Follow-up on dictionary project plus

Our orders are in, the District Simplified Grant check is on the way, and we should be able to distribute our dictionaries in the first week of June. Here's what our project entails:

For the Winnetka-Northfield Rotary’s literacy project, the traditional Rotary Dictionary Project (one book for every 3rd grader), will be combined with added bonus of the Ultimate Talking Dictionary (computer software that is a full dictionary that reads aloud the definitions, so that every third grader in the Winnetka and Northfield public schools(plus one dictionary for each special needs and ELL student in all grades between kindergarten and eighth grade),can not only have his or her own traditional print dictionary, but can own his or her own copy of dictionary software to look up words on a computer at school or at home. Here’s a description of the Ultimate Talking Dictionary:

The Ultimate Talking Dictionary (UTD), is not only a comprehensive dictionary, but has other robust, integrated features that make it unlike any other dictionary anywhere. Like all other Premier products, UTD reads everything to you. The dictionary contains over 250,000 words, terms, jargon, and even proper nouns like geographic entries (e.g. cities, countries) and historical persons. UTD has a complete thesaurus built-in that allow you to quickly find synonyms and their corresponding definitions. The “Power Search” feature lets you look up words when you only know a partial spelling. Premier’s unique Interlink technology incorporates complex cross-references between all words in the UTD so you can quickly find related terms and definitions, even when you only have a vague concept of a word.

1. How will this project meet the needs of the community?

Even though many of the students in these two communities have family incomes that are far above those generally viewed as in need, most, if not all, students can benefit from additional vocabulary support and encouragement. The dictionary project has repeatedly demonstrated that students feel great pride in ownership in having their own personal dictionary. Additionally, many students have some barriers to easy acquisition to vocabulary growth, whether due to unidentified or identified learning challenges, disabilities, and/or English language learning. Combining both traditional dictionaries with software versions allows equal access and provides a foundation for lifelong learning.

This is a great kickoff to the local service project our incoming president, Rich Lalley, has planned. Stay tuned...

Winnetka-Northfield Rotary wins district literacy award!

District 6440 Governor Mike Erikson announced at the Rotary District 6440 Conference that the Winnetka Northfield Rotary was one of the recipients of the District Literacy Committee's Excellence in the Promotion of Literacy Award for their numerous projects, including accessible literacy library projects which are growing beyond the local libraries toward national and international library participation. Accessible literacy projects allow all individuals, including those with disabilities, to read about their world and make it a better place.

Award-winning Literacy Projects coming soon!

The literacy committee of Rotary District 6440 just completed a video that featured some of the 2006-2007 award-winning literacy projects of the district's Rotary clubs. This video will be shown during the district's conference in Itasca, Illinois on April 25th. Check back here for a You-Tube video of these wonderful projects.

On April 26th, the 2007-2008 award winners will be announced during the awards luncheon. Check back here for a list of the winners and the great projects.

Are you going to the conference? Here's a link to the district website where you can download a registration form:
District 6440 website
Hope to see you there.
Jeanne Beckman

Rotary Gets It: Literacy Opens the World to Peace, Prosperity, and Fellowship

March is literacy month. What has your Rotary club done to support literacy in your local and global community? No project is too large nor too small for those who are of a committed and collaborative nature. Share a book, share the world.
Here is the story of Rotary:

"This is a book
That was donated to a third grade classroom
or was studied by a student abroad
or helped teach farming methods to a Ugandan villager
or maybe all of the above

Each Year, thousands of books are donated to schools, hundreds of university students receive international scholarships, and countless children and adults are taught how to read. Thanks to the 1.2 million members of Rotary who wrote the book on helping others."

Some may ask, "What's in your wallet?"
Instead, my fellow Rotarians and I ask, "What's on your bookshelf
.....and what's in your heart?"

JB

More projects!

Earlier, I listed the projects that the Winnetka-Northfield Rotary foundation had funded in 2007, but that is only the beginning. Here are a few others:

• Dirk Tussing spearheaded a library project in Vietnam that raised at least $21,000: http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/DxProgramHome/programhome.aspx?cid=2417&pid=13503&plid=2604
• Bill Johnson is tutoring with Literacy Chicago's adult literacy program, and donated approximately $200 to purchase Autoskill reading software and books: http://literacychicago.org/adult_literacy.htm
• Mike Wurzburg tutors with students at McGaw YMCA: http://www.mcgawymca.org/
• Tony Kambich donated $200 to the library accessible literacy project.
  
