Community Service Avenue of Service Activities for 2008 - 2009

Community ServiceThis “Avenue” relates to the activities that Rotarians undertake to improve the quality of life in their community. 

Particular emphasis is given to helping children, needy families, the aged, the handicapped, and those most in need of assistance. 

Rotarians strive to promote the ideal of service in their personal, business, and community lives.

Sub Committees

• Bob Burkett – Water Conservation• Larry Creech – CASA• Andy Tice – REAP• Mary Moreillon – Rolling Hills• Myra Sanderson – Habitat• Ed Stone – Clock Tower• Jake Jacobson – Co-Chairperson (initially Joe Bergantz)

Habitat for Humanity Rotary Days

• Organized two Rotary days one at the end of the Fall blitz build in October, and the other at the end of the Spring blitz build in March.

• Rotarians donated a half day or a full day working on the last touches to the Habitat Home before it is turned over to the new owner.

• Duties involve activities such as, laying sod, other minor landscaping, wiring external lights (e.g. porch lights), and applying the final portions of vinyl siding.

CASA Wheel Chair Ramps• Organized and built 4 wheel

chair ramps, three last Fall and one this Spring

• Each ramp built involved about 12-15 Rotarians donating a Saturday to help build the ramps for disabled elderly people

• Teamed with CASA in this effort over the past four years

CASA Winterization Project • CASA (Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound)

is a non-profit organization whose main focus is to help Madison County’s senior citizens live more independently.

• Provided volunteers to work on the CASA Weatherization program that occurs each year. The program identifies households that are in need of weatherization (weather stripping, caulking, storm doors, covering windows with plastic sheeting, insulating water pipes, and replacing smoke detector batteries)

• Winterized two homes in the Huntsville area for weatherization with ten volunteers

Rotary Clock Project • Finalized installation • Transitioned into the long-term

sustainment • Installed the fourth cast bronze plaque • Installed the last street lamp• Established the Rotary Clock Circle

Landscape Committee• Exploring additional brick sale

opportunities for the purpose of adding to the environment

Clean Water Initiative

• Participated in the Madison County Clean Water festival held at the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) in April

• Donated funding for and manned a booth that makes presentations to all the Madison county fourth graders on how they can help conserve water and keep it pure/clean

Rolling Hills Elementary Reading Program

• Established a solid foundation for the program by defining volunteer roles and duties

• Provided volunteers on a weekly basis to help select Rolling Hills students learn to read (acting as a reading tutor)

• Helped students perfect reading and / or mathematics skills (acting as a tutor), or helped by being a lunch buddy for a child

• Facilitated the presentation of donated books (from Alice and Stacy De Smet) -- received publicity in the Huntsville Times for the project

• Participated in a District wide distribution of “CARE” packages to deployed soldiers and civilians

• Sent Holiday greeting cards to wounded soldiers returning to Andrews AFB

• Provided vouchers to family members of deployed military to help with putting food on the table (Commissary Vouchers) and in the summer allowing youth to attend MWR summer activities that they normally could not afford

Rotary Assistance to Families of Deployed RSA Military Members

The Rotary Education Assistance Program

• Provided $19,500 in direct aid to the students in the Huntsville City School System and the foster children of Madison County.

• Represents a 15% increase over the last fiscal year made possible by a $2,000 grant from Rotary International through a direct district grant and additional funds provided by the club beyond the $12,000 raised by the Gala for the program.

Watch for our project announcements and join the team as Rotarians we

serve the community