SMLRotary

ROTARY CLUB AND MASTER GARDENERS
WORK TOGETHER TO COMBAT LOCAL HUNGER

August 4, 2011

The Franklin County Master Gardeners recently donated $750 to the Hunger and Nutrition Program sponsored by the Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake. The gardeners have been invaluable in providing financial support, gardening expertise and labor for the garden being grown at the Booker T. Washington National Monument (BTW). Fruit and vegetables from the garden are donated to Lake Christian Ministries (LCM) and used to supplement the food being given to LCM clients with the more nutritious homegrown vegetables. The club recently purchased a composter with some of the donated funds. The composter will allow for faster decomposition of organic waste resulting in a rich soil that can be returned to the garden.

To date this growing season, hundreds of pounds of fruit and vegetables have been grown and provided to LCM from the BTW Rotary garden, the Heritage garden also at BTW and from fruit and vegetables grown and donated by area farmers and individual growers.

For further information about this Rotary project or to donate excess fruit and vegetables, please contact Dave English at djenglish@hughes.net. Fruit and produce may also be dropped off at LCM or at Hot Shots Family Fun Center.

Photo 1: Composter purchased by Rotary thanks to the Franklin County Master Gardeners.

Photo 2: Some of the wonderful produce currently being harvested at the Booker T. Washington Rotary garden for delivery to Lake Christian Ministries.

Press Contact: John E. Lietz, 540-721-3330.

BEDFORD LIBRARY YOUTH SERVICES
ADDRESSES SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE ROTARY

July 28, 2011

Ms. Julie Wyatt of the Bedford Library Youth Services addressed members of the Rotary club of SML at their July 28, meeting. The Bedford library conducts a summer reading program each year for anyone who has a library card from the Bedford library system. Ms. Wyatt emphasized that you do not have to live in Bedford County in order to get a library card.

The summer reading program has seen over 2000 young people participate in this summer program. Services provided during the summer include reading programs for children of all ages, prizes for young readers who complete logs detailing the books they have read during the summer program, nature presentations including the opportunity for children to pet small animals including reptiles such as snakes and turtles.

Ms. Wyatt remarked that after the presentation on reptiles all of the youth books on snakes and turtles flew off the shelves as the young readers devoured their curiosity to learn more. Some of the other well attended events included a presentation by the Roanoke Children’s Theater and a performance by a puppeteer. Programs such as these go a long way to eliminate the summer slide in knowledge and reading ability that often occurs over the summer to many children.

Press Contact: John E. Lietz, 540-721-3330.

SML ROTARY DONATES TO LOCAL LIBRARIES -
CONTINUES SUPPORT OF LITERACY

July 22, 2011

The Rotary Club of SML has donated $500 to the Westlake and SML/Moneta libraries as part of the club’s initiative on literacy and education.  Rotary International along with Rotary District 7570  and the SML club has improving literacy a major initiative throughout the world.  Our local Rotary District, consisting of 82 Rotary Clubs, recently installed 40 roadside billboard signs throughout the District territorial area drawing attention to the importance Rotary places on literacy as part of its overall “Humanity in Motion” effort.

In addition to supporting literacy through donations to the two  local lake area libraries, the SML Rotary Club holds an annual “Excelence in Education” dinner each spring honoring the lake area elementary and Staunton River Middle School teacher’s of the year.  The club also provided over $3000 in scholarships this year to a student from both Franklin County and Staunton River High School.  The club also provided a $2,000 donation to the SML Good Neighbors Program and several members have volunteered as reading buddies for this summer enrichment program held for lake area students in both Bedford and Franklin County. The club is proud of its commitment to education and helping children in the lake area achieve their maximum potential.

The Rotary Club of SML is able to provide this help to our community due to the support it receives from local businesses and patrons who advertise, donate door prizes, and attend the club’s major fund raiser ”A Nite at the Races” and from those who purchase our beautiful frazier fir Christmas trees each year during our annual Christmas tree sale held at Hot Shots Family Fun Center.

Tickets are now on sale for the October 15, 2011, “A Nite at the Races” being held at the W.H. Skelton 4H Center in Wirtz, VA. Tickets for this evening of great fun and prizes are $35 per person, includes dinner and are available at Westlake Radio Shack, SML Chamber of Commerce, Hager Insurance Agency and Hot Shots Family Fun Center.  Come join the fun and help children in the lake area at the same time.

For further information about “A Nite at the Races” please contact Tom Cosgrove at tfcosgrove@gmail.com or by phone at 540-721-7838.

Photos:

Image Rotary Billboard:  Members of the Rotary Club of SML stand in front of a Rotary billboard near SML State Park depicting Rotary International’s emphasis on literacy and Humanity in Motion.

Image Westlake Library:  SML Rotary president Case Pieterman (left) and past president Tom Cosgrove present Westlake Branch Manager Marilyn Amerson (2nd from left) and Bonnie Johnson, VP of the library Capital Campaign with a check for $250.

Image SML Moneta:  SML Rotary president Case Pieterman (left) and past president Tom Cosgrove present SML/Moneta Library manager Rosey Clark with a check for $250.

Press Contact: John E. Lietz, 540-721-3330.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKER
VISITS ROTARY CLUB OF SML

July 11, 2014

A zither, a hammered dulcimer, a bowed psaltrie, and a appalachian dulcimer were some of the instrument demonstrated to members of the Rotary Club of SML at their July 14, meeting. Foreign named instruments perhaps to many of us, Mr. James Jones, a musical instrument maker located in Bedford VA, has been making musical instruments for over 25 years. During his presentation he demonstrated several of these very interesting pieces. Many of his instruments trace their roots to our area here in the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains. These beautifully hand crafted instruments played by Mr. Jones, created music that was both captivating and enticing.

Prices for a zither start as low as $58 and are perfect for a young aspiring musician just starting out on a percussion instrument.

Further information about Mr. Jones’ instruments can be found on his website at http://www.jamesjonesinstruments.com. He can also be reached by email at james@jamesjonesintruments.com or by phone at 540-586-6319.

Picture caption: Rotarian Randy Patterson (left) thanks musical instrument maker Mr. James Jones (center) holding one of his hand crafted instruments. At right is Rotary Club of SML President, Case Pieterman.

Press Contact: John E. Lietz, 540-721-3330.