job Program
Making a Job has
become an exciting component of the English-Language Arts curriculum at
San Antonio High School in Claremont. Developed by Ray Carlson of the
Altadena Rotary Club and introduced by the Claremont Sunrise Rotary in
April of 2010, SAHS piloted the program during the summer term with
positive results. The program has now become an integral part of the
English-Language Arts curriculum and is closely aligned to two national
educational movements: Common Core State Standards and 21st Century
Skills.
The Common Core State Standards define what it
means to be a literate person in the 21st Century. Students who master
the standards will be fluent readers, critical thinkers, informative
writers, effective speakers, and engaged listeners. They also will use
technology as a source of information and a means of communication.
The 21st Century Framework combines a discrete focus on 21st
century student outcomes with innovative support systems to help
students master the multi-dimensional abilities required of them in the
21st century.
Additionally, the classes examine what
it really means to be an entrepreneur, characteristics and skills, and
the different ways entrepreneurs contribute to our society. Working
together, the students identify market opportunities, developing and
evaluating possible businesses.
The goals of Making a
Job are to teach and encourage students to think entrepreneurially, to
provide students with the opportunity to create their own businesses in
a suffering economy, and to eventually provide others with jobs, which
are all important to continued economic growth. The program has
also been an important vessel in aiding students with numerical,
financial literacy. Through the program, students apply the knowledge
they obtain by writing a business plan, describing the nature of their
business, their marketing plan and identifying their target market. The
students also calculate the initial costs for their business, their
pricing analysis, and estimate cash flow for the first eight weeks of
operation.
San Antonio High
School's partnership with the Claremont Sunrise Rotary has supported the
success of this program. The club has funded curriculum materials
and has provided incentive awards to the businesses judged to most
closely represent the goals of the program. Additionally, the members of
the club, many of whom are entrepreneurs themselves, have been guest
speakers in classes. They have eagerly shared real world
experiences and have encouraged students as they develop into young
entrepreneurs.
Making a Job has flourished under the
leadership of principal Steven Boyd, assistant principal Felipe Delvasto,
and the enthusiasm of teacher Marco "Ace" Gonzalez.
Thanks to Claremont Sunrise Rotary and member Ken Rowland, in
particular, for showing interest in the students of the Claremont
Unified School District Alternative Education Program and for
championing this project for vocational and entrepreneurial literacy.
Pathways To African Literacy
Education
is the key that can open doors to a better future. For the past
six years, Ontario Rotary has supported Promise for African Literacy
(PAL), a program started by Ontario Rotarian, Dottie Leveque. Each
person who comes to Ontario Rotary as a speaker completes a bookplate
for a school in South Africa or Tanzania. Each bookplate
represents $20 donated by Ontario Rotary to the program and is used to
purchase textbooks and library books for a specific school. On her
regular travels to Africa, Dottie inserts the bookplates into the books
she has purchased and delivers them to the school. She does
advance planning with each of the schools to identify the specific books
needed.
Books are a rare commodity in African schools. At most schools, there is one book for every fifteen children! Over the six years of the program, in schools benefitting from the
program, there is now one book for every two children or better…..a
marked change! Since the books are purchased in the specific
country in which the schools are located, they fit the local curriculum
and the language and culture of the area.
The
focus in South Africa has been literacy. Working together with
Rotary clubs in the USA and South Africa, using matching grants as well
as the PAL program, 55 schools have now implemented the Literacy for All
reading series for Kindergarten through grade 3. The results of
the efforts are exciting! National test scores for Isiphiwo
Primary School in Cape Town have risen from 5.2% in 2006 to 52.8% in
2008! Other schools are showing similar gains.
This year, Claremont Sunrise Rotary has joined the bookplate program,
bringing more books to needy schools. Since Dottie spends much of
her time in Africa, she can regularly report on the success of the
program and identify specific needs. The Claremont Sunrise Rotary
funds will purchase sets of children's encyclopedia for Isiphiwo Primary
School this year. Thanks Claremont Sunrise!
If
your club would like to join this effort, please contact Dottie at
drdottie@aol.com or Chuck Freitas,
District Literacy Chairperson, at
chuckfreitas@ca.rr.com for
further information.
Ontario
Rotary has also adopted a student in Tanzania: Goodluck Apolinary
Mushy. Goodluck was seven years old when the club "adopted" him. He is now 12 and doing well! His father was unable to pay the
school fees required for him to attend school. Ontario Rotary has
a small fund raising event each year to support Goodluck's education. As several club members have said,
"His father named him appropriately. He is one lucky boy!"
