The program will be on Philanthropy in the Flint Hills and the financial impact that is made on the community by the significant number of foundations in the community. In addition to the overall report, we will hear from three local foundations through their presidents or directors...all of them happen to be Rotarians: Shirley Antes, Mike Crouch, and Shane Shively.
Improving our children's chances for success is how Steve Ternes describes the Mobilizing Literacy in Kansas Project. Steve is the former assistant principal of Emporia High School, but is now the director of this exciting project. Funded by a $2 million, five-year Jones Trust grant, this project focuses strictly on literacy in Osage, Lyon and Coffey counties. Foundational years for brain development takes place between 0-8 years old. Students by the end of their third grade who are reading at or above third grade level will be much more successful than those who are not meeting that threshold. In fact, this threshold is used in some jurisdictions as a predictor of future prison building project
Eleven school districts across these three counties are choosing how to use this grant to support literacy among their students and enable them to be more successful. Eight districts are using the funds to focus on preschool (age 0-4), while others are focusing on summer school. Steve indicated that he has seen additional collaboration among the eleven school districts as a result of this funding. Setting targets and action plans to meet their targets is creating synergies in the region as the school districts work together to build community-wide, county-wide and region-wide cultural changes to bring about changes necessary to build momentum to meet the goals.
Steve Ternes indicated that school districts will be making improvements every year as they learn what works and what doesn't work. He anticipates that these kids will be followed as they they get older to find out the difference that this program makes toward their success. Literacy represents a national-wide focus, and this project is being watched across the United States. What is learned from this project will be applied to the $4 million, ten-year state-wide Mason grant.
It was fun meeting and visiting with several bright college graduates at my table as our club recognized the top Emporia State University Teachers College graduates. It is obvious that these young people are passionate about the teaching profession. It would be interesting to find out in one year how each is doing in their careers.
Emporia Rotary member Sam Purohit had twenty used televisions from his Motel 6 in Emporia to deal with. He had just installed new televisions in his rooms. The idea of giving televisions to people who cannot afford to buy one occurred to Sam, for in his country of India nearly everything is recycled. It is in his nature to think twice before throwing anything away. The Emporia Rotary Club had just completed a project to refurbish part of the local Salvation Army headquarters. He knew from Leut. Lynn Lopez that the Salvation Army collects and distributes food, clothing and other essentials to people in need in our community. So Sam talked to Rotary Past President Barbara Wry, who had been one of the leaders during the recent Rotary Club project at the Salvation Army. When Barbara learned about the potential donation of televisions, she contacted Lopez about it. Upon hearing the news, Leut Lopez readily accepted the offer and replied immediately that they will be sending their truck and volunteers to carry them from their present upstairs location in Sam's Motel 6 to their truck. Leut Lopez herself arrived and communicated to Sam that she was very happy with his gesture of donating his televisions to those in need.
Sam wanted to make sure that everyone knows how Rotarian Barbara Wry expediently got Sam in touch with Leut. Lopez, who picked up his donation right away to get them in the hands of those who need them. To show his appreciation, Sam presented Barbara with a backpack to show her that he always has her back.
The top graduates of the Flint Hills Technical College were recognized for their achievement of graduating with high honors at our Rotary Club meeting.
Eight Emporia High School graduating seniors attended our Rotary
Club meeting as we recognized the top 5% of the senior class. Dr. Britton Hart, EHS Principal, said that the 229 graduating seniors are one of the smallest graduating classes in many years. Two have been named National Merit Scholars.
Twitter entry from Britton Hart, Emporia High School Principal:
Our club's participation in the Dirty Kanza 200 on Saturday, June 4 will be checking in each rider as they arrive at check point #3 at Madison Park in two shifts: from 1:00 to 3:30 and 3:00 to 5:30 in the afternoon. We have had several members signing up. If you wish to participate, just come during our shift times. It is fun to be out on the course with the athletes, which this location provides as they arrive from Eureka after approximately 150 miles on the trail. At this time, we'll see the leading athletes on the course as they prepare for the final leg of their adventure.
On June 7th, the winner will receive $100 in Chamber Bucks.
Each time a new member is inducted into Rotary, the sponsoring Rotarian will have his or her name entered into the drawing. The more members you bring in, the more chances of winning the drawing. First place will get $100, second place will get $50 and third place will get $25. We have a lot of great projects to accomplish and we need members. New member proposals with the breakdown of dues are available from every board member. Remember, new members get reduced meal prices for a limited time.
Benefits of membership:
Great friendships
Awesome networking
Interesting programs
A feeling of accomplishment in our community, state and the world.
Doing good feels good. Think of it like this...Yes, you pay for your meals even though you may not be able to attend every week, but that money goes toward the funding of some amazing projects!