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News & Events
November 21, 2009
Morris High School Interact Students and Morris Rotary members work together in a clean up project of the Morris Rotary Park.
Morris Rotary Dictionary Project
As part of Rotary Internationals goal to combat literacy in the world. Each year from October through November Morris Rotarians each year provide dictionaries to 3rd grade students in the Morris Area. For Immediate Release – Nov. 10, 2009Contact: Rich Mitchell, Morris Rotary President (815) 942-0773.Morris Rotary Club Donates Dictionaries to Area Third-GradersMORRIS – The Morris Rotary Club donated almost 300 dictionaries to the city’s 3rd-graders this month as part of its ongoing program to promote literacy.Every year in October and November the Morris Rotary purchases new dictionaries and distributes the books to all of Morris’ elementary schools for their 3rd-grade classes.“We’ve been doing this the last 3 years and if every kid has kept their dictionary it has gone with them to 6th-grade by now,” said Rich Mitchell, Rotary president.A company produces the dictionaries at a lower cost for Rotary clubs to do the program, he said.“We really enjoy doing it,” Mitchell said. “The kids get really excited when they receive them.”Saratoga School principal Liz Peterson said they especially appreciate the dictionaries during a time when people tend to make the internet their first resource for information.“These are extremely valuable for the kids,” she said. “They learn how to use them and use them regularly because they don’t have computers at their desks and some don’t have computers at home.”Anything to expose the children to increased information on vocabulary and spelling is welcome at the school and much appreciated, she said.Rotary also donated dictionaries to White Oak Elementary School and Nettle Creek Elementary School .Nettle Creek Superintendent Dr. Pete Pasteris said the school’s 3rd-grade teacher does a whole unit on dictionary use every year and is extremely grateful for the dictionaries.The Morris Rotary Club was founded in 1915 and currently has about 25 members. Rotary clubs are volunteer service organizations dedicated to giving back to their communities and other communities around the world by volunteering their time and fundraising.The Morris Rotary is always open to new members. For more information visit www.morrisrotary.org.
Join us any Tuesday or on our next Rotary Visitors Day.
October 10, 2009
Morris Rotary Charity Event
For Immediate Release
Media contact: Rich Mitchell, Morris Rotary Club president, 815-942-0773.
The Morris Rotary Club Charity Event Raises more than $30,000 for its projects and We Care of Grundy County
MORRIS - Elisa Cruz of Brazil said she’ll never forget the one year she spent in Morris as an exchange student, and it was all thanks to the Morris Rotary Club.
“It was definitely the best year of my life. The Morris Rotary and my host families have a special place in my heart,” Cruz said in a video she posted on Youtube.com to play at the Morris Rotary Club Annual Charity Event held Saturday, Oct. 10.
The Morris Rotarians attempted to play the video during event, but because of technical difficulties it could not be played in its entirety. In its place, several families described their experiences housing students and sending their children to different countries through the Rotary exchange program.
Sue Womack spoke of her daughter Molly’s 9 month stay in Zimbabwe.
“The experience really helped her grow up a lot. She feels very comfortable with people from all over the world,” Womack said. “Being a Rotary exchange student helped her to become more global.”
Molly Womack is currently teaching people how to speak English in Korea and hopes to do this in China or Turkey next.
During the Charity Event’s fund-a-project portion the Morris Rotary Club raised about $4,100 for the exchange student program.
The event was held at a different venue this year, the Morris Country Club. Although the number of guests for the event was a bit lower, the amount of money raised in total was above average, said Alan Ferrari, event committee chairman. Before expenses the event raised about $33,000. Half of the those proceeds will be donated to We Care of Grundy County.
“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Mitchell told the crowd as the evening’s live and silent auctions came to an end.
We Care is a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance with food, utilities, rent and prescriptions. Due to the economic downfall, We Care has seen an increased need of about 45 percent. Executive Director Denise Gaska felt the event’s guests must have really understood this because the group went beyond what she expected.
“The energy and the enthusiasm in this room just surpasses what I could have expected,” Gaska said.
The event attracted Rotarians, well-known community members, business people, politicians and those just looking for a good time.
“The Morris Rotary Club helps our community more than people know,” said Dr. Phil Ortiz. “I wanted to recognize that by being here.”
Grundy County Board member Jeremy Ly attended the event for the first time and left with the winning bid of a kaiaking lesson and trip.
“During these economic times it’s very refreshing to see so many people in the community band together for such great causes,” Ly said.
The Morris Rotary Club was founded in 1915 and currently has about 25 members. Rotary clubs are volunteer service organizations dedicated to giving back to their communities and other communities around the world by volunteering their time and fundraising.
The Morris Rotary is always open to new members. For more information on the Morris Rotary Club visit www.morrisrotary.org.
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