Prez says
March is National Literacy Month!
The Club was happy to have Dr. Laurie Bottinger, PhD, Headmistress of Gifft Hill School at our Gallows Point meeting.
We look forward to seeing all members of St. John Rotary and visitors at 7:30 a.m. on March 18, 2015, at Gifft Hill School upper campus to check the wonderful garden to kitchen program out. This visit will take the place of our regular meeting at Gallows Point.
Dr. Laurie spoke about the EARTH program and the work that the Gifft Hill students are doing with the program in Uganda The jewelry that the students make is sold and the money is sent to the people of Uganda. The jewelry was shared at the meeting. She also spoke about the solar panels that have been installed at the school and the savings that have been realized. Dr. Laurie was very much in favor of continuing to work with the Interact program.
We were glad to welcome Jeannie, Rotarian from Auburn, California, who was accompanied by her cousin Bette. We were also happy to have Beverly Biziewski, (Rotarian sister), Leona Smith, a soon-to-be Rotarian, and Shereen Hill.
A double dose as we were also privileged to have Dave Minner of Gifft Hill, via Ohio State University, speak with us. The E.A.R.T.H ( Education And Resiliency Through Horticulture) program is being integrated into the curriculum at Gifft Hill. As a point of reference, Dave did much of the scientific work with the Palemaries on the Winston Wells Ball field and offered some great suggestions so that the field could be utilized for various events without having to expend huge sums of money to retrofit after each event.
Of particular interest was the work that the student were doing in the garden and kitchen program where whatever was grown was made available for cooking and eating-- an edible school yard. In this vein, Mrs. Francois, Principal of J.E.S.S., Celia, of the St. John community Foundation, Lonnie Willis of the Historical Society and others will be invited to visit Gifft Hill School on the 18th of March to get a first hand look at the program. In addition to the garden and kitchen program, the students will be taught the business aspect of the program -- packaging, labeling, sales and eventually the $$$ to be realized.
Visiting today was Ian Samuel, who is now ready for installation into the St. John Rotary. Congratulations Ian.
April 10th, is the date of the Farm to Table curriculum demonstration. Look for more information from Gifft Hill School.
We look forward to seeing all members of St. John Rotary and visitors at 7:30 a.m. on March 18, 2015, at Gifft Hill School upper campus to check this wonderful program out. This visit will take the place of our regular meeting at Gallows Point.