Pledge: Kathy Callinan
Prayer: Gary McCauley
Song: No Bill-no song
Cards: Charlie Renshaw
Sergeant’s Report: Pete Zucco
Happy Bucks: Many for our guests, Daylight Saving Time is coming, Happy that Rev. Ed is back with us, Spring is coming, Charlie is happy for his trip to New Zealand in March.
Raffle: Brent Taylor, Charlie Norz, and Pat Settembrino. Special Raffle: John Giannini
Guests: Tari Marshall – Assistant District Governor, Jack Soloman – District Governor Elect, John Donnelly, Ann Lander – Literacy Volunteer Program
Announcements:
Meals on Wheels – Brent and Christina
Gary updated the Club Member Directory revision project.
Dates to remember: 3/6 Lunch meeting at Luigi’s, 3/7 Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Estuary (see Bill O. if you can be there), 3/13 Student of the Month, 3/13 Old Saybrook P.T.O. is having a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner (see John G. for information).
John Donnelly updated our International Project that helps to purchase incubators for a hospital in Ghana. The cost to the club will be about $2,600.
Program: Ann Lander: Literacy Volunteers, Valley Shore
Ann described the group’s history, mission, impact, and financial needs. Highlights included:
Mission: To help students in the eleven towns served to improve their abilities to read, write, and speak English more fluently; to help them become better able to contribute to the community.
History: Was founded in 1980 to teach English as a second language to refugee families from Laos and Viet Nam. In 1982 LVVS began operating in the Westbrook Library and is still at that location.
Impact: LVVS has: tutored 165 students from 65 countries, trained 120 tutors, done this at no cost to the students, done this in complete confidence.
Needs: Must raise $50,000 during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, upgrade training materials, and train 50 tutors, certify them, and match them with students.
Volunteers: No specific qualifications are needed, just a desire to help others. Once trained and certified, volunteers are matched with one student (18 years old or older) and will work with that student 2 to 4 hours per week.
For more information visit the LVVS website: https://lvvs.org
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