President Tim Tholen called the meeting to order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Henrik Andersen thoughtfully provided us with our Invocation. We had a moment of silence for Ed Knisley, who passed away on December 24th, 2024. Tom Woolwine lead us in signing Happy Birthday to the January birthday members(Jim Porter, Mary Kingsley, Tony Andresen).
Club Anniversaries :
John Miller - 55 yrs, Jan 1, Jim Porter - 51 yrs, Jan 1, Keith Smith - 48 yrs, Jan 1, Matt Meyer - 28 yrs, Jan 2, Christy Chester - 34 yrs, Jan 3, John Gillis - 13 yrs, Jan 5, Joe Privitera - 13 yrs, Jan 5, Tom Van Dyke - 20 yrs, Jan 6, Jane Lee - 16 yrs, Jan 8
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
This week’s Greeters were the January birthday Club members.
Harvesters – Marc McCarty announced our Harvesters Packing Project for Thursday, Jan 30th from 6 to 8 pm as 3801 Topping, KCMO. It is an enjoyable event and good for bringing a friend (i.e. a possible new member opportunity). Open Position: We need a Social Media Committee Chair and/or Co-Chair. The Membership Committee requests additional ideas – see Neil Barnett. Club Finances: DUES O/S! We have nearly $7,000 in outstanding dues (over 90 days). Please pay your dues ASAP.
UPCOMING EVENTS: BRING A GUEST !
Jan 23: 4th Thursday at Granfalloon on the Plaza (not Minisky’s)
Jan 30: Harvesters service project (Thursday 6 to 8 pm at 3801 Topping, KCMO)
Feb 8: Geeks for Kids Build Day
March 13:Rotary Roundup at the Youth Camp
UPCOMING MEETINGS: Bring a Guest:
Jan 16th -Taylor Obsersteadt, KC Sports Commission & foundation, “Win for KC”
Feb 6th -Tom Tivol, Tom Tivol Jewels, “Natural vs. Lab-grown Diamonds: What’s the difference?”
PRESENTATION: Tony Andresen introduced Linda Hughes. Linda Hughes, a life-long educator, early in Columbia, Missouri and then Kansas City, is the community outreach program manager with Lead to Read KC, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to support the social, emotional and reading skills that are foundational for student success by advancing our literacy platform and mobilizing community volunteers.
Reading is fundamental. Question to audience > types of reading? Online, bills, e-mails, newspaper, bible, daily devotions . . . We all did it matter-of-factually without recognizing how important (dare I say critical) to our daily lives and occupations. Individuals need fundamental reading skills for fulfilling lives. Our (Lead to Read KC) mission for our 1,700 volunteers is to help others develop those reading skills. Our volunteers spend 30 minutes per session in one on one reading with his/her “reading buddy”. We currently serve the following school districts: KCMO, KCK, Center & recently Hickman Mills. LEAD TO READ KC – 13 years of creating a community of readers, one lunch hour at a time.
The Challenge: Only 21% of third-grade students in the Kansas City public and charter schools are ready proficiently. Lead to Read KC’s Four Key Programs, addresses different facets of the reading crisis:
1. Reading & Mentoring 2. Wellness-based Author Visits 3. Personalized Tutoring and
4. Community Book Distribution
Reading Mentoring: connecting trusted adult volunteers with students in classrooms for 30 minutes of one-on-one reading and mentoring each week. Our program increases reading time by 50% in just one school year. The early grade levels focus on educational skills, primarily reading. The SHIFT: After 3rd grade, the focus shifts from how to read to content (subject matter) based education. [i.e. shift from learning to read to reading to learn.]
Personalized Tutoring: providing personalized virtual tutoring with an experienced, certified teacher 3 times per week though a partnership with Hoot Reading. 98% of children improved their reading skills and it lightens the load of local teachers.
Author Visits: Lead to Read KC’s author partnership program encourages children to use books and reading to problem solve, discover and self regulate. 28 schools were served.
Book Distribution: “Reading is Everywhere” is Lead to Read KC’s community book distribution program, which strategically places baskets of free books throughout the city. 61% of families in under-resourced neighborhoods have NO children’s books in their homes. There are now 78 partner locations, including social service agencies, salons, barbershops, and more. 34,661 children’s books were distributed during the 2023-24 school year.
OUTCOMES: First graders in the Reading Mentoring program made significantly larger gains in reading scores than control group students. Second graders in the Reading Mentoring program grew significantly more on sight word accuracy than the control group students. 98% of students in the Tutoring program improved their ready skills. Further, connecting with caring adults directly contributes to better student conduct, as documented in comparison studies of children involved with reading programs and those not involved.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Be a Reading Mentor; or Sponsor a Student; or Collect Children’s Books; Other ways (sign up to sort book donations; shop our Amazon wish list; buy (& wear) our T-shirt; volunteer at a community event; attend our events; and/or follow @leadtoreadkc.
Today’s Quote: "Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together." – Vesta M. Kelly
Tim Tholen wrapped up the meeting with the Four Way Test
[as an ongoing scrivener’s note: our local Club 13 Rotary organization is comprised of at least three interrelated groups (like a three-legged stool), each with its own separate board, officers & primary focus. KCRClub 13 comprised of various committees and weekly luncheon meetings with speakers; KCRCFoundation primarily focused on financially supporting the Club 13’s Rotary Youth Camp; and the Rotary Youth Camp*, near Lake Jocomo, at 22310 NE Colbern Road, in Lee’s Summit, MO 64086] (* Rotary’s oldest continuous ongoing project in the world!)