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09/10 President
Jarold Warren
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Interact
Interact is a service club for youth ages twelve to eighteen. Interactors
improve the quality of life in their communities and around the world. The
Sebastopol Rotary Club sponsors three Interact Clubs.
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Interactors from all 3 Schools
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Analy High School
Interact was established there in 1969 and currently has over 150 members.
Analy Interact meetings
are at 12:35 p.m. Wednesdays in the Choir Room.
Brook Haven Middle School
Interact was started by
Ken Jacobs and Edwin Wilson in 1995.
It was the second junior Interact Club started in the world. There are
currently 40 members.
Brookhaven Interact meetings
are at 12:40 p.m. on first and third Tuesdays in Room 7.
Hillcrest Middle School
Interact was started by Jackie Moreira and Dave Skram in 2003. It is the third Interact Club and second Junior High Club for The Sebastopol Rotary Club. There are currently 40 members.
Hillcrest Interact meetings are on the second and fourth Wednesday in Room 6.
These organizations teach the students about the
importance of community service and trains future leaders. Students learn
leadership, citizenship, teamwork, organization and project coordination
skills. The Interact clubs form a service partnership with the Sebastopol
Rotary and lend their support to a variety of projects. The Interactors are
also responsible for planning, financing, organizing and carrying out their
own activities and projects. Each club has two Rotarian advisors and a
teacher advisor. These advisors provide guidance and inspiration to the
students and act as liaisons with the sponsoring Rotary Club. Each club
has a slate of officers and project committees.
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Learn to Swim Program
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Learn to Swim Program
By: Greg Gill
The Learn to Swim Program sponsored by the Sebastopol Rotary Club was
first established in 1983. As one of the volunteer coordinators of
this Program, I have observed how the Learn to
Swim Program has provided the community of Sebastopol with a vital, hands-
on service. The project has relied heavily on volunteers,
who give their time and expertise so that youngsters may learn
water safety. The Program offers a solid basic foundation for acquiring
swimming skills, and teaches Sebastopol Second Graders how to swim.
The following is a quote from a 1987 second grade participant in the
Program:
"The Learn to Swim Program taught me the skill, safety and confidence that
is needed to gain pleasure from swimming." I have fond memories of
learning how to swim in Ives Pool. Although I was introduced to swimming
at an early age, the Learn to Swim Program made me feel more at ease in the water. With the help of instructors who created an aura of comfort
and safety in the pool ('we have complete control of what goes on in
here', they would say) I gained the confidence needed to really expand my
swimming skills. I still spend a lot of time around the water, whether I
am at the pool or at the river. Although the river poses more of a
swimming danger than the pool, I am able to face the river with 'tips'
from my old instructors on water safety in my mind. I stall recall the
voices of some of my instructors, telling me how to breathe safely and
relax in the water. The 'strokes' I learned when in the Learn to Swim
Program I use today, for the swim instructors laid a wonderful foundation
for swimming when I was merely a second grader. I learned many things
from the Program, more than just how to swim. It is important for one to
feel, especially while growing up, that a safe and comfortable place
exists in their community. After learning how to swim the pool became a
such a place-safe, comfortable, and fun, whether I was with friends and
family or by myself. The instructors taught me to overcome fears I has
surrounding the water, and I still sometimes hear their encouraging voices
when I must overcome certain fears today."
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The Learn to Swim Program introduces children to a sport that can provide
great enjoyment. Some participants go on to become part of a swim team
and swim competitively, while others are instilled with the reliance and
confidence needed to enjoy other water activities such as water skiing or
kayaking. It is very likely that the lessons learned via the Program
saves lives as well. The Learn to Swim Program is just one example of how
the Sebastopol Rotary Club is pursuing its vision of community service.
The Dictionary Program
The Dictionary Program is a joint project with several Rotary Clubs in the area to donate a new Dictionary to all local third graders. Our club makes the presentation to the class using two or three Rotarians who personally hand each child a book. Some of the students have never owned a book before so they are quite surprised when they learn they get to keep their new book. During our weekly meetings we ask our guest speaker to sign a placard which is then attached to the inside of one of the dictionaries and designates that book is given in the speaker's name.
Dictionaries are
distributed to the following elementary schools: Pinecrest, Pleasant Hills
Christian, Apple Blossom, Orchard View, Gravenstein, Oak Grove, Sebastopol
Charter, Parkside, Salmon Creek.
