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Rotary

 

What is a Rotarian?

A Rotarian is a person who…
Digs wells from which they will never drink;
Vaccinates children they will never meet;
Restores eyesight for those they will never see:
Builds housing they will never live in;
Educates children they will never know;
Plants trees they will never sit under;
Makes crawlers into walkers halfway around the world;
Knows real happiness that, as Albert Einstein said,
Can only be found by helping others.

How Rotary Can Get Involved?

  • Connect ADR with the school district
  • Distribute books in schools
  • Read sections aloud in-person or virtually
  • Build support in the community
  • Participate in reading celebrations and other school activities
  • Be a financial partner

Rotary Partners

Mike Poore, a Rotarian, in Little Rock AR was hired as their Superintendent. He partnered with his Rotary Club and instituted One Rock, One Book program.  Previously his club was regularly in the schools handing out dictionaries to 3rd graders.  This program allowed them to
be involved with all the elementary-age children and develop a partnership between the school and the community.  In 5 years, the Little Rock school system went from one that had been taken over by the Arkansas DOE when Mike was hired, to being recognized as Arkansas
Superintendent of the Year!  Mike contributes part of his success to this program and partnering with the community.

“This program aligns with the Four-Way Test. We all want to stop illiteracy, and what better
approach could you have than to create a light, a fire, towards literacy and get everybody lit up
to want to read the same book.”

Mike Poore

Superintendent & Rotarian, Little Rock School District

William “Bill” King is a 25 plus year Rotarian and the current president of the Warrenton, North Carolina Club. He retired from Allstate Insurance after 34 years as an agent and agency owner. Bill, and his club, are championing the ADR program in his local school system to provide a path for long term success for the underserved children in his community.

“In 2021, I became our Rotary Club president, again! Membership down to 6 btw. At the first meeting I was asked “What are we going to do for our community?” I wasn’t expecting a hard ball question right out of the box, but it resonated with me and I started searching and found this program “Stamp Out Illiteracy in your community.” It was perfect. It passed the Four-Way Test and was doable. Did I mention we had 6 members? At first glance it looked like a cure for illiteracy and family interaction where there was none or very little positive caregiver and child interaction. The more I checked it out, the more I was convinced that this was a cure and game-changer that would and could go on for years to come. Our club bought in and we are in the process of funding this exciting program!” – Bill King, 2021-2022 President, Warrenton, NC Rotary