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Ludlow Rotary Celebrates Literacy Week Continuing over 30 Years of Promoting It For the past 30 years, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) has participated in a variety of programs stressing the value and importance of literacy. Its efforts were primarily aimed at providing children with the means and tools to foster this objective. Rotary International (RI) long has concentrated on this program. In reviewing the accomplishments of these programs, Kevin Barnes, LRC President, noted, "While our club has been involved in many projects to help, none has been as consistent and rewarding as our literacy programs." Barnes further indicated, "These programs have long been a source of great pride in the club as we continue making books available to all the children in our service area of Ludlow, Mt Holly, Cavendish, and Plymouth." In conjunction with the Dolly Parton "Imagination Library", LRC has provided appropriate reading material to children from very young to five years. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family's income. The signature book of the Imagination Library, "The Little Engine That Could", is recognized by most parents. The books are addressed and mailed directly to the children, much to their delight. To register your pre-school child or children for this program is to visit the children's' section of Ludlow's Fletcher Memorial Library or registration cards can also be obtained from the Ludlow Rotary, PO Box 216, Ludlow, VT 05149. The privacy of the children is strictly honored. LRC has a continuing program of supplying books to elementary school students in the four towns in its area. LRC has created books, personalized with each student's name, for many years to the elementary schools in its service area as part of its Literacy Improvement Project. Interestingly, one teacher even commented that "I still have the ones created for my children more than 20 years ago and still enjoy giving them a read now and again!" An important part of this program is the continuing program of awarding scholarships to eligible graduating residents who live in LRC's service area. LRC funds $9,000 to $12,000 in awards each year. The LRC has previously awarded $280,000 in scholarships through this program. The principal source of this funding is the annual Penny Sale. Applications for these awards are available through the school Guidance Officer. Awards are presented at the school's annual award night program. In summarizing the LRC's dedication to providing these books, Barnes said, "It is the long-range goal of Rotary and our club to ensure that every student and child in our area are served with the educational and learning tools for a successful career in whatever avenue they select
"Providing books to young students is a very rewarding experience", commented Rotarian George Thomson as he presents books to students at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. Based on the students' expressions, they seem to feel it's a good experience as well.
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