Club Business
President Jim Cartner was absent today; so, Brian Dement brought the meeting to order. Pete Beck led the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the US flag. Brian shared some interesting historical trivia before acknowledging the important wedding anniversary listed below. Next week we will have our quarterly club assembly. As a reminder, on December 5 we will participate in a special Rotary Packathon sponsored by Feed the Hunger at the Holly Hill Mall. Also, set aside December 18 for our annual Dirty Santa Luncheon.
Rotary District 7690 Club: Alamance (Burlington) | ||
Birthdays and Anniversaries for 10/01/18 to 10/31/18 |
Member Birthdays | Birthday |
---|---|
Gilbert, Mary Thomas (MARY THOMAS) | 13 October |
Little, Daniel S. (SID) | 19 October |
Fox, Micah (MICAH FOX) | 20 October |
Wedding Anniversaries | Partner’s Name | Anniversary |
---|---|---|
Perkins, William Randy (RANDY) | Reida (REIDA) | 10/12 |
Sioussat, Stuart C. (STUART) | Betsy | 10/12 |
Rhode, Carolyn (CAROLYN) | Mark | 10/21 |
Porch, Debbie (DEBBIE) | Chuck | 10/24 |
- Chief Smythe invited us to participate in the various Community Based Strategic Partnership Initiative meetings that will be held around the city over the next couple of months. If you are interested, contact Iris Caballero at icaballero@burlingtonnc.gov or at 336.229.3546. He also drew attention to the pink badge he was wearing as part of the BPD’s Breast Cancer Awareness program.
- Stuart Sioussat told the club that he accompanied his son to interview Mr. Jose Wyrick, who is almost 98 and lives in Elon. Jose joined the Air Force in 1942 and flew eighty-one missions over Europe as a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot. He earned a purple heart, having been downed over France due to engine failure. Stuart said it was a privilege to meet and talk to this American hero.
Member Responsible for Today’s Program
Frank Longest joined Rotary in 1981. He is a local attorney and partner at Holt Longest Wall Blaetz & Moseley. His practice areas include business and corporate law, business transactions, civil litigation, land use law, and employment law. He is a past president, a Paul Harris Fellow, and a happy grandfather of two.
Cathy Hykes and Elizabeth Sutton: Literacy Initiatives
Augustine Literacy Project
Kathy Hykes was appointed by the Burlington City Council to fulfill the unexpired term of Mr. David Huffman who resigned in October 2014 to accept the position of City Attorney. Ms. Hykes was elected in 2015 to a four year term and was appointed Mayor Pro Tem on January 2, 2018. Mayor Pro Tem Hykes has devoted her life to community service and improving the lives of others. In addition to having previously served on the Burlington City Council between 1981 and 1985, she has also held numerous civic leadership positions with organizations such as: the NC Advisory Council on Head Start, the Burlington City Board of Education, The Foundation Serving Alamance, the Alamance County United Way, and the Alamance County Human-Relations Commission. She assisted in founding the Diversity Institute of Bermuda, the Alamance Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy, and the Rape Crisis Alliance (now, Crossroads Sexual Assault Response and Resource Center).
She was named the Alamance County Civitan Club’s “Woman of the Year” in 1991, she received the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 1988 and was the United Way’s “Volunteer of the Year” in 1988. Mayor Pro Tem Hykes currently serves as the chair of the Newlin School Partnership and as a mentor and facilitator of Education for Ministry. She is married to Bob Hykes and is the mother of three children and grandmother of six.
Kathy began her talk by saying that what is predictable is preventable. It is predictable that children who do not learn to read by the third or fourth grade will have diminished success in life on a material scale and possibly in other ways, too. She heard about the Augustine Literacy Project while at a church retreat. She decided to get their training, which resulted in Holy Comforter Episcopal Church starting a program at Newlin Elementary School, which now has sixteen tutors. They encourage citizens from our community to join them to become a “Lucky Listener,” someone who either listens to children read or reads to them one hour per week. Training to become a tutor is also available for those who would like to become more involved. Holy Comforter also offers Camp Newlin, a summer enrichment camp, and a backpack project that provides food over the weekends for hungry kids.
CLASS – Congregations Linking and Supporting Schools
Elizabeth Sutton spoke about CLASS, which began six years ago as a faith-based initiative that encourages and assists people of faith to work in and develop relationships with the community and schools to strengthen our children and families. It is a division of Alamance County Juvenile Crime, the Prevention Council, and Community Collaborative. Citizens can participate by being mentors, tutors, lunch buddies, mystery readers, morning greeters, and reading buddies. CLASS also provides meals for students, teachers, and staff, toiletries, a backpack ministry, a scholarship for the homeless, resources to help with grounds keeping, and emergency gift cards.
During the Q&A time, it was said that Alamance County has around 700 homeless children. Chief Smythe said the BPD supports these efforts because it recognizes the relationship between crime and poor reading skills. Kathy Hykes closed by saying she believes it is our moral responsibility to help our kids.
Conclusion
Don Jennings had the winning ticket today, but failed in his attempt to draw the Ace of Hearts. There are 20 cards left and the pot is growing. Brian presented Kathy with a book to donate to her favorite charity in recognition of our club’s literacy emphasis this year. Then we all stood to recite Rotary’s four way test before Brian adjourned the meeting.
Until next time…