Basic Education and Literacy is one of The Rotary Foundation’s seven areas of focus. We know that basic education and literacy are essential for reducing poverty, improving health, encouraging community and economic development, promoting peace and supporting the environment. Just imagine for a moment what your life would look like if you could not read. Consider these facts: · If all women completed primary education, there would be 66% fewer maternal deaths. · A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five. · If all students in low-income countries left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty, which would be equivalent to a 12% cut in world poverty.
Literacy is a focus of our Rotary E-club of the SWUSA. We support the Books to Brilliance Foundation through Club District Grants. Kim Covill, our club service chair, is a founder of Books to Brilliance. The following are excerpts from their origin story.
With a $3000 grant from the Dr. Seuss Foundation, the three founders of From Books to Brilliance purchased 967 books in Managua for beginning and intermediate readers. In 2007 Maggie Covill, Emily Lopez Padilla and Kim Covill planned to create a library in a remote village of central Nicaragua. To their delight, much of the literature was locally written and published, perfectly suitable for its future readers.
While volunteering with a medical delegation from the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston (UTMB), the founders placed their precious cargo atop an old yellow school bus, the vehicle that would transport the doctors, dentists, nurses, medical students, and translators to Mulukuku. Packed with luggage and supplies to last for three weeks, the bus seemed overloaded. Nonetheless, they headed to the Maria Luisa Ortiz Women’s Cooperative, knowing that bunkbeds, mosquito nets, good food and clean water awaited them.
The idea for a book project began the summer before, after Kim visited an elementary school in the nearby village of Santa Rita, while translating for the delegation. In a one-room, unpainted and windowless shack she was appalled to see students doing math problems on a worn-out blackboard and scraps of paper. In tropical heat and humidity, the children sat in old wooden desks on a dirt floor. There were no books. After introducing herself and with the children listening, the teacher declared “Estos niños no tienen futuro,” or “These children have no future.” Shocked by that reality, Kim began to promote the future of those students through a simple, yet powerful literacy program.
Thank you for your questions and inquiries, the following is information and resources to help you navigate Clubrunner and our website
Our club meetings have migrated from meeting content published on our website to a bi-weekly email bulletin newsletter that goes directly to your email inbox.
Clubrunner notifies us when you open the meeting bulletin email, thus we can monitor club member participation.
You no longer need a login to access our website, it's now open to the public with the ability to launch a club public image and social media campaign to increase interest.
Once in the website, there is a member login in the top right corner. Click here and the Clubrunner login will appear to access club and member information. If you do not recall your user name or password, you may reset or have Clubrunner send you a “magic link”. If you are still unable to login to Clubrunner - go to www.clubrunnersupport.com for direction
Clubrunner Mobile App - we recommend downloading the mobile app. Go to www.clubrunner.ca to learn more. Stay connected with our RECSWUSA club news, District 5495 news, and Rotary International news all in one place. I love the “find a member” search in our Club or District. It's my “go to” on the run!
Rotary Club Locater Mobile App - another great resource for the travelers out there. Instantly locate a “Rotary Club Near Me”, including where they meet, time, day and contact information. We are an E-club, what a great way to connect with others!
Please use this link to make club dues payments and club contributions. Email Brian Shaw - treasurer@recswusa.org with any questions or concerns.
President's Corner
What a Rotary week! I attended the Rotary Zones 26-27 Institute held at the Wigwam Resort in Goodyear, Arizona (just 40 miles from my home). This year's theme, Camp Big West, set the stage for engagement, education, inspiration and so much FUN! After attending so many Rotary functions one would think “I've heard it all before”, however NOT TRUE. The speakers and stories are exceptional, and I always walk away with more appreciation, more gratitude, and more desire to do good things! The Institute marks the final education and training for the District Governor Elects as they prepare for their term as District Governor beginning July 1, 2027. The responsibility of a District Governor is enormous, the position is an honor, and the experience is life changing. Pictured above from left to right is me, Colleen Coons (District Governor Elect for 2027-28) and Teresa Haire (District Governor Nominee for 2028-29).
My husband, Alan Havir, was the District 5510 Governor in 2011-2012. That experience led us to a heightened understanding of all that Rotary is, lifetime friendships across the globe, experiences we would not have otherwise encountered, and a constant community of support, service and appreciation.
