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Vocational Service |
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The Orangevale Rotary Club seeks to promote the worthiness of all vocations through its projects in the vocational avenue of service. These include many projects working with young people, sponsoring contests and scholarships, programs which help adults learn about the professions and avocations of others, and recognition of outstanding leaders in the community. Following are the five major projects that the Vocational Service Committee intends to complete this year: which tax-deductible donations may be made. |
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1. Interact - As in past years, the club will work closely with the Interact Club at Casa Roble High School. We provide a pizza party at the beginning of the school year and bring the officers to the club's breakfast meetings to report on their projects and keep us informed about how Rotarians can participate. A Rotarian liaison attends club meetings once a month at the school. In turn the Interact students work with Rotarians, helping with our September fundraiser, providing labor for our track project at Pasteur Middle School, and joining us on many other community service projects. |
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2. Laird Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund - The club awards at least $500 as a result of a competitive application process. Senior students from Casa Roble and Bella Vista who have attained at least a 3.0 GPA and have excelled in community service during their high school years may apply. The scholarship is named after a Rotarian who was very committed to young people and to community service. In addition to a transcript and adult verification of their service, the applicants must write an essay describing their service in the past, as well as their plans for future service. A committee of Rotarians makes the final selection. |
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3. Literacy Tutorial, Pershing Elementary School - The club is in its second year of a Children's Opportunity Grant (a three-year grant funded for $7,000 by Rotary International) to help improve basic literacy and numeracy skills. Rotary members, Interact students from Casa Roble High School, and teachers are teaming to meet with at-risk students in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades twice a week from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The program begins with a snack and milk, then 45 minutes of homework help and reteaching of basic skills in math and reading. The Orangevale Club has provided a computer and software programs to track student progress.
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4. Middle School Speech Contest - In addition to the District Speech Contest, the Orangevale Rotary Club is promoting a speech contest for students at the seventh and eighth grade level. The hope is that the contest will foster thought about a topic similar to the Rotary International theme, "Create Awareness, Take Action," while giving students the opportunity to learn the basics of public speaking. The students will present their speeches in the participating classes, and the finalists, chosen by the teachers, attend the Rotary meeting and present their speeches to the club. The winners are awarded gift certificates to Barnes and Noble, and their teachers are awarded $25 cash to use in their classrooms. |
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5. Annual Awards - The club recognizes outstanding individuals in the Orangevale community by naming the Mother of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Law Enforcement/Firefighter of the Year, and Employer of the Year. These outstanding people are invited to breakfast and given a plaque. We start with the Law Enforcement/Firefighter of the year in September and end with the Mother of the Year in May. Each individual's accomplishments are brought forward at separate meetings so that all receive appropriate recognition and we foster good relationships with all segments of the community.
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