Rotary and Literacy Month

Posted by Sharon Campbell 
on Mar 09, 2015
 
March is International Rotary Literacy Month.  
 
Literacy is about our ability to read, write, speak, listen and understand.  There is a literacy aspect to almost everything we do in daily life.  World-wide in 2014, more than 775 million people over the age of fifteen were illiterate.   Rotary International and individual Rotary Clubs undertake many projects that promote the concept of literacy, with the month of March designated to provide a special emphasis on this cause.
“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world.  Love of books is the best of all.”  Jacqueline Kennedy
 
This year, to celebrate and support literacy in the Prince Edward County community, the Rotary Club of Wellington has chosen four projects to encourage children to become more familiar with the many gifts that enjoying books can bring. Here they are;
 
1. Through a partnership of Wellington Rotary and Prince Edward County Library, Canadian children’s author, Catherine Austen, will visit CML Snider School on Tuesday, March 24, 10:00am.  Her presentation, “10 Tips for a Fearless Writing Life”, will offer about sixty junior students the opportunity to learn about Catherine’s experiences in becoming a writer and to ask questions that can encourage them in their own reading and writing.  Catherine is an award winning author of books with a wide range of topics and appeal to pre-school through teen readers.  In the afternoon, she will visit Picton Library for another group presentation.
 
2. As neighbours, across Main Street from one another, CML Snider School and the Wellington Library enjoy a lengthy and unique relationship.   Regular visits by students to the library help create a familiarity with the facility and allow students to enjoy special programming created for them by library staff.
On Tuesday, March 24, 9:45am, at CML Snider School, Wellington, Brian McGowan, President of Rotary Club of Wellington, will present a donation of $300 for books for the children’s section of Wellington Library, to Barbara Sweet, CEO of Prince Edward County Library and Whitney Schantz, Children and Youth Services Co-ordinator.
 
3. In early February, 2105, the Quinte Children’s Foundation, the charitable branch of the Highland Shores Children’s Aid Society, expanded its services to include Prince Edward County.  Reach for Success, one of many programs of the Foundation,  recognizes academic achievement and encourages post-secondary education by providing financial support to youth in care.  The Rotary Club of Wellington is pleased to donate $1000. to Reach for Success in support of post-secondary education of youth in care in the Prince Edward County area of the Highland Shores Children’s Aid Society.
On Monday, March 16, 2:00pm, at the Highland Shores CAS Picton office (16 MacSteven Drive), Wellington Rotary President, Brian McGowan, will present the donation to Connie Reid, Director of the Quinte Children’s Foundation.
 
4. As well, the Club will donate children’s books, gathered by Club members, to the Highland Shores CAS Picton office for the enjoyment and distribution to children visiting the office.