200th child registers for the RC Whitesburg affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library

The Imagination Library registered its 200^th child on Thursday, August 15^th.  One year old Braydon Short  is the son of Caleb and Erica Short and resides in the city of Whitesburg.  He received a free book  at the time of registration. The Imagination Library is an early childhood literacy program started by country music singer Dolly Parton.  The program provides children with a free book each month until they reach their fifth birthday, regardless of family income.  The Imagination Library is an opportunity for children to have books in the home where they can learn to recognize letters, numbers, colors, objects and build a good vocabulary in preparation for kindergarten.  Reading aloud to children exposes them to words they may not encounter in everyday language and gets them excited about learning.

Rotarians Barbara Ison and Margaret Hammonds attended Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Homecomin’ 2013 at the Music Road Hotel Conference Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on June 11-14^th  and had an opportunity to talk with David Dotson, President of the Dollywood Foundation.  The theme of the conference “Imagine More” showcased two full days of presenters sharing their personal stories of success with the Imagination Library. During the conference, participants had the opportunity to discuss ideas with other program leaders and learn how other states have implemented the Imagination Library and raised funds to support the program. Toni Buzzeo, Author of “One Cool Friend” was on hand to sign her book which has been made into a production now playing at Dollywood Theme Park. The highlight of the conference was a personal appearance by Dolly Parton. Over two hundred individuals from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada attended the conference.  

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library started in Sevierville, Tennessee and because of its popularity, it was made available to any community that was willing to partner with Dolly to support it locally.  Since the initial program began, nearly 40,000,000 books have been mailed to children in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.  Currently over 1600 local communities provide the Imagination Library to children every month.  Already statistics and independent reports have shown Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library drastically improves early childhood literacy.  The Rotary Club of Whitesburg sponsors the Imagination Library in Letcher County.  The program is coordinated by Rotarians Barbara Ison and Margaret Hammonds.

 

Please contact Margaret Hammonds at 633-8200 or Barbara Ison at 634-2106 for more information about the Imagination Library program in Letcher County.

 

 

A Message from the District Governor

Dear Rotarians,

March is literacy month- something I am involved with every day as I work with adults who are mastering everything from phonics to algebra.  As a matter of fact, it was the Rotary emphasis on literacy that initially attracted me as a member of Rotary.  It is inspiring that nearly every club in our district has a project that improves or impacts literacy.  Just a few examples of literacy activities are annual dictionary projects such as those done by the clubs of London, Stanford, Kenton County and others; the adoption of a school as by Lexington Sunrise that encourages both the students and the parents;  the Pineville club supporting the local adult literacy program; the Rotary Club of Whitesburg implementing the Imagination Library project with the Hazard club soon to follow; and other clubs helping with test fee scholarships for GED students.  District literacy projects are numerous and widespread.  All these efforts have a positive effect on our district by improving literacy in children and adults, improving the graduation rates, and inspiring people to achieve the one thing that cannot be taken from them-an education.

What are the literacy needs of your community?  Take a look at the graduation rate in your county by accessing the link below: 

http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/bystate/Rankings.aspx?state=KY&ind=6552

There are many variables involved in calculating the average graduation rate for a county, but it will give you a good idea of how many young people in your community are successful in completing high school.  You might be shocked by the numbers or pleasantly surprised.  For those of us in the literacy field, high school graduation rates are one factor in determining the literacy needs of a community.  To access a county profile for your county and identify the percent of adults at different educational levels, visit the link below and scroll down the page for your county profile: 

http://cpe.ky.gov/info/county/default.htm

By clicking on these links, you will have completed a quick needs assessment for literacy in your community.  A needs assessment will be a required step for accessing Rotary Foundation funds as we move to the new grant model presently known as Future Vision.

Rotary literacy takes center stage in our district during March, too.  Our presidents-elect will head to Nashville for their training on March 21-24.  Also, District Governor Elect Jack McAllister and incoming District Foundation Chair John Adams are conducting training in the new grant model throughout the district.  Be sure your club attends so that it is eligible for foundation funds.

I leave you with a quote from Abraham Lincoln about reading:

“A capacity, and taste, for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved problems. And not only so. It gives a relish, and facility, for successfully pursuing the [yet] unsolved ones.” 

Peace Through Service

Kathryn Hardman, Governor

Rotary International District 6740

RC Stanford's 3rd grade Dictionary Project

Margaret Hammonds shares information about the Imagination Library

Margaret Hammonds from the Rotary Club of Whitesburg was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Hazard on Wednesday September 12, 2012. Her topic was Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, an early childhood literacy program which the Rotary Club of Whitesburg implemented in January 2012. Hazard Rotary is planning to start this program in their area, and hopes to have it in place by spring of 2013. Hammonds was instrumental in bringing this program to the Whitesburg Area during her tenure as Rotary President 2011-2012, and remains the coordinator between the Rotary Club of Whitesburg and the Dollywood Foundation. The Imagination Library provides a free book per month for children under 5 years of age who live in a selected service area, regardless of the family income. The Rotary Club of Whitesburg currently has 143 children registered in the program in the Whitesburg area.

 

RC Whitesburg's Imagination Library - Opened January 26, 2012!