Service Above Self
The
Rotary Club of Victorville recognized "Service Above Self" in their own
community. Mark Taylor presided over the annual Bill O'Keeffe
Memorial Safety Awards, given each year to four public servants who
embody the familiar Rotary motto. The awards are named for past
Rotarian and CHP Commander Bill O'Keeffe, who passed away in 2007, and
are presented in the areas of Field Crisis Response, Emergency Medical
Services, Fire Service and Law Enforcement. Each recipient
received Recognitions of Outstanding Achievement from Congressman Howard
"Buck" McKeon and San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. Mayor Ryan McEachron also presented proclamations from the City of
Victorville and the Victorville City Council in recognition of service
to our community.
Jo Ann Dopp of the High Desert
Chapter American Red Cross is the Chapter Volunteer Coordinator and
wears many hats. She also serves in the American Red Cross
Disaster Resource System and can be deployed to assist anywhere in the
world as a Red Cross volunteer.
S.B. County Firefighter
Eric Spies was recognized for his many volunteer activities over and
above his duty. He participates in public education, designed and
built a rooftop ventilation system for training firemen, and has many
supporters.
Osvaldo "Augie" Pelayes, S.B. County P.D.
Deputy, encountered a murder suspect who held his one-year old baby as a
shield. Augie made a split-second decision and, despite the danger
to his own life, saved both the baby and the suspect,.
Deputy Sheriff Travis Randolph works the graveyard shift in Victorville
and investigated a serious sex crime involving a five-year old child. His determination in pursuing the known suspect resulted in a threat to
his own life, and he was forced to defend himself against the
knife-wielding suspect.
Polio Eradiction Update: Good News! We Are 99% There!
Question: When Polio is totally eradicated from the face of the
earth, it will be only the second time in our history that a disease has
been stamped out, Do you know the first? Read on for the
answer.
Another Partner has joined the fight: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has just announced partnering with
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE (United Arab Emirates) Armed Forces,
to immunize children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Currently the
four polio hot spots are these two countries, plus areas of India and
Nigeria.
The Gates Foundation and the Sheikh have each
pledged $50 million, two-thirds of which will be used to buy vaccines to
fight the biggest killers of children in Afghanistan under age 5
(pneumonia, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B and
meningitis). The final millions will be used to fight polio on the
ground in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Due to our
global childhood immunization effort, polio has been reduced by 99%, and
we now stand on the edge of eradicating only the second disease in our
history. Discussing the immense value of childhood immunization
and vaccines on a recent CNN interview, Bill Gates pointed out that a
similar undertaking successfully eliminated small pox world-wide,
thereby saving more than 300 million persons from suffering its scourge,
and making small pox the first disease to be eradicated in history.
In response to the latest Gates Foundation announcement, Forbes
Magazine Reporter Kym McNicholas recently interviewed RI President Ray
Klinginsmith concerning the status of the Gates Foundation $200 million
challenge to Rotary International. As a memory refresher, Rotary
elected 30 years ago to direct our efforts to eliminating polio
world-wide. To that end, we partnered with the World Health
Organization, UNICEF, the Center for Disease Control and the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation initially offered
Rotary $100 million which we had to match $1 for $1, and then another
$255 million which Rotary agreed to match by contributing a second $100
million, hence Rotary's $200 million challenge, with Rotary raising a
$200 million match within three years; i.e., by 2012. Summarizing
President Klinginsmith's great news: To date Rotary International has
raised $160,000,000 plus;
President Klinginsmith
expects that the entire $200 million will be raised by the end of the
2011 Rotary year; i.e., one year earlier than the deadline;
To date, Rotary and its partners have spent more than $10 billion in
the fight to eradicate polio;
30 years ago there were
500,000 cases with 50,000 deaths annually; at present there are less
than 1,000 reported cases;
India reported 400 cases
last year, with only 50 cases reported this year; Nigeria reported 300
cases last year, with only 10 cases reported this year.
President Klinginsmith ended his interview by stating that he is very
optimistic that polio will be totally eliminated in these two countries
within the year. To view/hear article & interview, go to
http//blogs.forbes.com/kymmcnichols/2011/01/26/bill-gates-new-partner-in-health/.
Bottom line: We can all help RI President Klinginsmith's
predictions become a reality by honoring our promise to the children of
the world. Most clubs have set the goal to donate $50 per person this
club year to the PolioPlus Challenge. An added plus is that you will
also receive Paul Harris Sustaining Membership credit for your gift. For further information, check with your Club President, your Club
Foundation Chair, or view the Rotary Foundation page on the District web
site.
Rotary in Action
What do you think of
when you hear 'Rotary in Action'? If Rotaract came immediately to mind,
you would be right on the money! The original name of Rotaract was in
fact Rotary in Action. The group combined the words to form what the
organization is called today. Rotaract was officially started in North
Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 13, 1968. Today, there are over
8,000 clubs in approximately 180 countries worldwide. It is a service
organization for young professionals between the ages of 18 and 30 years
of age and is not exclusive to university campuses.
