The Rotary Club of Webster Groves recently expanded the Ambrose Family Center lending library. With a $2000 Community Assistance Program Grant, the club donated 165 books that provide greater depth and diversity for young readers. In recent years the Rotary Club has focused its grants on early literacy, providing books to individual families. This year, the club wanted to make books available to more families and, at the same time, provide young people with more books that featured fictional and real characters who reflect the community and give them current and historic figures who make great contributions to society but are often not recognized.
Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self guides the projects the club undertakes locally and internationally. Applying Rotary’s Four Way Test to decisions ensures that the programs meet community needs. Club President Gerry Kettenbach explained that “This year we wanted to continue supporting early literacy, but with an emphasis on the Four Way Test question ‘Is it fair to all concerned?’ In light of growing awareness that not understanding others continuing ongoing social concerns, we thought giving young readers books that have characters that look like them and characters that don’t, all of whom do great things, paves the way to a healthier society.”
The Webster Groves Rotary Club partnered with Adelaide Lancaster of We Stories, who has worked with the Ambrose Family Center for years, to curate a list of books that fill gaps in the library’s collection. Keeping things local, the club ordered from The Novel Neighbor. Working with Webster Groves School District continues ongoing partnerships, including sponsorship of the WGHS Rotoract Club, supporting their Robotics team, providing scholarships to graduating seniors, and recently contributing $2000 to the WGSD Foundation to provide aid to families affected by COVID-19.
The Rotary Club of Webster Groves will celebrate their Centennial of serving the community in 2024. Local service and partnering with clubs around the world to meet needs everywhere is the foundation all local clubs of Rotary International. The Webster Groves Rotary meets Fridays at 12:10, presently on Zoom.
