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Volunteers are welcome and improve the project for the kids! Clubs can look at this literacy project to see if they would like to implement something like it in their club.  John Buhl, 214-533-5680, will be glad to work with you.

On the morning of May 7, 2008, the Rotary Club of Dallas will lead its 10th annual delivery and reading of more than 3,000 individually personalized books entitled “I Like Me!” to kindergartners in Dallas Public Schools.  Rotary will be led by District Governor

Richard Gilman, Past-District Governor Linus Wright (also Past-Superintendent of Dallas Public Schools and Under-Secretary of Education), and Dallas Club President Bill Slicker.

 

DISD, led by Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa, will provide yellow school buses and drivers to transport 100 to 200 volunteers from Reunion Arena Parking Lot E (Memorial and Hotel) at 9:00a.m. to and from the involved schools. Volunteers will be returned to Lot E before noon. 

 

The Hillcrest Foundation, founded by Mrs. W.W. Caruth, is the major financial partner with the Rotary Club’s Foundation this year. Also contributing is the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church and their Foundation. This Rotary-led team will have distributed more than 41,000 personalized books to DISD over the last ten years.  Other partners include the US Department of Education, Dallas County Schools.  Led personally in the project by Fire Chief Eddie Burns and Police Chief David Kunkle, these Dallas City Departments will provide up to 100 uniformed officers to read that morning. Commitments are also expected from other Rotary clubs, Woodrow Wilson High School, and local PTA's.

"I Like Me!" was written by Kansas Rotarian Vern Wheeler in an effort to develop self-concept and a joy of reading in kindergartners. Each hard cover, full-color book contains multiple messages to encourage positive and cooperative actions by students.  Studies show it to be a doubly powerful tool for literacy and emotional development because the printed text includes the name of the kindergartner plus two best friends, teacher, principal, school, and city. Recipients are amazed that a book is written about them, leading to repeated readings. Fifth graders at repeat schools anxiously tell about these personalized books they received “way back” in kindergarten. The author plans to join the celebration in Dallas on May 7.

 

Other dignitaries expected to repeat their participation this year are Tincy Miller, Past Chair of the Texas State Board of Education; Dr. Jim Davis, U.S. Secretary of Education’s Regional Representative; and Rick Sorrells, Superintendent of Dallas County Schools.  For more information, or to volunteer, please contact John Buhl, Project Chair at 214-533-5680.
Governor Gilman has authorized make-up credit for Rotarians who participate.

John Buhl
jrbuhl@hotmail.com
214-533-5680   

SAMPLE FROM THE BOOK

GUESS WHAT (Child’s Name)
"I Like Me!" Is a book written specifically for you!

YOU JUST DID IT!!! GREAT JOB ------>>(Child’s name)

I LIKE ME! I like my name--->(Child’s name) This book is written about me. I have made a great discovery! I am the only "ME" here in this whole, great, big, wide, world. I like to think that I am a good, valuable and worthy person.