President Arnd Rehfuss welcomed DG Jack McAllister and Assistant Governor Cathy Carlson for their visit to RC Campbell County.

DG Jack McAlllister visited RC Campbell County, the third oldest club in District 6740 having been established in November, 1920. In a pleasant evening meeting DG Jack learned how the club partners with other community organizations in activities that benefit those organizations and the people they serve. Fundraising takes place with a number of activities most notable their Dunk the Educator Contest. Future plans for community service projects and fundraising activities were discussed. 

Hosting the visit of DG Jack McAllister and Assistant Governor Cathy Carlson to RC Covington was Vice President Leo Tierney.

The descent on I-75 down the hills overlooking Covington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio provides a beautiful vista. DG Jack McAllister experienced that view as he made his way to visit RC Covington at their meeting place at a hotel overlooking the Ohio River. He was graciously welcomed by the club. RC Covington has many community service projects which focus on youth and children including a Lunch Buddy and mentoring program. They are now working on providing the means for a deserving student to participate as an Outbound student in Rotary Youth Exchange. In the last 3 years they have also participated in two international projects. 

President Doug Price of RC Cynthiana hosted DG Jack McAllister for his visit to RC Cynthiana.

DG Jack McAllister made a short trip to visit RC Cynthiana where the club is preparing to celebrate its 90th anniversary in November. RC Cynthiana participates and assists in several community activities and annually conducts its Ramp Project and Volunteerism Fair at the local high school. DG Jack was able to visit the Volunteerism Fair after his meeting with the club. Contributions to the Rotary Foundation are a club priority and the club is actively pursuing becoming a 100% Paul Harris Fellow club. 

President Billy Santos and District Governor Elect John Salyers, also a member of RC Florence, welcomed DG Jack McAllister for his visit.

The water tower at the Florence Mall with "FLORENCE Y'ALL" painted on it is a welcoming point to that community. DG Jack McAllister received a warm welcome from RC Florence not long after viewing that sign. This club is known in their area for their fund raising gospel concerts and their good works through a significant scholarship program. They support a program to supply scarves, hats and gloves to the poor and needy as well as a local soup kitchen which provides a hot meal three days a week. This club is distinguished by outstanding contributions of the Rotary Foundation.

DG Jack McAllister was welcomed to RC Georgetown by President Susan Smith.

It was a short trip from Lexington to Georgetown for DG Jack McAllister to visit RC Georgetown, a club he had previously served as an Assistant Governor. Here, after being warmly welcomed back by the club, he learned of their many community service projects which include hosting a Christmas party for needy children, a winter coat drive, scholarships and provision of dictionaries and thesauri for 3rd and 4th graders, respectively. In addition, from member donations at weekly meetings, the club supports several local organizations. 

President Jeff Simpson and Assistant Governor Cathy Carlson, a member of RC Kenton County, welcomed DG Jack McAllister for his visit to their club

DG Jack McAllister was warmly received when he visited RC Kenton County at the club meeting location in Erlanger. Education, homeless family assistance and provision of handmade scarves, hats and gloves are among the club's community service projects. International projects in Nepal and Jamaica and contributions to Shelter Box reflect the club's participation in the International Service avenue of service. Two Interact clubs are sponsored by RC Kenton County.

Assistant Governor Linda Gilreath and club members Steve Oberman and Donna Stefek joined President Ann Maciula for a picture after the visit of DG Jack McAllister to RC Middlesboro.

DG Jack McAllister travelled to Middlesboro just a few miles north of the Kentucky-Tennessee border in mid-September to visit RC Middlesboro the southernmost Rotary club of District 6740. This club celebrated its 85th anniversary as a Rotary club in June 2013 and has a long history of community service including its current dictionary project and a scholarship for a high school senior. The club actively participates several times a year in assisting a local food ministry for senior citizens. The club has also been active in the Rotary Youth Exchange.

Joining President Danny Neely for the visit of DG Jack McAllister to RC Winchester was Assistant Governor Doyle Keith.

DG Jack McAllister travelled to Winchester to visit RC Winchester. The trip brought back fond memories from his childhood when his family visited elderly relatives who lived in Winchester. He was warmly welcomed to the club. Attending the meeting were two high school students who were there as part of the club's Young Leader program where student leaders are invited to club meetings. Here DG Jack learned of the club's very beneficial scholarship and reading programs. A new project recently completed by the club was its adoption of a Crimestoppers of the Bluegrass program anti-bullying program and sponsorship of anti-bullying posters on all school busses of Clark County. The project was done in cooperation with the Clark County school system, the Winchester police and the Clark County Sherriff's department. 

