CLUB 470 * DISTRICT 5160 * ORGANIZED APRIL 29, 1926 MEETING DATE: Sept. 27, 2016www.rotary5160.org www.woodlandrotary.org

Today's Meeting President Gary opened the meeting. David Janes led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Steve Venables led us in the Rotary Grace.

Visiting Rotarians/Guests Nick Ponticello and Robert Wallace were visiting from Woodland Sunrise. There were no guests.

Announcements Chuck Moore did Meals on Wheels. Barbara Sonin is doing the Splinter, and Laurie Ruiz is taking pictures.

There was a reminder of the salmon barbecue being held by Woodland Sunrise on October 1. Robert Wallace was present with tickets.

On October 5, there will be dedications of the projects funded by last year’s dinner-auction. At 8:30 the Communicare Clinic will

host a thank-you for the expansion afforded by the funding, and at 10:00 the Ruby Falls play structure will be dedicated at Green Gage School.

Work on the utility enclosure at Gibson House will begin October 15. Members were urged to “get your work clothes out.”

The Board approved $500 toward the multi-club project to build a shade structure at 4th and Hope. Work is expected to begin sometime in October, and members should expect an opportunity for hands-on participation in that project as well.

Kris Kristensen announced that the Endowment Board will hold a meeting after the lunch meeting on October 11.

Gary Wegener said he had met with a student leader and the student activities advisor regarding launching Interact at Woodland High School. Gary said that the student will select a day of the week for the club to meet, and then some Rotary members will meet with them.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Carl Rodegerdts was born on Sept. 22, 1936 at the original Woodland Clinic.

George Berrettoni has an anniversary on October 2. They were married 34 years ago in Yuba City. George credited his wife with teaching him how to dress.

Recognition

Gary Bunch led recognition.

Don Huff III put in $100 in honor of his oldest son’s marriage in Santa Rosa the previous weekend.

Gary Bunch said his daughter was getting married the following weekend, and he was putting in $5 while he still had it.

Bob Nolan said he and his wife just returned from a trip down the Rhine. They added a few days in Switzerland, where he ran into Tom LaBrie, who was on his way to a cruise down the Danube. In France, he saw a large monument to Americans who died in a large battle the same time as the Battle of the Bulge. He also saw a statue to Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in American history. Bob said he was saying all this to let people know that many French people like Americans.

Vanessa put in $5 in honor of her birthday the following day.

David Janes put in $5 to ask “What happened to the Aggies?” He said he was very glad to have Bob back.

Clancy said watching the debates was instructive. He now knows it’s ok to lie.

Frank Gardner said he had been stuck in traffic for hours trying to get back from Tahoe, and only the scores of bikers cutting through were making progress. He wondered why Gary hadn’t been to the motorcycle convention. Gary said he would have been, but had his 50th high school reunion.

Tabb said that last year he had reported on taking their daughter to college, only to bring her back home. This year they took her to a college even further away, and brought her back home. Next year she’s going to try a school closer to home.

Don Huff was asked the exact date Woodland Rotary was organized. He was close, but off by a month.

Les Englemann was asked what establishment in Woodland was celebrating its 90th anniversary the following day. He correctly answered Nugget Market. Laurie was asked whether the store was doing anything special for a celebration; she didn’t know.

Kevin Vaziri was asked about the new medical facility by Costco. He said one of the best things is the parking available at that facility, since parking is such a problem at the facility on the west side. He said the new clinic will also be more convenient for people living on that end of town, and for people in Davis. Urgent Care has been moved to the new facility, and will be open seven days a week, and for longer hours. The expansion also allows Dignity to hire more doctors.

Mahlon said he’s very happy that the tomato harvest is almost over, because he’s very allergic to tomato mold.

Rags to Riches

Scott Johnson won a free lunch.

Today’s Program

Scott Johnson introduced Abigail Craig, Children’s Librarian at the Woodland Library, to talk about the library’s Early Literary Program.

Ms. Craig has been a librarian a little over two years, after being an educator in Montessori for over twenty years.

She asked for a show of hands of those who had been to the library. Virtually all hands went up. She then asked people who had a library card to raise their hands. Fewer hands went up. She then said that the first four people who held up their library card would get a prize. Four cards went into the air.

Ms. Craig asked what people thought early literacy was. One person said it was reading to the little ones in the womb. She said that was a

great idea. She said that early literacy is NOT pushing children to read earlier. It’s working with children ages 0-5 to lay the foundation for their future success.

Ms. Craig discussed the five aspects of early literacy.

(1) TALK. Studies have shown that by the age of four children from low-income families have heard 30 million fewer words than children from higher-income households. Hearing words from a screen is not the same as having a person talk to the child. Children have to learn from a face.

(2) SING. Ms. Craig said that singing is a great way to introduce language, because the syllables are drawn out. She pointed out that children are not music critics, and love to hear singing, even from people who don’t think they sing well.

(3) READ. Children should be read to every day. It’s another way they hear words, and it teaches them to value reading.

(4) WRITE. Writing helps children learn fine motor skills. Ms. Craig reminded members of a baby’s excitement when they learn the pincer motion needed to pick up Cheerios. She said that in Montessori they prefer pencils to markers, because the child has to push down on the pencil to make a mark.

(5) PLAY. Play teaches children to plan and to work together, and builds both large and small motor skills. Ms. Craig said parents today are too quick to entertain children, and said there is value in boredom.

Ms. Craig also described the Very Ready Reading Program. The library holds story times for children beginning in infancy, in both English and Spanish. When parents bring their children to the story times, they also receive tip sheets on how to work with their children to increase their readiness for school. The families coming to story time receive bags with tags attached. Each time they come, a hole is punched in the tag. When all holes are punched, they receive a free book. Studies have shown that the number of books in a home is as important an indicator of future school success as the parents’ educational level.

Each story time is targeted to the developmental level of the children. Infant story time is really for the parents, to show them how they can read to their children; the children sit on their parent’s laps. Toddler stories are short, for their short attention spans, and include lots of opportunities for movement. The “more sophisticated” preschoolers listen to a whole book and then do a craft.

The library has launched “book bikes”, small mobile libraries which go out to parks, schools, and community gatherings like Movies on Main. They have books to give away, which they buy by the pallet.

Ms. Craig said that members can help by putting out fliers about story time at their businesses, by hosting a book bike at their facility, and of course by contributing funds.

Ms. Craig pointed out that the library also has many opportunities for adults in addition to the large collection of books. There are book clubs in English and in Spanish. There is a “Crafternoon” one Saturday a month, where adults gather to do various crafts in the library. Construction will start at the end of the year for a maker space in the basement of the library. The city is providing funds, and some matching funds have been received. There will be laser cutters, a 3D printer, screen printing, fiber arts, and a wood shop. The library will be looking for people to teach these skills as well as people who want to learn them and people who want to use the facilities to create new business opportunities in the city.

Ms. Craig was asked what she thought about universal pre-school. She said Montessori has tended to oppose it, because it would cut into their student pool. However, Ms. Craig supported it, because of the importance of social skills learned at that age. She said many parents are too busy to nurture their children, and to teach them skills like telling time and tying their shoes. She said pre-school doesn’t need to be academic.

Ms. Craig was asked what can be done about the terrible test scores. She said the library has been working with the schools to get books into the hands of third graders, and encourage them to read. But now they’re going to begin working with first graders. She said one of the biggest issues is the importance of modeling reading to children.

One member wondered whether there have been studies on reading comprehension when reading is done on a screen versus in print. Ms. Craig said studies have shown there is more retention when the reading is from a book. She said it’s not the young people using e-readers. She said those are used by retired people. Young people prefer physical books.