Literacy

Rotary International Literacy Resource Group

General Coordinator: PDG Richard Hattwick, richardhattwick@bellsouth.net

Assistant General Coordinator:PDG Lina Aurelio, lina.aurelio@gmail.com

North American Area Coordinator: PDG Roger Hayward, rhayward@sympatico.ca

Zone 30 Coordinator: PDG Shawn Asmuth, dgshawn05@charter.net
Zone 31 Coordinator: PDG Don Wasson, dwsw@webzone.net

Reading, writing, numeracy and character literacy are essential to independence and economic freedom. Far too many adults in North America and the developing countries live in poverty today because they have not mastered those literacy’s. Far too many children are currently at risk of falling into the same trap. Illiteracy is one of the world’s most serious problems.

For that reason, every district in zones 30 and 31 has been asked by President John Kenny to participate in the work of the RI Literacy Resource Group. Each district governor should respond to this request for service above self by:

1. Making sure that each club in the district receives the information passed to the district by the zone literacy coordinator.
2. Encouraging each club to report its literacy work to the district and passing that information on to the zone coordinator.
3. Encouraging the assistant district governors to motivate their clubs to plan for and earn one or more of the literacy awards available to clubs. The DISTRICT LITERACY AWARD FOR CLUBS requires 5 literacy projects. The ZONE LITERACY AWARD FOR CLUBS requires 10 literacy projects. The specific project requirements are listed in the download section of this web site.
4. Encouraging all clubs to participate in the celebrations of International Literacy Day (September 8^th) and RI Literacy Month ( March 2010). 
5. Encouraging all clubs capable of doing so to undertake literacy projects addressing one or more of the special emphases identified by the RI Literacy Resource Group. See the literacy download section on this web site.

The RI Literacy Resource Group alerts clubs and districts to literacy project opportunities in three ways. First, a list of project ideas, club literacy awards and special project emphases is mailed to all districts at the beginning of the new Rotary year. This list is also maintained throughout the year on President John Kenny's web pages ( See the section on his resource groups). Second, a monthly newsletter provides updates and reminders. Third, special mailings are used as opportunities present themselves.

No Rotarian Left Behind Literacy Test (will be back soon)