Rotary focuses on the development of our youth and adds another dimension to the upbringing of the next generation.
Rotary believes in teaming up with others to achieve goals. In the case of the Rotary Club of Conroe, Dr. David Vinson met with Club Members to provide his vision for educating the youth at Conroe ISD. Although in his 27th days as CISD Superintendent, David showed up in his open collar shirt with sport coat to informally share his goals.
He told Rotarians and guests he is looking for providing a multi-layered student graduating from our high schools. He wants student graduating with not just a great education, but opportunities for students to be well rounded. Dr. Vinson comes to CISD from Wylie ISD where he raised education standards with student SAT scores up by well over 100 points and an substantial increase in college-bound students from the 50 percentile range to the 80 percentile range of college-bound students. He emphasized the need to impart additional opportunities to round out students.
Rotary provides such opportunities through a variety of programs such as:
• I Like Me Books provided to First Graders in the Conroe High School Feeder System.
• College and Trade School Scholarships for graduating High School Seniors.
• Youth Leadership Training Camps
• Interact Clubs in High Schools
• Support of Runyan Elementary School Staff and Students including taking exceptionally performing students to a Professional Soccer Game in Houston
Rotarians will be there to add to our students’ educational experiences along with those talents of the CISD Teachers and Staff. Dr. Vinson was impressed that at the end of his talk that he was provided a book for him to inscribe with that book to be donated in his honor to the Runyan Elementary School Library. This tradition has been an ongoing activity to help elementary school students.
This book tradition is also implemented in other local Rotary Clubs. Deitra Johnson with the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County told me, “Over the past year, the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County has expressed appreciation to its luncheon speakers in a special way — by donating a book in each speaker’s honor to a local elementary school library. Recently, it was time to deliver those books to Timber Lakes Elementary (TLE) in Splendora ISD.
TLE Principal Stephanie Morse and Librarian Kimberly Guzman Hernandez attended the Rotary luncheon to receive the 32 books collected over the past year. When they returned to campus, they were delighted to discover that each book had been personally signed by the featured speakers. The students were equally thrilled to explore the new additions to their library collection — each book carrying both a story and a special connection to the community.”
The Rotary Club of Magnolia hosted a successful Nature and Outdoor Expo at the Magnolia ISD complex. A variety of hand-on experiences with snakes, reptiles, raptors and other animals was afforded to Families and youngsters. A variety of Exhibits and opportunities on how we humans can help Mother Nature with the challenges that mankind is impacting upon Her. This Annual Event is a great opportunity to the entire Family can spend a Saturday together while learning.
For more information on Rotary, please contact Ron Saikowski at rsaikowski@comcast.net.