Some time in late 2006, leaders of the Greece Rotary Club decided to participate in a Dictionary Project. It was a combined effort between the Greece and Hilton Rotary Clubs, along with support from Senator Joe Robach. Funds were budgeted, grants applied for and the books were ordered. In 2007 the first shipment of dictionaries arrived and were distributed.
Since 2007, each summer Rotary members contact the principles and teaching staff at the eight Greece Central Elementary Schools and the three Hilton Central Schools who educate third graders. A schedule of dates and times when the third grade students can be assembled and presented with the dictionaries from Rotary Members is compiled.
Numerous Rotarians assist with the presentation at the schools which are centered around a performance by Rotarian/Magician Bill Gormont and a message from NY State Senator Joseph Robach.
Over the years all of the paperwork, grant acquisition, and ordering of supplies have been the work of teams of Greece Rotarians. This project truly is a club effort and since beginning in 2007, 12,498 dictionaries have been presented to Greece and Hilton third grade students. Each dictionary goes home with the student along with a letter to the parents from the Rotary explaining the goals of the program. The letter reads in part, “We (Rotary) feel a child cannot do his or her best work without a dictionary. Children deserve the best teachers and resources. If we set our sights on anything less, we will be disappointed with the results.”
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Photos by Tom Parsons