Vocational Awards Program
Our club supports vocational eduacation at Analy and El Molino High schools by honoring the vocational achievement of its students 3 times per school year. The students are chosen for the award by their teachers.. The students are given a framed certificate and a check for $125.00 for their achievement. The students and their teaches are invited to our Rotary meeting to receive the award. Pictures are taken and a brief article appears in our local newspaper. At the end of the school year, a teacher is chosen as the most outstanding vocational instructor, and is given $300.00 and a certificate.
Speech Contest
Our club provides a venue for students of the three local high schools
to develop their communication skills. The competition
features a speech presentation of six minutes to the club membership.
The subject matter chosen for the contestants
challenges the presenters to take a position on timely issues that reflect
the principles of Rotary. Cash prizes are awarded to the first through third
places ($125, $75, $50) but all participants will receive at least $25 for
their effort.
On May 2, 2008, five Analy High School students competed in the Sebastopol Rotary Speech Contest. The topic for this year was "Climate Change: Societal and Local." The winner of the contest, Gordon Allen, received a $125 award. All of the speeches were well delivered and thought out, and displayed the excellent quality of education available at Analy High School.
RYLA -
Website
The Rotary Youth Leadership Award is a very valuable exercise in vocational development, which our club unanimously endorses. Because of the proximity to the R.Y.L.A. training facility, many of our members participate as discussion leaders, mentors, or Bar-B-Q chefs. We see this as a great program for development of leaders in our community and the state. Our Club has budgeted $1,600.00 for two students.
Read to Me Program
The "Read to Me Program" has matured from just 3rd
graders at Pine Crest School to 4th and 5th graders, and then onto
another school, Gravenstein, for 1st through 5th grades. It grows and changes
with the needs. The program was started by our own Rotarian, Patti Blount.
We are proud of it. But more than that, it is a program that touches
youngsters' lives, and improves on their chances for a better future.
Mel Davis, a Sebastopol Rotarian and volunteer
since the start, points out, "At first, we weren't told much about why
the student had been selected". But now the Program Coordinator, Deborah
Drehmel is permitted to share a students information form from the teacher. The
volunteers are also being given more prep guidance. We're encouraged to
ask the readers, "What does this word mean?" Or, "What is this story
about?"
Sometimes there can be an unexpected result from the work with a
student. Mel reports that "At the start of this last spring I asked
about a student who is no longer assigned. Earlier, I had told the Coordinator
that the boy would mispronounce the second word in every paragraph. For
example, he would pronounce "Stay" as "Say." I spent weeks trying to figure out
what was prompting this. I was baffled. Nor could the coordinator find an
answer at first. But when I walked in the door this fall, Ms. Drehmel told me
'Yes, he has a unique impediment. He has been assigned a trained
tutor.' It made me feel good that I had been part of that, giving him another
chance."
The most shared reaction from the Rotary Volunteers are: "You
soon realize that the kids you are assigned look forward to your visit.
There's no stigma. They're faces light up, and they rush to get their books.
It's almost as if it's a privilege for them to be assigned this special
attention."
A new problem has been identified by Judy Skram wife of the Program
Chair, Dave Skram. "A youngster having problems in reading told me
that his father is not at home anymore. He's stationed in Iraq. That must
cause stress for the child."
Judy Skram expressed a common sentiment of the volunteers: "The
children are so special. I know some don't have time to read at home,
or their parents cannot read or speak English. So I'm glad that they get
attention from us. It's the one-on-one that makes a difference."
Deborah Drehmel, the Program Coordinator, thanks the Sebastopol
Rotary Club for the $5,000 our club earmarks each year for Read to Me.
Besides the coordinator's position, the funds go to create Read to Me
Libraries, which has now built up to a hefty 800 volumes at each school.
Rotary has also paid for 20 literacy games and plays that encourage the
children to think. The games challenge the volunteers as well. Ms.
Drehmel points out, 'I notice that the Rotarians aren't hesitant to join
in the games. Often, it is the students who win, though!' "
If you'd like to spend an hour or two a week to be a volunteer, call
Deborah Drehmel at 829-3886. Rotarians and Non Rotarians are welcome.
We need more volunteers for a weekly commitment of an hour, or as standby
volunteers.
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