"Bring cameras & take lots of pictures for this event!"
Gene & Mike sorting
dictionaries for "Dictionary Day"
The Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club is preparing for the 8th Annual Rotary Dictionary Day in the Las Cruces Public Schools. Approximately 55 members of the club gather each year, for the past 8 years, and have delivered over 16,000 dictionaries to all 3rd graders in the district. The number of elementary schools receiving the dictionaries have ranged from 23 – 25, annually. This project is a part of the Rotary International Literacy Program.
This year Rotary Dictionary Day will be held on April 15. The members will meet on Tuesday, their regular meeting day, at noon and, after a quick lunch, will head out to the schools. As teams of Rotarians deliver the dictionaries to the students, Rotarians will present the Rotary 4-Way Test to the 3rd graders The Rotary 4 Way Test is our ethical guide to the way we "think, say and do." A label is placed in the inside cover of each dictionary reminding students of the Rotary 4-Way test.
This is my third year of being on the board of our Rotary club, and it has been an interesting experience. My first year was being the Sgt. Of Arms, and I had fun, but let’s face it Larry Binkley was a whole lot better. I think the guy spent nights scheming ways to separate us from our money.
My second year was spent being the Public Relations Director and I found that to be a challenge. Have you ever tried to get the newspapers to give you free advertising?
This year I am the Club Administration Director, and from what I can tell from reading the Rotary manual, my job is to work in the background to make sure the club functions smoothly. Finally, something I can do! Heck, this is what I do in my real job! Of course, it helps when you have Loren who is basically being the club administrator. And it helps when you have folks like Chris Erickson and Larry Underwood agreeing to provide speakers for a month. And then there was Diane Indorf who did three quarters of the work hosting the Dress The Child Dinner. So I have finally found the board position that suits me.
One thing I have learned though is the importance of getting involved with my Club. By serving on the board, I have come to know the other members who are serving on the board much better. By going out on the Rotary Yard Sale pickups, I have built stronger friendships with Chub Foreman, Peter Krebs and the other regulars that help out. The Tuesday lunches are great, but there is a special relationship you build when you are working on a project together. And in my book, that is what it is all about – helping others and making friends while you are doing it.
Four students were introduced at the LCRGRC regular meeting on April 1, 2014.
These students are students at local high schools and selected by staff members
as outstanding students and future Rotarians. We are honored to have the following April Students:
Victoria Carrillo
Centennial High School
Victoria is a junior at CHS and is the daughter of Lucy & David Carrillo. Her school and community activities include softball, volleyball, Jeans for Teens, food drives and dog walking. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has received academic awards. Outside of school she is involved with her church youth group, and enjoys 4-wheeling, skiing, fishing, camping and being outdoors. Her goals are to maintain good grades through high school and prepare herself for college. She would like to go to medical school and become a nurse.
Emily McGuire
Las Cruces High School
Emily is a junior at LCHS and is the daughter of Mike and Anita McGuire. Her school activities include: French Club, French Honor Society and the National Honor Society.
She has received an Academic Excellence Award for all three years in high school. Her interests and community activities include her love for animals which is seen as she volunteers at a horse stable. She also is involved with community clean-ups and giving time when needed. On Wednesday evenings she teaches Sunday school to elementary age kids. After high school she would like to go to college for a pre-vet degree and eventually become a veterinarian.
Belle Rose Morrow
Mayfield High School
Belle is a junior at MHS and the daughter of Sandy & Tommy Morrow. Her school activities include FFA, BPA (Business Professionals of America), theater productions, and Mayfield Floriculture. Her hobbies include floral design and makeup design. Belle is a BPA State Champion in interviewing, and floriculture judging State Champion (team & individual) and National Thespian qualifier in solo acting. She volunteers with Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue, Heart for the World Church and Dona Ana Theater Association. After high school she would like to go to college and major in horticulture and agribusiness.
Amanda Sheers
Mesilla Valley Christian School
Amanda is a junior at MVCS and the daughter of Man & Ira Cooke. She is involved in drama, yearbook and student council. Amanda is in the National Honor Society and Student Council Treasurer. Her hobbies include art, fashion, baking and traveling abroad. Recently she has been helping to paint a mural for her church. She is still working on future education goals but wants to attend college.
On March 19th, Brandon Beckett caught his dad, Mike Beckett, rummaging through the dictionaries that are headed to all 3rd graders on Dictionary Day (April 15). He immediately took out his digital camera and snapped off some shots. Mike saw what was happening, and knew that he had been caught, and started smiling. The story ended with both laughing and going back to work at the COAS Bookstore. Rotarians Gene Gant and Larry Binkley witnessed the photo shoot.
Not even an April Fool’s joke, just a bad headline!
We want to thank Brandon for “shooting” many of the shots for our website and bulletin.
The Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club is fortunate to have several "family ties" in their membership. During the past several months, we have recognized the following: Matt and Kathy Olson (son & mother), Mike and Brandon Beckett (father & son), and the February Sweethearts (husband and wife) Loren & Nancy Kuehne, Bill & Stacie Allen, Saf & Judy Canja. For March we recognized Larry & Ken Binkley (father & son). In the future we will recognize Eddie Binns and our newest member, his son, Mike Binns.
The Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club has 3 couples as members. The Rio Grande Sweethearts pictured below are: Loren & Nancy Kuehne, Bill and Stacie Allen and honorary members, Judith & Safron Canja.
Rotarians be proud when we ask ourselves; "Does Rotary Youth Exchange work?" Sally was our 2012 - 2013 Outbound Student to Taiwan and files this report.
Read more for Sally's report.
"My life back in the U.S. is going super well. I am a Government Major at NMSU. This semester I am taking Japanese classes and many Government classes. Towards the end of my first semester at NMSU, I was offered a work-study position at the Office of Education Abroad and also as a Student Counselor. I chose to work for the Office of Education Abroad as a Marketeer promoting education abroad. During my first semester at NMSU I joined the club Study Abroad Ambassadors. Now I am the secretary of the club. This club helps the university exchange students acclimate to life in Las Cruces. I am still in contact with my friends from Taiwan (Taiwanese and exchange students). On January 23rd I had the opportunity to meet with one of my best friends (Joao Pim) from Taiwan in San Francisco. We use to be in the same club and went to the same high school in Taiwan. My future international experience will happen really soon. I will be going to Shanghai this summer to study Mandarin. Then I will stay an extra three weeks doing volunteer work in Xi'an. Now I am already planning and saving for my next exchange experience for the Spring 2015! Hope to see you all soon."
Sincerely, Sally Goenaga
Rotary Youth Exchange does work! The experiences are life changers and future makers!
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