Taken from the Hazard Hearld

by Amelia Holliday - Staff Reporter

HAZARD-"The Little Engine That Could," "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" have been considered classics in children's literature for decades. A group in Perry County has been working this year to help make sure every child in the county experiences those classics and more before their first day of school.

Attorney and Hazard Rotary Club member Jonathan Collins said the club decided to team up with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library earlier this year. The nonprofit organization promotes early childhood literacy by supplying free books, with the help of a local sponsor, to all children in specific ZIP codes with a book every month from birth until they are 5 years old.

"Children have the opportunity to get up to 60 books over the period of the program if they sign up from birth," Collins said, adding that the program is not income-based so every child in that ZIP code who signs up will receive books.

Collins said the club plans to enroll those children in the 41701 ZIP code in Perry County first since it is the ZIP code that spans the largest part of the county. He added that the educational benefits of this program for children in the county are priceless when current early childhood education statistics from the area are considered.

"According to studies, many of the children here in Perry County are not prepared or are not on a sufficient level when they enter kindergarten and preschool," he explained. "Their reading's not sufficient to really start to develop and for the teachers to give the children the kind of attention they need to really get them started in their early educational careers."

Besides the obvious educational benefits of instilling a love for books in children under 5, Collins said the children who receive the books also have a kind of boost in confidence because they are being given something that is specifically theirs.

"Each child in every household gets their own personal book. This not only assists with education but it helps instill a sense of pride and ownership of these books in children at a very young age, which is just an additional benefit," he said.

Collins said the club is ready to start the program immediately, but is waiting for the approval of their application with the IRS to become a nonprofit sponsor for the organization in order to fundraise for the cost of the program.

"The only portions that the club has to cover is the postage. The Dolly Parton Foundation pays for all the books, we just have to reimburse them for the shipping," Collins said, noting that it costs about $35 per child per year.

"It's a wonderful program and for the benefit of the children and the community receives, it far exceeds the cost of the postage," he added. "We are ready to hit the ground running as soon as we get that approval."

Collins explained the club is partnering with Hazard ARH, local pediatricians, and the Perry County Public Library to reach out to parents in the area to sign their children up.

Melissa Vermillion, Rotary Club officer, said the club has plans to put displays for the program up in doctors' offices and at the library to get the word out for parents to sign up.

"We've signed up sponsors and I think we have 12-14 sponsors, and we're going to have retractable banners and displays with the sign up are going to travel among the sponsors," she said. "So, for instance, at Community Trust Bank on a given month the display may be there so people can see it and that will move around throughout the community in addition to the mainstays.

Collins said the club hopes to have the program up and running by the end of the year so that the community can begin to feel the benefits as soon as possible.

"What we hope to do is by giving these children books at such an early age, we hope that it will also encourage parents to read to their children, help the parents teach their children to read, and hopefully foster a wonderful sense of enjoyment of reading at an early age they will continue on through their educational careers," he said.

Rotarian Tracy Taylor is the  Lexington's clubs youngest member and officer. At the Zones 30-31 Institute luncheon with Rotary International President Ron Burton in September, Tracy took the stage and spoke about The International Book Project( IBP) where she is their Executive Director.  IBP partners with Rotary clubs around the world to help distribute much needed books to schools and libraries in the most remote areas. At the Zone Institute attendees contributed books for IBP as part of the service component for the weekend. Donations from the Rotary Heart of America Zones, the Lexington Institute Training Team, and individual Rotarians totaled more than $900! In the audience at the luncheon was Sylvia Whitlock, Rotary's first female member and female to serve as a club president.

Two women making a difference for Rotary and its goodwill.

 Imagination Library

The Imagination Library sponsored by the Rotary Club of Whitesburg joined in the festivities of Jenkins Day on August 24rd and registered the 250th child, Layton Fleming.  Brother Caleb Fleming was the 251st child to be registered.  Layton (L) and Caleb (R) are the children of Jessica Fleming of Jenkins, Kentucky. Both children received a copy of the book, "The Little Engine That Could" which was given to all children who registered.  

August 24th was the kick-off day for extending the Imagination Library program to the areas of Jenkins 41537, Neon, 41840, Burdine 41517 and McRoberts 41835. There are approximately 438 eligible children living in these zip code areas.  Children from birth until they reach their fifth birthday are eligible to participate.  There is no cost to the family regardless of income.  Please contact Margaret Hammonds at 633-8200 or Barbara Ison at 634-2106 for more information on how to register your child for this exciting new program in your community. 

 

 

 

On Saturday, August 24th, The Imagination Library expanded to include Jenkins, Burdine, Neon and McRoberts.   Rotary and Jenkins High School Interact Club members signed up 48 children for the program from these four communities. Each child who registered received a copy of the book, The Little Engine That Could.  The first children to register were Allison and Christopher Anderson, Jr., daughter and son of Christopher and Deborah Anderson of Jenkins.   Layton Fleming, son of Jessica Fleming, was the 250th child to be registered for the program.  Caleb Fleming, his brother, was the 251st child to be registered. 