Rotaract has a long history within Rotary International and was created
as an opportunity for younger generations to experience all that Rotary
has to offer. Not only are Rotaract clubs similar to Rotary clubs but
they often have minimal to no dues as a result of university funding or
host Rotary club sponsorships.
Two different types of
Rotaract clubs exist; university and community chartered. The biggest
difference between the two different clubs is that university chartered
clubs can receive a de facto exception to allow people that are over the
age of 30 into the club in order to abide by the university rules. Most
universities, especially in the United States, have anti-discrimination
rules that do not allow Rotaract clubs to be official organizations at
universities because they discriminate against those over 30 years of
age. The RI exception allows for Rotaract clubs to be recognized at
universities around the world.
The Rotaract Clubs of
District 5300 are young, with the first club, the Rotaract Club of
Citrus College, being chartered in 2006. A year later, in 2007, the
Rotaract Club of Las Vegas, was chartered. The Rotaract Club of the
Claremont Colleges followed and was chartered in 2009. The newest
official club within the district is the Rotaract Club of Azusa Pacific
University, which received its charter in late 2010. The Rotaract Clubs
of Pasadena and Mt. Sac University are set to become official in the
very near future.
During March 7 - March 13, 2011,
Rotary International recognizes World Rotaract Week in celebration of
the first Rotaract club. All Rotaract clubs are encouraged to
participate in the week-long celebration by participating in service
projects, visiting Rotary clubs, and other activities that are
recommended by Rotary International. Clubs that meet a minimum of four
meetings, including events or projects, during World Rotaract Week can
receive special recognition from Rotary International.
All Rotarians are encouraged to invite Rotaractors to meetings or
projects/events during the week of March 7 - March 13 to support the
celebration of World Rotaract Week.
Come Hang Out With Us For A Ladies Day Out!
Enjoy a day
of guilt free shopping for you and your children at our clothing swap!
Date: Saturday,
March 12th, 2011
Where: Silverstone
Golf Course Club House
8600 Cupp
Drive, LV NV
Item Drop off: Fri., March 11th: 3 p.m.
- 6 p.m.
Sat.,
March 12th: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Swap Shop: Sat., March
12th: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Help Las Vegas Fremont Celebrate its 25th Anniversary
Click here for more information and sponsorship opportunities.
Group Study Exchange Team Status
Because of the instability in Egypt at this time and a concern for the personal safety of our team members, we have requested Rotary International and District 2450 if we could defer our outbound exchange until next year. By that time we will have a clearer handle on the situation in the Mid-east and hopefully still be able to spend a majority of our time in Egypt.
Our intent is that our team and alternates as selected remain in tack and continue to prepare and make plans for the exchange. The inbound team for District 2450 will still be coming as planned to our district this May this year.
If granted a deferment, that GSE visit to Egypt will be in addition to the GSE exchange DGE Doug Fowler is arranging with Chile.
2011 DISTRICT
CONFERENCE
The
excitement is building as we near our June 9 - 12, 2011 District 5300
Conference. The venue this year is in the incomparable coastal community
of beautiful La Jolla, at the San Diego Marriott La Jolla, where
opportunities for exploration are endless. The gorgeous climate, four
star amenities and quiet ambience make this an ideal conference
location. Not to mention a top rated Chef who studied under the renowned
Michael Mina. So, clearly we are considering something for everyone!
Your top notch committee is currently exploring the feasibility of:
"Grad Night" (to include a Lobster Fest at the beach)
"A Year Books (A colorful, fun souvenir!)
Rotarian of the Year (from each club, selected by you!)
"Graduation" (Celebrating outgoing Presidents)
"The Prom" (Black Tie optional) with all the accoutrements
"Ditcher's Tourney" (Billiard Tournament for we who ditch)
Extra-curricular activities:
-
A Classic Car Exhibition
-
An Ol' fashioned Ice Cream Social
-
A Yachting Fellowship event
-
A Community Service Project
-
Free time for guest or spouses to explore San Diego,
-
Play Golf, enjoy the beach or simply shop till they drop!
And of course, along with the back to school festivities we will
still include all of the Rotary's favorites, such as the Dan Stover
Music Awards, The Four Way Test Contest, The Hensel Essay Contest, a
reception for Tarnished Brass, a reception for Foundation Alumni and of
course a Leadership Training session.
Stay tuned for more information. We hope to have a Registration Link
posted around
March 1st and will update the agenda as
we move forward. I am excited and honored to
For information or to
participate contact Shirley at 909-238-8994
