Birmingham Rotaract » Ready 2 Read

Ready 2 Read

admin — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:23:56 +0000

In partnership with Better Basics, Rotaract is dedicated to improving and encouraging reading skills for 2,000 of our local children.

Who? YOU. The only requirement to volunteer with Ready 2 Read (R2R) is to attend one training session. Rotaract is sponsoring two sessions: 8/2 (launch party) & 8/8 (make-up training) at 6pm at Pale Eddie’s Pour House. Even if you are unsure if you want to get involved, come see what this amazing program is doing!

What? R2R endows every 2nd grade classroom in our Birmingham City Schools with an excellent library and provides a Reading buddy that will read twice a month for 30 minutes each time. Total monthly commitment of 1-2 hours! You are welcome to find your own partner or we will pair you up. You do not have to be a Rotaract member to be involved.

When? Completely flexible! The volunteers will communicate with Better Basics and their assigned teachers teacher to find convenient times for the readings.

Why? The basic reading skills are dangerously low in Birmingham elementary schools. Low reading skills have been linked to higher school dropout rates, future unemployment, and higher crime rates. We can help in breaking the poverty cycle and changing lives.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
July 12th Social – Grab a Ready 2 Read Flyer!
July 21st Luncheon – Ready 2 Read Education from Better Basics’ Karen Kapp
August 2nd - Launch Party and Training at Pale Eddies
August 4th Luncheon – Ready 2 Read Mini Program
August 8th – Make-up Training at Pale Eddies

The Launch Party will give you all of the necessary information that you will need to make the decision on if becoming a reading buddy is right for you. If you decide that a Reading buddy is something you want to participate in, we will even provide a very short training presentation (10 minutes) at the conclusion to get you equipped and ready to go. Please feel free to invite any of your Rotaract and even non-Rotaract friends to this great event and remember to sign up via the Rotaract Website.
If you already know this is a project you want to participate in then to go ahead and sign up to become a Reading Buddy for 2011! By being a reading buddy, you will be instrumental in helping Rotaract improve the literacy of the all 2^nd graders in Birmingham City Schools. (If you have already requested to be a volunteer please visit the website to register as well so that we can have an updated list of who all is participating.) Make sure you register to be a Reading Buddy AND for the 8/2 Launch Party Training. Keep in mind this is two different events.

Deadline to register is August 5th. Please register online for either training session and to become a Rotaract Reading Buddy. Over the next few weeks more information will be posted on the website about this event and available in our luncheons. For immediate information about this project, email Ready2Read.bham@gmail.com.

Back 2 School – Equipped 2 Learn School Supply Give Away

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:15:55 +0000

For the fourth straight year, the Rotaract Club of Birmingham is the title sponsor for Birmingham City Councilor Roderick Royal’s 6th Annual District 9 “Back 2 School – Equipped 2 Learn” school supply give away. Rotaract will be distributing school supplies to over 500 children at locations throughout District 9 on August 6, 2011 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am.

Rotaract is pleased to sponsor this project, which makes a tremendous impact on our community. With great economic challenges still facing our community, many students do not have the basic supplies they need to help them begin the new school year. This project equips these students with what they need to be ready to learn from day one.

The Club will need at least 5 volunteers at all 3 locations to help distribute supplies to children and families. In order to participate in this exciting service project, register online. Over the next few weeks more information will be posted about this event. For immediate information about this project, contact Wesley Carpenter at Wesley_carpenter@ml.com

April 14th – Birmingham Reads

admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:10:03 +0000

Rotaract is committed to promoting literacy in children, especially those in the Birmingham City Schools through our Ready 2 Read program. On April 14th, we will have the opportunity to participate as guest readers for Birmingham Reads, a one-day event where over 700 people volunteer to read to Birmingham students. Click here to volunteer or contact Bains Fleming at bfleming@nwkt.com for more information.

Support The Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:07:08 +0000

The Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, exists to receive donations from the general public, publicly supported organizations, and governmental units and make disbursements for the service projects of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham. The Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation was created as an entity to clearly separate service funds from club operating funds of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham.

