“We are looking for 4 to 5 people to be on the Diamond Awards committee. We spend about 10 hours actually working on the committee during the school year. We spend maybe five hours during our own free time reading applications and nominations from students about their favorite teacher from District 11 high schools. Reading the nominations occurs from the end of December through the beginning of February. Then we ask the committee to go with us to the high schools to notify the teachers they have won-which is another two hours of time if their schedule allows it. We then have two presentations at the Rotary Club where we invite the winning teachers and their principals to a rotary luncheon and we honor them by giving them a Diamond chipped Clock from Luisa Graff Jewelers, a longtime Rotarian, and a check from the Community Service Fund that they are able to use for themselves. All told that is another three hours for a total of 10 hours. I mention this because I know people work full-time, or even retired people have plans and things to do.
So all in all it’s 10 hours which stretches from the end of December until the first week in April. We are looking for 4 to 5 interested members who may have fond memories of teachers in their lives and how they may have changed and help them along the way. This committee was started 22 years ago by Jack Kinney- another longtime, beloved Rotary member- and if you are interested in the committee please reach out to Cass Daley, Jody Richie, or Vance Valades.
Cass Daley