By Suzanne Schmidt
Staff Writer
Fifth-graders walked into the media center at Watergrass Elementary to see two Rotarians waiting for them.
Ben Alexander and John LoBlack were ready to teach the children about Rotary and more importantly to hand out dictionaries.
The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise collaborated to provide all fifth-graders in Wesley Chapel’s eight public schools with dictionaries. Over the last couple weeks, Rotarians from both clubs handed out 867 dictionaries.
George Schwappach is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and a former president. He helped to organize the event.
“Each year we find a sponsor that pays for the bulk of the dictionaries and the club makes up for the rest,” Schwappach said. “Every fifth-grader gets a dictionary. When we started doing this project five years ago we only had three schools, now the amount has more than doubled.”
Watergrass Elementary fifth-grader Tiye Flavien, 11, said she loves her new dictionary so much, she plans to keep it forever.
“I think it is pretty cool,” Flavien said. “I was surprised. Before today, I didn’t know anything about the Rotary. I like the dictionary because now I can look up words I don’t know for FCAT.”
Watergrass principal Scott Mitchell enjoyed having Rotarians at the school because his students were able to learn something.
“It is good for them to hear from an organization like that,” Mitchell said. “It is a good model for them. It is really nice for them to have access to their own dictionary. They will not get far in their educational career if they can’t speak the language very well. The more words they have at their disposal, the better off they are.”
Alexander, Rotarian in the Wesley Chapel Rotarian club, said he enjoyed giving a speech to the students.
“Being a Rotarian is all about giving back to the community,” Alexander said. “I wanted to be here because I love the Rotary.”
Rotary clubs from across the country do this service project every year along with many others like helping to eradicate polio. The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel also raises money to send children to a Rotary summer camp in Florida and hosts a barbecue at Baldomero Lopez Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes.
“The Rotary club focuses on health and humanities,” Schwappach said. “The Rotary has been involved with education for almost 100 years. In order to help the world improve, you have to make sure to educate the next generation.”
Schwappach said he has been a Rotarian for almost 30 years because he loves what Rotary stands for.
“When I was young, I wanted to change the world and Rotary gives me the chance to do that,” Schwappach said. “I was first attracted when I saw the four-way test in my doctor’s office. I was so impressed with it because I felt it reflected my personal values. He invited me to a Rotary meeting. I was attracted to the club because of the principles but I also like it because of the fellowship. Most of my best friends are Rotarians.”
The four-way test is something all Rotarians are supposed to ask themselves about the things they say and do. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Lynne Wilson, Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise, is a past president of the club and currently the treasurer.
“I was looking to get more involved in the community in addition to the selling I do for my job,” Wilson said. “I was seeking a balance. I stayed with the club because of the fellowship. Of all the service organizations, this uses the money they collect in the most responsible way.
Literacy is something Wilson believes is very important.
“In a lot of homes, children do not have their own books and in some homes the parents are illiterate,” Wilson said. “The confidence a child can receive from having their own book is incredible. The child may even possibly help the parent learn to read.”
Wilson learned from her friend Susan Fischer, fifth-grade teacher at Watergrass Elementary, that having a dictionary is much more valuable then using Google.
“I asked a teacher friend of mine why it is important to have a dictionary,” Wilson said. “I was wondering why a student couldn’t just use Google. With Google you can’t look at the word before or after like you can in the dictionary. You can learn more words with a dictionary.”
Both Rotary Clubs are seeking new members. The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. every Friday morning at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club House, 26140 Lexington Oaks Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. For more information, visit www.wesleychapelrotary.com.
The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel meets from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. every Wednesday at the Los Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant, 5335 Village Market in Wesley Chapel until the end of March. Starting in April, the club will meet at Saddlebrook Resort, 5700 Saddlebrook Way. For more information, visit www.rotaryofwesleychapel.com.