Future activities of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation include maintaining the Ready 2 Read classroom libraries and organizing volunteer manpower for ongoing Reading Role Models. Additional future activities include designing, funding, and implementing future Signature Service Projects of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham. While Ready 2 Read, our first major service project, was fully implemented in 2008, another team is simultaneously researching potential future Signature Service Projects.

All proceeds from Rotaract’s Annual Masquerade Ball will benefit the Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation. Since its founding in 2004, the Club has raised $275,000 for its Foundation. Through sponsorships and event proceeds, the Club seeks to raise an additional $75,000 in 2011.

Click here to download sponsorship opportunities for the 2011 Masquerade Ball benefiting the Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation.

Become a 2nd Grade Reading Buddy

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:40:01 +0000

Did you know that for only one hour a month you can help fight illiteracy? Have you always wanted to be involved with Rotaract’s international award winning signature service project—Ready 2 Read? If the answers are yes, you need to be a Reading Buddy.

We are recruiting Reading Buddies for the upcoming school year. Each Reading Buddy is asked to commit to reading to their assigned classroom one a month. Reading Buddies are vital to the success of Ready 2 Read, and as our project, we need all our members to volunteer.

If you are interested in being a Reading Buddy, please register online. Friends, family and coworkers are also encouraged to sign up. For more information, please contact Richard Davis richard.davis@willis.com.

Reading Buddy Facts & Questions

Rotaract Hears from Birmingham Students about Ready 2 Read

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:30:42 +0000

The Rotaract Club of Birmingham and its service partner, Better Basics, recently received letters from several students who benefited from the Club’s award-winning service project, Ready 2 Read. Each year, Rotaract helps place full libraries in the second grade classrooms of Birmingham schools. The Club also provides volunteer Reading Buddies, who take time each month to read to the children. Rotaractors interested in becoming a Reading Buddy can register online.

June 26th Service – Ready 2 Read Book Clean Up & Inventory

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:32:01 +0000

With year two of Ready 2 Read winding down, it’s time to prepare the classroom libraries for next year. Join our newest members for their first service project on Saturday, June 26^th from 8:00 a.m. to noon at our annual Ready 2 Read Book Clean Up and Inventory. This service project protects the $125,000 investment made by the Club for classroom libraries and offers an opportunity to mingle with new members.

Ready 2 Read Service Project Receives International Recognition

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:15:59 +0000

Rotary International (RI) will recognize The Rotaract Club of Birmingham’s signature service project, Ready 2 Read, as the 2009 International Winner of Outstanding Rotaract Projects. Rotaract’s Ready 2 Read project has placed libraries in every second-grade classroom in the Birmingham City School system. Local club President V. J. Graffeo will present the project and accept the prestigious award on behalf of the club from RI President, D. K. Lee during the Rotaract Preconvention portion of RI’s 100^th Convention in Birmingham, England on June 19, 2009.

“Receiving this award truly places a stamp of validation on our club’s efforts to improve literacy in Birmingham,” said Graffeo. “As a relatively young Rotaract club within the world of Rotary, we are especially proud that our members’ diligent work has now gained international recognition.”

In announcing the award, RI President D.K. Lee of Seoul, Korea wrote, “Your experience with ‘Ready 2 Read’ will inspire Rotaractors around the world to continue their efforts to meet the needs of their communities.”

In 2005, Rotaract chose literacy as its service project focus and targeted second-grade reading comprehension after studies showed that age group was a critical time in educational development. Rotaract then launched Ready 2 Read to give young students necessary tools to become better readers. By the start of the 2008-2009 school year, Rotaract completed placing 15,000 books in the second-grade classrooms of Birmingham City Schools. With libraries now in all second-grade classrooms and “Reading Buddy” volunteers, Ready 2 Read continues to inspire 4,000 students each year to read.

