Rotary Clubs Distribute Dictionaries

Prattville, AL, November 16, 2010: Members of both the Prattville Rotary Club and the Prattville/Millbrook Sunrise Rotary Club spent most of Monday morning back in elementary school. These community leaders, in partnership with The Malone Family Foundation of Alabama, distributed personal dictionaries to all Autauga County 3rd grade students.
Members went door-to-door to each classroom handing out these valuable reference books and presenting a short presentation of the Rotary 4-Way Test:

Of the things we think, say or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

"It’s very important for (students) to have a dictionary," according to Prattville Elementary School Principal Felissa Armistad. Research indicates that third grade is the appropriate time for beginning use of a dictionary and data shows that most third graders in Alabama do not have personal dictionaries. Without access to a dictionary, learning both inside and outside the classroom is limited.

Dictionary distribution to local students is one of many service projects by Prattville and Millbrook Rotarians each year. This year’s project is part of Rotary District 6880’s effort to distribute dictionaries to 23,000 third graders at 400 elementary schools in 31 counties across South Alabama.

Rotarian Mac Gipson gives a dictionary to Prattville Elementary School student John David McIntosh as part of Rotary’s effort to provide dictionaries to 23,000 third grade students across South Alabama.