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The 2009 Arkansas Sportshow, Jonesboro's 24th annual fund raiser, was held February 6 - 8, 2009 at the ASU Convocation Center.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Club Presidents, Secretaries, and PR Chairs:
We need your club news for this section! Please e-mail information about fundraisers, service projects, and other news to news@rotary6150.org.
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Dear Rotarian,
It seems like only yesterday when the magic moment occurred. I was about to attend my first day at school at Weiner Elementary School. My first grade teacher, Myrth Hibbard was a veteran of many 1st grade classes and she was ready for us, but were we ready for school. I was in a unique position as my mother was the school's 4th grade teacher and my father was a high school teacher in the building across the parking lot. I already had a sister who would be starting the 6th grade so I was programmed for a life of formal education beginning my sixth year.
I remember walking into the classroom which was of course not air-conditioned, and seeing the alphabet on the wall and book shelves lining the walls. I had a head start as you can imagine, because my mother had worked with me previously and I could read and write somewhat. My skills were quickly sharpened as the peer pressure of working in a class setting and the expectations of our teacher combined with those dreaded report cards. This process continued for me for the next 16 years through my university years. But throughout my school years we would have new students move into town, and some of them were very much behind their age group due to various circumstances. Seeing them struggle to catch up made me thankful for the help and opportunities I had received.
Rotary International has always had as one of their banner goals the benefits of literacy and the month of March is Literacy month. Literally millions of people have learned to read and write because of help received from Rotary and the volunteerism of Rotarians. Our district is no exception. Each year we have worked with school systems helping students of all ages to get a grasp of the power of literacy. From Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to the Black Stallion Project to the Dictionary projects and on and on we have focused on helping people of all ages.
Ray Keller, District Governor 2008-09
Rotary International District 6150
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 Rotary forms new alliance for water, sanitation projects
Rotary International and USAID have launched a collaborative effort to implement water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in the developing world.
The International H2O Collaboration was formally announced 18 March at the World Water Forum in Istanbul, in conjunction with World Water Day, 22 March.
Focusing on Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the alliance will develop its inaugural projects in 2009-10 in Ghana, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic -- countries where Rotary clubs and districts and USAID missions have the demonstrated ability to carry out effective water and sanitation projects. After the initial phase, the alliance will evaluate its work and strategically consider expanding into other countries.
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NEWS BRIEFS
 Rotary works with entertainer Dolly Parton to give children a head start on reading
EVANSTON, Ill. (March 6, 2009) -- Country music legend Dolly Parton and Rotary clubs may seem an unusual pairing, but their shared passion for promoting literacy more than bridges any perceived pop culture gap. Rotary International today announced a groundbreaking collaborative arrangement with Parton?s Tennessee-based Dollywood Foundation to promote early childhood reading. Read More...
Rotarians help reignite Nigeria's end-polio effort
Rotarians in Nigeria are playing a key role in their country's revitalized battle to become polio-free, including helping to overcome resistance from families who are against having their children immunized. During Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) held 31 January-3 February, a community in Nasarawa State initially refused vaccination efforts because the government hadn't removed garbage from a local dump. Read More...
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