Short history of the Logan Rotary Club Dictionary Project
The club has ordered 32,328 dictionaries since beginning the project. The first order from the Rotary Club of Logan was on August 11, 2004 for 792 books. The last few years we have been ordering just over 2,200 books each year. Initially the books were less than $2.00 each, but the current cost is $3.50 per book. Increasing prices have escalated the cost of the project from about $3,600 in 2004 to the current cost of approximately $8,000.
We have been asking 3rd grade teachers if they still want dictionaries since computers have taken over many areas. Without exception, they all want us to continue. The supplier gets feedback from many areas and their research has shown that academic skills are declining where students do not have books. Some schools have currently discontinued all hard copy textbooks. Therefore, we would like to continue the project as long as interest and funding allows.
Many club members have helped with the project and early committee leaders were Marilynne Glatfelter and Gina Wickwar. Justin Hamilton currently offers an important service. He takes delivery and stores the dictionaries in his warehouse until the day we apply stickers and divide them up for delivery.
Funding has been by several means including a pancake breakfast, but most funding has been generated by the LOTOJA biking of Team Rotary. These riders have solicited sponsorships of almost $80,000 since 2004! Their efforts have been amazing! The major participants in Team Rotary biking include Ron Monson, Ben Jarvis, Bruce Smith, Jeff Larsen, Wendy Monson and Brian Cannell. However, Team Rotary riders have dwindled until Ron and Wendy Monson are the only riders this year, which will also be the final year that they will ride and solicit sponsors.
The club has ordered 32,328 dictionaries since beginning the project. The first order from the Rotary Club of Logan was on August 11, 2004 for 792 books. The last few years we have been ordering just over 2,200 books each year. Initially the books were less than $2.00 each, but the current cost is $3.50 per book. Increasing prices have escalated the cost of the project from about $3,600 in 2004 to the current cost of approximately $8,000.
We have been asking 3rd grade teachers if they still want dictionaries since computers have taken over many areas. Without exception, they all want us to continue. The supplier gets feedback from many areas and their research has shown that academic skills are declining where students do not have books. Some schools have currently discontinued all hard copy textbooks. Therefore, we would like to continue the project as long as interest and funding allows.
Many club members have helped with the project and early committee leaders were Marilynne Glatfelter and Gina Wickwar. Justin Hamilton currently offers an important service. He takes delivery and stores the dictionaries in his warehouse until the day we apply stickers and divide them up for delivery.
Funding has been by several means including a pancake breakfast, but most funding has been generated by the LOTOJA biking of Team Rotary. These riders have solicited sponsorships of almost $80,000 since 2004! Their efforts have been amazing! The major participants in Team Rotary biking include Ron Monson, Ben Jarvis, Bruce Smith, Jeff Larsen, Wendy Monson and Brian Cannell. However, Team Rotary riders have dwindled until Ron and Wendy Monson are the only riders this year, which will also be the final year that they will ride and solicit sponsors.
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