• Jeanne Beckman has donated $200 plus a new scanner valued at $335 to the library accessible literacy project, has facilitated/scanned over 150 hours of volunteer scanning of books to share with accessible literacy library projects and Bookshare.org, and is mentoring a local high school student with special needs who is doing a senior project that includes learning technology to access reading and writing: http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/services/SrProject/index.htm
  

I will add to this list as I obtain more details

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

To kick off literacy month (March) and celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday, Winnetka Rotarian Dr. Jeanne Beckman held a Dr. Seuss birthday party at The Book Stall in Winnetka. In addition to reading books "the old fashioned way," children (and adults) who came to the party had an opportunity to try accessible reading software by reading a Dr. Seuss book on the computer. What is your favorite Seuss book? I think mine is Green Eggs and Ham, the Number four all time rank of children's hardcover books. Stay tuned for more literacy events during the month of March.

Many thanks to The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, 811 Elm Street, Winnetka, IL
Every time I go into this store, I am struck with the wide selection of books available as well as the passions of owner Roberta Rubin and her the avid book-reading staff. The Book Stall is a local, independent bookseller, and they will order any available book or audio book. Http://www.theBookStall.com

jb

Literacy Project Update

On Saturday, February 23, we had a Rotary literacy project volunteer update, technology demonstration, and book signing. Visitors had a chance to look at Rotarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammad Yunus' new book (Creating a World Without Poverty) in both hardcover and in digital format that the computer read aloud.

Among the visitors, we had Kirk Reed, our assistant district governor. Other guests included parents, several disabled individuals, and professionals.

Visitors had hands-on demonstrations of technology that reads books, magazines (even the Rotarian), and Internet text aloud, as well as other assistive technology (tools for access). Visitors also had the opportunity to see the multiple ways in which our projects will provide digital (computer-readable) materials so that those who struggle with reading can have the same opportunities to read and learn as their peers.

If you missed this event, several more will be scheduled over the next few months. Stay tuned...

Accessible LiteracyTechnology Demonstration and Winnetka-Northfield Rotary Literacy Project Update

Meet local Rotarian and author Dr. Jeanne Beckman

What: Winnetka-Northfield Rotary Literacy Volunteers Project Update, Book signing, Technology Demonstrations

When: Saturday, February 23, 2008 11-3

Where: One Northfield Plaza, Suite 300, Northfield, IL

Special for spreading the Rotarian spirit: Bring a copy of either Muhammad Yunus book (Creating a World Without Poverty or Banker to the poor: micro-lending and the battle against world poverty) and get a free digital copy for your computer to read aloud.

Find out about

• Technology that reads any book aloud (text to speech)
• Technology that types whatever you say (voice recognition or “Dragon”)
• Technology that speaks for those with delayed, difficult to understand, or absent speech
• Technology that helps you keep track of appointments, assignments, and other important information
• How to get technology to meet your individual needs
• How to share technology for literacy through local and international Rotary literacy projects
• 10% of book sales during open house will be donated to Winnetka-Northfield Literacy Project

Audience: Information for all ages

• For more information, email Dr. Beckman at techpsych@techpsychologist.com

Excerpt from Tech Psychologist’s Guide

As you read this book

As you read this book, I also ask that you consider how you might impact others’ lives if you only had the time. It is my hope that this book will help you and your family find ways to access learning so that you will have time to more fully participate in the community, both at the local and global level.

Making our world a better place

Challenging barriers is not a pleasant stroll in the park. It drains families of energy we could spend making our world a better place. When families work together, the likelihood of creating change increases significantly. When you work together with other families and find some successes in leading change, who knows how far you can go? Maybe you can create changes outside your own communities. Can you help other families find funding sources for technology? Can you share your techniques for bringing about changes with other families?

A final thought on my own attempt at ripples of change

In my book, I challenged readers to “pay it forward” by finding ways to share what they’ve learned. My own attempt to pay it forward is that I will donate a percentage of the profit from this book to the Winnetka, Illinois Rotary Club literacy project. This project loans text-to-speech software and scanners to local public libraries, so library patrons can access all of the books within their library as well as have fully accommodated access to the Internet and digital media. We intend to have this project “paid forward” to other Rotary service clubs throughout the United States and internationally. Each of those clubs will be asked to pay the project forward to three other Rotary clubs, and so on.

For information about the project
Please contact Dr. Jeanne Beckman at 847-446-1251

or email her at techpsych@techpsychologist.com

Literacy, the Winnetka Way

Read All About It!

Literacy, the Winnetka Way

Please read about the local and international projects below and consider ways join us. Just as there are many ways to read, there are many ways to volunteer.

Contact Jeanne Beckman for more information at 847-446-1251
or email her at techpsych@techpsychologist.com

Not a Rotarian? Find out about how Rotarians around the world volunteer to make it a better place. Contact Jeanne Beckman to find out how to visit the Winnetka-Northfield Rotary or a Rotary club near your home or workplace.