The first Ready 2 Read libraries were placed at Glen Iris Elementary School in October 2007. According to Glen Iris Principal, Michael Wilson, PhD, independent reading has increased dramatically since the implementation of Ready 2 Read.

“The great thing about the classroom libraries is that they have expanded greatly the reading choices for our children,” Wilson said. “They have broadened the spectrum of literature that is available with high interest texts that the children really like. The students really like the independent feeling they get from choosing their own books to read.”

The total program cost for Ready 2 Read was $250,000. Funds for the program were raised through the annual Rotaract Gala, membership contributions, sponsors and partners. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the Ready 2 Read program because Rotaract occurs no staff or overhead expenses in administering this project.

The Downtown Rotary Club of Birmingham and Rotary International sponsor the Rotaract Club of Birmingham. Downtown Rotary President, Bill Jones, said, “Speaking for all the members of The Rotary Club of Birmingham, we are exceedingly proud of, but not surprised by, the achievements of the Rotaract Club. This award from Rotary International is an affirmation of their solidarity, their creativity, and their dedication to the ideal of service. Since their founding, they have continued to grow and carry out projects in our community that are outstanding.”

Reading Buddies Update

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:07:28 +0000

Your last visit to read to your classroom should be scheduled in April. At this time you will pick up the reading log sheets from each student as well as the Ready 2 Read library. You should take a quick inventory of the books by counting them. There should be a total of 128 books. If any are missing, ask the teacher to look for them in the room. The Ready 2 Read library books have large Ready 2 Read stickers on the back of the books. You can ask the teacher if some students can assist you by taking the bins to your vehicle.

You should then return the library, the student reading log sheets and a list of which books are missing from the library to the Better Basics office at 200 Beacon Parkway West, Suite 200, Birmingham, AL 35209. Click here for a Ready 2 Read book list to assist you with the inventory. Some of you had a few different books in your library and a few of the books on this list were not a part of your library, just do the best you can at determining which books are missing. During the summer Better Basics will clean the books, restock the libraries of any books that are missing and get them ready to go to 2^nd grade classrooms next year. Be sure to let Better Basics know when you drop off the libraries whether your classroom kept up with all the books. They will be rewarded with an ice pop party. If it fits within your schedule, Better Basics encourages you to schedule to attend the ice pop party in May with your classroom.

Better Basics was fortunate this year to have extra volunteers who were considered “Bonus Readers” in many classrooms. If you were a bonus reader and did not deliver the library to your school, keep in mind that when you schedule your visit for April that the original classroom volunteer may have already picked up the library. You will need to bring a book of your own to read to the class. If you don’t have access to children’s books, let Better Basics know. Better Basics has many great books at their office thaty they could lend to you to read to your class room. You will not need to pick up the library.

Thank you to everyone for your dedication to children this year. Better Basics has received such positive feed-back from the 2^nd grade teachers and from students about the quality of the library and the value that you, as a volunteer, added to the classroom. We hope you will all be willing to return as a Ready 2 Read volunteer next year. If you have any questions please contact Sherri Blank at 944-2928 ext. 307. Again, thanks so much for all you do.

Ready 2 Read

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:04:44 +0000

In 2005, Rotaract chose literacy as its service project focus, targeting second grade reading comprehension after studies showed that age group was a critical time in a student’s educational development. Rotaract wanted to give young students the tools that they needed to become better readers, and direct access to more books in their classrooms was the obvious first step. From that idea, Rotaract’s “classroom library” concept was born in form of the Ready 2 Read program.

Rotaract, through Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation, has raised more than $200,000 for the program and in September 2008 each second grade classroom in Birmingham City Schools received a classroom library with 129 books. Rotaract members and volunteers delivered the books to each class and return to read once a month. In 2009, Ready 2 Read, was recognized by Rotary International as the 2009 International Winner of Outstanding Rotaract Projects. In July 2011, the Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation presented a check for $20,000 to its strategic partner, Better Basics, to continue the Rotaract Club’s commitment to its signature service project, Ready 2 Read.