LITERACY AWARDS FOR NIGERIA, NETHERLANDS AND USA (GEORGIA)

This week let us focus on the district reports and the matter of recognizing the district literacy chairpersons and district governors who did their best to implement the RILRG plan of action in their districts.

A. First, here is my suggestion to each of you with respect to recognizing the district literacy chairs and district governors.

1. Each zone and/or area coordinator sends to me the names of the persons to be recognized.
2. I have the recognition certificates printed and mail them to the area coordinators for their signatures. I will sign each certificate
3. The area coordinators sign the certificates and forward them to the appropriate zone coordinator.
4. The zone coordinator signs the certificates and arranges to have each certificate presented to the recipient at an appropriate time and place.
5. The Future of this Opportunity Is in Your Hands.

B. Second, here’s a Nigerian example of a district literacy chairperson who will receive one of these awards --- Thank you Henrique Pinto for making us aware of this case

1. Chief A.I. Adewunmi, District Literacy Chairperson, D-9110 (Nigeria) submitted this report.
2. The district started an Annual Scholarship Award to deserving university students. Three awards were made this year.
3. Ten of the district’s 79 clubs reported literacy projects. These included an adult literacy class which was started by the RC Akowonjo in 1991/92 and has so far graduated 800 students. Several other clubs sponsored similar classes. Another example is the RC Falombo school partnership project which provides clothing, school supplies, school equipment, meals and salaries for 6 teachers and a supervisor for a Salvation Army School which serves 800 pupils.

C. Third, here’s a Netherlands example --- Thank you Paul Coppens for making us aware of this case.

1. District 1620 Literacy Chairperson Andre Cambier worked hard to encourage clubs to undertake literacy projects and report what they did. He emphasized the goals of the RILRG, the need to consider all three categories of literacy ( basic, functional and character) and the desirability of doing projects in all 4 areas of service

2. Only 13 clubs reported having done projects.
3. But chairperson Andre hasn’t let that discourage him. He sees this as a multi-year educational project for the clubs in the district and he has already put in place a plan for 2010-2011. The plan includes promoting International Literacy Day, Literacy month projects and a steady promotional effort on the district’s part.

D. Fourth, here is an example of the standard of excellence for which all districts should strive – 89% of clubs reporting 62 of 70 clubs earn the District Literacy Award – 46 earn the zone award – in District 6900 (Georgia, USA)

1. A dot matrix in MS-EXCEL accompanies this weekly bulletin and shows what literacy projects were completed by each of the 62 reporting clubs.
2. Brenda Erickson is the literacy chair who made this possible. She has been at work on this for 4 years (last year 100% of her clubs earned the district award). She credits her January district literacy conference and an emphasis on library partnerships as being partially responsible for this success.
3. Note how the attached dot matrix reveals clubs which did and did not complete projects in all of the four avenues of service.

4. Note what projects were most frequently undertaken – Literacy speakers (53 clubs), dictionary or book projects (45 clubs), International Literacy Day (36 clubs), scholarships (35 clubs), international projects (34 clubs), and mentoring in schools (33).
5. Note also the variety of vocational service and reading readiness projects.
Richard Hattwick
(RI World Literacy Coordinator)
May 2010

PHOTOS:Janet Finke (Washington State, USA) , Garth Brooks (Canada), Janelle Young (Australia), Judy Backlund (Washington State, USA), Paul Haupt (Texas, USA), Richard Hattwick, Florida, USA). Front, seated: Nea Stewart-Dore (Australia), a pic of IRARI Partnerships SIG Chicago presentation team,  per favour of Garth Brooks, the official photographer; Henrique Pinto (Portugal), having on the walls the works done by students of Escola Secundaria Domingos Sequeira, of Leiria (photographer Sergio Claro); Dra. Alicia Estillore, Valery Rogers, Brenda Erickson and Coleen Stinson (district 6900, Georgia);  Coleen Stinson in Rotary at work for Literacy, Peachtree City Rotary Club assists to families of infants and toddlers at the city Public Library; Rotary at work for Literacy, per favor of Roger Howard (Worldwide Literacy Newsletter); MIMA, a national group of music students, supported by the Education Ministry (Portugal), who perform annually in a great show in different cities; The RI District 6900 Foundation Dinner to honor all those that support the Rotary Foundation, Frank Devlyn was the speaker.