Read to Me Program

The Read to Me program was designed to promote literacy, a goal of Rotary International since 1986.  It has been a program of our club since 1993.

When asked to share their thoughts about being Rotary readers two of our club members, Lucie Osborn and Rick Davis, gladly responded.  They are members of the team of Lucie Osborn, Rick Davis, Brenda Arnold and Mary Schwem.   The team has been reading at Freedom Elementary for Mrs. Jane Ehardt’s fourth grade class for 6 years now.

Lucie believes literacy is important and this is a small way of helping kids develop literacy skills including how to listen to a story and build vocabulary as she asks the students for meanings of words they may not know.  She enjoys the opportunity to interact with 4^th graders she would not otherwise have; read books she would not have read and gains a level of satisfaction in helping improve children’s education.  Lucie feels that others would enjoy the program because of the opportunity to interact with kids, help out with education, help expand children's exposure to books, and enjoy experiencing the excitement kids have in hearing a good story.

Rick is a Rotary Reader because he was asked and because it sounded like an enjoyable way to give back to the community. It turns out to be one of his favorite activities and one he wishes he had time to do it more often. Little kids in groups are a real challenge for him and he had great trepidation about the endeavor but gave it a try and it has been a blast. They know when he’s the reader and are looking for him when he arrives, something that he knows other readers also experience. They pay attention, interact, by and large behave and have initiated conversations that have blown him away. It’s difficult to document that we make a difference, but the feeling he gets back tells him that he thinks so.  When asked why he would encourage others to become a reader Rick replied, “It’s hard for me to understand, now that I have done it, why everyone wouldn’t enjoy reading, but I understand that there really are folks who don’t have the time or simply feel that they would be uncomfortable in that situation. I would, however, strongly recommend it for anyone who even has an inkling to give it a whirl, to give it a try. I think they are almost sure to enjoy it and feel a real sense of accomplishing something that makes a difference.”

Each reader spends ½ hour each week reading to children at each of the elementary schools throughout our school district.  Readers can be Rotarians and non Rotarians alike.  Readers can also form teams where members are rotated through the month thus requiring only a minimal time commitment of one – two times per month.   If you, your spouse, or non-Rotarian friends are interested in this program, please contact Jamie Markus (jamiemarkus@hotmail.com) for more information.