OCTOBER 16, 2009
COMMUNITY
THEPRESS.NET
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17A
Rotary means service
Photo by Richard Wisdom
New Kiwanis board The Kiwanis Club of Brentwood recently installed new members to its board of directors. From left are incoming Secretary Tom Ontis, Kiwanis Division 26 Lt. Gov. Jim Sullivan (who officiated at the induction and who is also a member of the Brentwood club), incoming President Val Thompkins and incoming Vice President Jeff Schults. The other members of the board are Treasurer John Jewell (also immediate past president), Mervin Rose and Fred Urbin. The Kiwanis Club of Brentwood meets every Friday at Perko’s Cafe, 1135 Second St. in Brentwood. To learn more about Kiwanis, call Rick at 925-634-1441.
To celebrate Constitution Day, Sept. 17, members of the Antioch and Delta Rotary clubs distributed free copies of the U.S. Constitution to all the approximately 1,500 eighth-grade students in Antioch’s four middle schools. As part of Rotary International’s emphasis on literacy, both clubs have for many years given free dictionaries to third-grade students in Antioch, and will do so again this month. This year, however, Antioch Club President Allen Payton chose to include constitutions for the older students. “It’s a small way we can help our students learn more about our country and government,” Payton said. “I’m hoping this is something we’ll continue each year. I’d like to thank each of the principals, as well as the Delta Club members, for their assistance.” The Rotarians spoke to students in assemblies at both Dallas Ranch and Park middle schools, and in classrooms at Antioch and Black Diamond middle schools. Students read from the preamble and a few of the amendments. Project Coordinator Devi Lanphere developed “fun facts” about the Constitution, which she used to question the students’ knowledge.
The pocket-size copies included both the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and a place for the students to sign their name. Since 1947 the Antioch Rotary Club has served the Antioch community with a variety of service projects, including curb cuts in downtown Rivertown, building the gazebo and helping fund the Sports Legends wing at the Antioch Historical Society museum, coats for kids and food for the hungry. In addition, Antioch Rotarians started and support a vision and dental clinic, and a library in Zimba, Zambia. They meet Thursdays at noon at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center. Rotary International is a 1.2 million member service organization made up of business and community leaders in 33,000 clubs in more than 150 countries throughout the world. Its efforts have led to the virtual eradication of polio, and the promotion of literacy, clean water, health, hunger and disaster relief programs and projects throughout the world. For more information or to join Rotary, visit www.antiochrotary. com.