December 2007

Updates

Winnetka Library project: Jeanne Beckman met with new director of Winnetka Library, David Seleb, who indicated that they are finally ready to set the club purchased accessibility software as well as the scanning hardware (donated by Beckman) in place for patrons to use in reading the Internet, books, newspapers, and other reference material within the library.

Jeanne Beckman contacted Glenview Sunrise Rotary Club, a 2007 District 6440 Literacy Award winner, in December regarding possible accessible literacy component in collaboration with their club.

Update: Jeanne Beckman met with an individual of the Glenview Sunrise Rotary Club to discuss collaboration with their current literacy projects and the ways in which accessible literacy could enhance their project.

Jeanne Beckman contacted New Trier’s Interact Club in September regarding possible volunteer participation in this project. The club sponsor indicated she would contact us when their club was ready to participate.

Update: Beckman will be meeting with the students in New Trier’s Interact Club in December to discuss participation in January of 2008

Jeanne Beckman presented our club’s accessible literacy to the Libertyville Rotary on March 19^th.

Update: The Libertyville Rotary Club has recently approved discussions regarding collaboration on accessible literacy with their current international projects. Meeting to define scope and collaboration details scheduled.

Jeanne Beckman presented our club’s accessible literacy projects to the Wilmette Harbor Rotary Club on February 21, 2007. The club has expressed interest in possible collaboration on this project.

Update: Possible collaboration still pending

November 2007

Now that we have the accessibility software and hardware for the Winnetka library project (see below), we need to schedule the presentation to the library as well as free community training sessions.

We are also ready to begin phase two: paying it forward to at least three other Rotary clubs. Here are the possible projects this committee is considering:

1. Stomp project (stompproject.org): Providing accommodated access to computers and email for those with learning disabilities who are in the military as well as for their special needs family members. Project description, collaboration with specific Rotary clubs, and proposal pending. About Stomp:STOMP is based out of Tacoma, Washington and is the only National Parent Training and Information Center for military families (both in the US as well as internationally) providing support and advice to military parents without regard of the type of medical condition their child has.
2. Microlending project whereby young teens through young adults with disabilities can borrow accessibility software and convert books for businesses and individuals for a fee. Rationale: Unemployment for those with disabilities hovers around 85%. For those who cannot read adequately, they cannot provide good parenting, cannot participate in adequate employment, and cannot participate in the political and civic processes. This project is in the development phase, but will be done both locally and internationally.
   
3. Accessibility to text in libraries in other libraries, both locally (North Chicago or Waukegan) as well as other international sites. Specific sites and respective Rotary clubs still being determined.
   

2007: Pay It Forward, the Winnetka Rotary Way!

Our Winnetka-Northfield Rotary club is implementing the pilot phase of an accessible literacy project in our own backyard, in our local library. This project lends text-to-speech software and scanners to our local public library, so library patrons can access all of the books within our library as well as have fully accommodated access to the Internet and digital media. We intend to have this project "paid forward" to at least three other Rotary service clubs throughout the United States and internationally, and will be applying for matching grants to help it grow. Already, we are funded to provide the scanning software and a club member has donated a new specialized scanner for the Winnetka library. We will be providing community training classes in using text-to-speech software for students as well as those with vision challenges.

An open house to present the software and hardware to the library as well as a fund-raising event in currently in the planning stages and hands-on volunteer sessions will be scheduled within the next few weeks.

Phase two of this project is to assist one Rotary club from a low-income community in Illinois, one from a community in another state, and one from a club outside of the U.S. Each of those clubs will be asked to pay the project forward to three other Rotary clubs, and so on. Help our club "pay it forward," to build community volunteerism, to build relationships with Rotary clubs who will "pay it forward" to make libraries accessible to those with vision and other print disabilities. There are many ways to read, and many ways to help our project grow.

2005-2006: Northwestern University Settlement Association

Our club collected and distributed over 70 new books (purchased at the Book Stall in support of a Winnetka Alliance for Early Childhood fundraiser) for the Settlement House's Head Start program.

Our club also collected, sorted, delivered, and donated 16 boxes of gently used books to the youth programs of Northwestern University Settlement House and Noble High School.

About Northwestern University Settlement Association

Since 1891 the Settlement has enabled low-income and immigrant families to reach the dream of self sufficiency. Over 9,000 neighbors benefited in one year alone through their emergency services, youth senior and community programs. There theater expanded its program, reaching over 37,000 people as audience members, artists, technicians and scholars.

District Literacy Committee website: Click here

http://www.clubrunner.ca/dprg/dxprogramhome/_programhome.aspx?did=6440&pageid=8148

Welcome to the Winnetka Rotary Literacy Projects Blog

Our new literacy committee blog will share information about our Rotary literacy projects and events associated with sharing access to the word. Please come back to find out about our past, present, and future projects.