Before I call up a couple of our special guests, I like to give you an idea of some of the projects that the Greece Rotary club has been involved with over the last few years.  The Greece Rotary club raised money to help build a handicapped accessible children’s playground at Greece Canal Park on Elmgrove road.  This playground is the largest of its kind in the county. 

 

The club supports Camp Haccamo in Penfield not only through money budgeted by our club but by working a concession tent at the Wegman’s LPGA each year.  The Wegman’s LPGA in partnership with the Disabled Children of Monroe County contributes approximately $350,000 to Camp Haccamo and the Sunshine Camp. 

 

At this time we have an International Service project underway in Nigeria, Africa.  Our club in partnership with a club in Nigeria is drilling water wells at four elementary schools to provide clean easily accessible water for the 4500 students.  Prior to this, the children had to leave their classroom and journey across town and busy highways to a central source of water.

 

In our town we have sponsored the construction of the gazebo at the Greece Town Library, a number of scholarships for seniors at St Joseph’s Villa, Greece High Schools and at Hilton High School.  We also support an Interact club at Odyssey High School.  For those that never heard of Interact, this is a Rotary club for high school students who wish to give back to their community through service.

 

At this time, I’d like to ask our two Superintendents of Schools, Dave Dimbleby and Steve Achramovitch, to come up to the podium.  While they are coming up, I would also like to ask all the 3^rd grade teachers to stand at their table.

 

The reason for you to stand is to let you know that this year we have planned a literacy project in partnership with the Hilton Rotary club that will aid you.  We have received the blessing from both superintendents and the respective school boards and financial support from both clubs, our Rotary district and Senator Joe Robach.  The project consists of giving every 3^rd grade student in the two school districts their own personal dictionary. The principals of your school should have received a letter from our project chair, John Zink, outlining the project.

 

At this time, I’d like to present to Steve and Dave one of the first dictionaries to be distributed as a token of thanks for their support of the project.  I’d also like to present them with a Rotary Theme pin.  Each year the new ROTARY INTERNATIONAL President picks a theme for his year. This year’s theme is “Rotary Shares” which will act as a daily reminder of what ordinary people can accomplish through the extraordinary work of Rotary.”  “Almost everything Rotary does involves sharing.  We share our time, we share our talents and we share our money with others who need our help. Sharing means giving of yourself for the good of others.”