Rose Crispin, Club and Community Service Coordinator, provided a recap of our first Food Drive.  She reported that we collected 2,675 lbs. of food.  A big thank you to our Rotarians who volunteered their time soliciting donations.  And “Thanks” to King Soopers for allowing us to present this fundraiser two weekends in a row. We also collected about $500. in cash donations. 

Club Member Charlotte Tyson presented a check from the Charity Fund to Born to Read.   Volunteer Marian Parsons provided a summary of the Born to Read program. She reported that in 2024, they gave out 1,289 bags. “The parents of every baby born in our two hospitals receive a bag with Infant board books (English or Spanish), materials on reading to your baby, and a Longmont Library card.”  A new addition to the bag contents will be enrollment information about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.  This new program was launched thanks to the effort of the Longmont Rotary Literacy Committee/Grants Committee.  Many thanks to Charlotte for leading this effort. 

This Tuesday, Charlotte Tyson, we will provide an update on the school supply program to the Philippines- one of our club's Literacy projects.  Longmont Rotary has several strong literacy projects underway- The Born to Read program, the Philippines school project program, and our most recent project, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library project. 

 High School student delegates gathered on June 21-27, 2025, for the annual week-long World Affairs Seminar at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI.  The theme this year was Peacebuilding: Creating Lasting Change. Lila Repsher, a senior at Niwot High School, was the local Rotary-sponsored recipient.   She reported on the Seminar, referencing the Pillars of Positive Peace and the Peace Building Simulation exercise.  The vision of this seminar is to bring a better understanding of world problems to young people from around the globe, using current issues as a learning platform. WAS provides opportunities for participants to discuss issues with other delegates. Emphasis is on promoting a better understanding of the causes of international conflict.  The idea is that if the causes are understood and solutions developed in a cooperative environment, problems are more likely to be solved peacefully.