Thanks and Education

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Sandy Fink celebrated a few dollars for “the great hospitality of Art and Robin Rudd and the wonderful weather and for the Club’s support of all the Holmes School projects during the year.

 

            Steve Boharshi was happy about his fishing trip to Alaska.

 

            Colin Prestesater added $2 for getting some yardwork done in his new house and for a nice outing at the Spokane Indians, which won the game.

 

            Lenore Romney was happy to meet up with 15 relatives for a three day reunion in New Jersey.

 

             Steve Perry also shared how enjoyable the gathering was at the Rudd’s home last Friday evening.

 

         

           The year-end club dinner June 24 offered splendid weather, excellent wine and food and hours of casual conversation at the home and gorgeous garden of Art and Robyn Rudd.

 

            Some 25 club members and spouses joined the gathering on a perfect early evening.

 

            Raise a toast to our hosts and their wonderful planning.

 

           

            As the Rotary year closes, we say goodbye to board member Steve Perry.  Steve has been a Rotarian 32 years at clubs in Oregon, California and in Spokane-North the past several years.

 

            Steve said he resigned to work on other duties.  We wish Steve and wife Bernie all the best and welcome both of them anytime to meetings, projects and activities.

 

           

            Education has changed in recent years, and not always for the better.

 

            Sandy Fink described some of the changes in chatting with Holmes Elementary Principal Kale Colyar, who was scheduled to attend the club’s June 27 meeting, but unable to attend as he was interviewing staff applicants.      

 

            Sandy, a career educator and former North Central High School principal, said five or six teachers and counselors are moving to middle schools as Holmes’ new 6^th graders will also now move.

 

            While they talked during the club-sponsored Golden Heroes programs, Sandy said Kale noted how many students at various grades – if they do not like the class material – now just leave their computers or walk out of class.

 

            “Never in all my years would anyone do that,” Sandy said.

 

            Sandy, who has worked in the Holmes school library and with the administrators for many years, said she is sorry that Counselor Grant Caldwell, will also be leaving Holmes in order to work at one of the new middle schools.

 

            “He has been one of the people who worked out all the details for our club projects, she said.

 

            She mentioned the importance of our club’s $1,500 a year for the principal’s emergency fund, which enables the school to provide coats and other clothing items needed by students.

 

            Sandy also talked about Holmes’ “Dining at the Ritz,” an annual time when 6th graders dress in their best clothing, including coats and ties, and learn dining etiquette “like they were dining at the Ritz” hotel.

 

            Lenore Romney, a longtime mentor at Holmes, said when the event nears “that is all they live for.”  Hopefully, the program will continue next year for the 5^th graders.

 

            Sandy also noted that the club-funded multi-year program for library books is ending.  She cited club member Art Rudd for his support for the book program.  She said Art has also wondered if some students could be sent to a camping event or RYLA-like program.  Art responded: “Could we do both (books and camp)?”

 

             Kale Colyar said he was sorry to miss the June 27 meeting, but will attend a club meeting in August.

 

          

            At the July 11 meeting, the club plans to honor its two Gerald Saling Scholarship winners.  The scholars are Izabella Maddaloni of Shadle Park, and Marrisa Bell of Rogers High.

 

            As scholarship liaison Brian Hipperson noted that once again, applications for our scholarship were fewer than in pre-pandemic years. 

 

            Last year, just one $1,500 scholarship was awarded.  And that was the only applicant.

 

            Brian said at the five schools – Rogers, Shadle Park, North Central, Community School and On-Track --it’s not for lack of trying.

 

            At Rogers, for example, Brian said, one counselor “personally approached them (students) to talk about the scholarship opportunities.  “We push, push, push” the counselor said, but with no results.

 

            Asked about the amount, Bill Simer and Gary Bowe of the Deer Park club, who help administrate the area club scholarships, both said $1,500 is still the right amount.  Bowe, who was attending our club meeting, said his club also has had fewer scholarship applicants.

 

            Brian said the scholarship committee has talked about improving the application announcements, by starting announcements earlier in the school year and even by attending career-day programs.

 

            “There are no definite solutions,” he said.  “We will continue to try, but it seems there are many students who just don’t want to go to college right now.”

 

            Another option may be to open the scholarships to community college students returning for a second year, as the late Gerald Saling was president of the Spokane Community Colleges.

 

Bulletin editors: Chuck Rehberg and Sandy Fink