 

Rotary Club members (from L to R) Barbara Ison, Sherry Wright, Eileen Sanders, Debbie Watts and Margaret Hammonds help with registration.  Treasurer Hunter Branham and President Sarah Gilley (seated) from the Jenkins High School Interact Club also assisted with registration.

 

Children who register for the program will receive a book each month mailed directly to the home until they reach their fifth birthday.  The books are age appropriate and will expose children to the skills they will be expected to know when entering kindergarten.  Children who are registered at birth can expect to receive 58 books while in the program.  This is an opportunity for children to have their own personal library of books right at home which they can read over and over again. 

 

For more information on the program, please contact Margaret Hammonds at 633-8200 or Barbara Ison at 634-2106.  The Imagination Library is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Whitesburg.

 

 

Interact

On Friday, September 13, 2013, the new officers of the Jenkins Independent School Interact Club for the 2013-14 school year were installed.  Margaret Hammonds administered the oath of office to President Sara Gilley and the new officers and Brenda DePriest assisted with the pinning ceremony.

Interact is a service club for youth ages 14-18 and is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Whitesburg.  Rotary members who provide support and guidance to the Club are Rotarians Barbara Ison, Margaret Hammonds, Debbie Watts, Brenda DePriest, Eileen Sanders and Sherry Wright.The Club was chartered during the 2011-12 school year with 39 members.  Club members carry out two service projects each year, one that furthers international understanding and one that promotes goodwill in the community.   Club members were awarded the 2012-13 Presidential Citation in recognition of their participation in activities which promoted community and international service.   There are over 250,000 Interact members in over 120 countries.

 

The officers for this year are:  From Left to Right:  Advisor Angie Collins, Secretary Charley Mullins, Vice-President Mercedes Boggs, Treasurer Hunter Branham, Director Caitlyn Estevez, Director Telena Stanley, Director Tiffany Ramey, and President Sara Gilley.

The Rotary Club of Whitesburg is pleased to announce the induction of Joan Curry, Medical Staff Coordinator for Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital as a new member of the Club.  Mrs. Curry was sponsored by Rotarian Dena Sparkman, Administrator of Whitesburg ARH and was officially installed by Rotarian Randall C. Day, Jr. on October 21, 2013.   The Rotary Club is an organization of business and professional people who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill in the community and throughout the world. The Rotary Club of Whitesburg sponsors the Imagination Library literacy program in Letcher County and participates in several community and international projects throughout the year.

 

Mrs. Curry attend the Carl D. Perkins Vocational School in Hindman, received an Associate Degree from Alice Lloyd College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Morehead State University.  She worked for Beth-Elkhorn in Jenkins, Kentucky for seven years.  Prior to joining Whitesburg ARH in December 2012, Mrs. Curry worked for Jenkins Hospital for 13 years and Norton Community Hospital for 17 years.  In her spare time, she enjoys playing golf with friends, working with civic group fundraisers and walking several miles each week.

 

Her daughter, Kara, graduated from the University of Kentucky and is working in Pikeville as Associate Director of the A-Optic Program affiliated with UPike Medical School.  Her son, Brett, lives in Wichita Falls, Texas and works as an Engineer and Conductor for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad out of Fort Worth, Texas.

 

 

The Rotary Club of Whitesburg is pleased to announce the addition of two new members, Duran Sparkman and Tony A. Sergent.  Rotarian Randall C. Day, Jr. performed the induction ceremony during a regular Rotary meeting at the Pine Mountain Grill.

 

Duran Sparkman is self-employed through his firm, Benefit Solutions, and holds several adjunctive contracts with governmental agencies.  He provides specialty services for the Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Association of Counties and the Kentucky Medical Association. He is a benefit plan specialist and works with east Kentucky small businesses in health plan design, disability and retirement plans for small business owners. He previously held membership with the Hazard Rotary Club for two years.

 

Tony Sergent is the new superintendent of the Letcher County Public School District.  He began his duties as superintendent effective July 1. He has 25 years of experience in education.  He began his career as a mathematics teacher, served as a mathematics department chairperson, PLC facilitator, principal and district director.  He is a native of Letcher County and graduated from Whitesburg High School, Morehead State University and Union College.

 

Rotary is a service organization which focuses on local and international humanitarian efforts.  Membership of the Rotary Club is made up of community leaders who are committed to improving the lives of individuals worldwide.  Pictured from L to R:  Duran Sparkman, Randall C. Day Jr. and Tony Sergent.