Rotary Club: eClub of District 5010 International Project Title: Taking Reading Outdoors 1. Describe the project. What was done, when and where did project activities take place? The purpose of the project was to provide new opportunities for literacy programming and community-based education at the library, providing the ability to involve a greater number of children and teens, by providing an outdoor location to supplement current indoors facilities. This project was spearheaded by the eClub of District 5010. The club worked with the Friends of the Talkeetna Library, a non-profit volunteer group, on all phases of the project. The Library will assume ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the equipment. Now that spring has finally arrived in Talkeetna, final assembly of the project is slated shortly after June 8 and will be combined with a hands-on clean-up project, by Rotarians working together with library volunteers. Following the assembly, Rotarians will be involved in other library programs, such as the children's reading groups and helping with educational classes. Note: the original grant was for the building of a gazebo to be used as part of the outdoor program; however, due to weather constraints and difficulty with a borough building permit, the purchase of picnic tables with benches and umbrellas as well as a 10' x 10' canopy tent serve the same basic function. eClub members worked closely with the library staff and volunteers to identify this alternative approach to implementation of this project. 2. How many people benefited from this project? An estimated 950 students/residents of the Talkeetna, Alaska area who are regular users and an unknown number of other visitors to the library. 3. Who were the beneficiaries, how were they impacted by this project, and what humanitarian need was met? The community of Talkeetna will benefit, with specific emphasis on students who want to improve their reading skills. Many residents and students are reluctant to go to the library during the summer months after being couped-up for a long winter. This outdoor project will be instrumental in encouraging participation in the library’s Summer Reading Program. This is an important part of the library's outreach program and dovetails with Rotary’s literacy area of focus. 4. How many Rotarians participated in the project? Eight members of eClub District 5010 5. What did they do? Please give at least two examples, not including financial support provided to the project. Members of the eClub worked closely with the staff at the library to identify needs and possible options to address those needs. They researched and acquired appropriate equipment for the setting and use. One member worked with the MatSu Borough on permitting issues. Rotarians will work with local volunteers to assist in setting up of the equipment (benches, tables, tent, umbrellas) after June 8 delivery of the new equipment and the snow has melted. They will also help clean up the area for placement of the equipment after a long winter with an out of the ordinary amount of snowfall. Members will also help the Friends of the Talkeetna Library implement their summer reading program and other activities by directly volunteering to work with students. 6. If a cooperating organization was involved, what was its role? Although the library is not an official cooperating organization (it is the beneficiary organization) The Friends of the Talkeetna Library will assume responsibility for maintaining the equipment as well as providing direct support of the summer reading program and future library projects and programs using the outdoor equipment. This organization took the lead in working with the eClub as the liaison to the library staff and Board of Directors. 7. Income
8. Expenditures
District must retain receipts of all expenditures for at least five years. Please scan and upload to the project's "Documents" tab all invoices (be sure they are marked "paid"), receipts and/or copies of checks for the full amount of the project budget. By signing this report, I confirm that to the best of my knowledge these District Grant funds were spent only for eligible items in accordance with Trustee-approved guidelines, and that all of the information contained herein is true and accurate. I also understand that all photographs submitted in connection with this report will become the property of RI and will not be returned. I warrant that I own all rights in the photographs, including copyright, and herby grant RI and TRF a royalty free irrevocable license to use the photographs now or at any time in the future, throughout the world in any manner it so chooses and in any medium now known or later developed. This includes the right to modify the photograph(s) as necessary in RI's sole discretion. This also includes, without limitation, use on or in the web site, magazines, brochures, pamphlets, exhibitions and any other promotional materials of RI and TRF.
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