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Rotarian DeAnn Miller distributed dictionaries at the West Hazleton Elementary School.

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Kathy Oh, Lisa Marie Halecky and Paul Oswald were also out with our 3rd graders.

New dictionaries are given annually by the Rotary Club of Hazleton to third graders in all of the Hazleton Area Elementary Schools (except Freeland which is covered by Freeland Rotary).  This community service project has been a Rotary event since 2001.
The Rotary Club motto is “Service Above Self” and the club is involved in various community activities, but particularly enjoys this one as a way for the club to introduce young people to the “wonder of words”. Many local children lack internet access, and these dictionaries give them all a common starting point, while making classroom dictionary exercises possible.  Project Chairman John Beltrami says, “We all know a dictionary can make many reading and writing tasks much easier, but the joy and wonder expressed by these students when they receive a new book is the biggest thank you of all for the club”. 
John was assisted in this project by Rotary Club members John Schwear, Ron Kutchmarick, David McCarthy, Paul Brenner, Gary Lagana, Mary Ann Feno, Pat Ward, Bill Pavlick, Donna Palermo, Paul Oswald, Lisa Halecky, Katherine Oh, Tom Lagana, DeAnn Miller, Donna Barna, Toni Frumkin, Erin O’Donnell, David Pedri, Dorothy Anderson, John Madden and Pat Korb.  Over 900 dictionaries are being delivered to area students this year. Rotary Club President John Madden says, “This has always been one of my favorite Rotary projects and the reason can be found in this quote from Mary French, The Dictionary Project.  “I love my iPad and I rely on my smart phone throughout the day to stay in touch with people from all over the world.  However, despite my enjoyment of such technology, I continue to learn using the dictionary that I keep on my desk.  It is still an essential tool for learning”. Funds for this project are provided by the Club’s November Poinsettia Sale.