Rotary International Motto is Service Above Self
Northern California Club Places Priority on Serving Community Youth
Jun 30, 2009
Long before President Obama put out the call for citizens to take part in volunteer efforts, members of Rotary clubs have been making community service projects one of their on-going top priorities.
Rotary International is an organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Rotarians provide humanitarian service, promote high ethical standards in all vocations and promote worldwide peace and goodwill. Their motto – Service Above Self – says it all.
Scotts Valley Club Funds Alcohol and Drug Program
The Rotary Club of Scotts Valley, CA supports a program headed by member Georganna Hildebrand addressing drug and alcohol abuse in the local high school. The club provides additional funding for counselor Mike Leimbach to work with the students. Mike lives in Scotts Valley, went to SV schools and is a counselor for Youth Services, a Santa Cruz County family support agency.
In an email message to the club on June 11, 2009, Mike wrote, " Since establishing the drug & alcohol intervention group two years ago, we’ve received positive feedback from students, parents, and staff. We have learned that providing support and education in addition to clear consequences offers a more productive approach, creating a better opportunity to assist our students through the challenges they experience.”
After School Group Sessions
The education series, consisting of eight one-hour meetings per week are held after hours on the Scotts Valley High School campus. Curriculum is designed to increase the offending student’s ability to self-assess patterns of substance usage and the subsequent problems caused.
Objectives of Meetings
- To understand the fundamental concepts of abuse, addiction and dependence
- To provide awareness of the physical, emotional and social risks and consequences of using alcohol and drugs
What is Covered
Week 1 - Introductions, confidentiality, rules, handouts and goals. Question for the week: “How did you get here?”
Week 2 - “What’s good to you about drugs and alcohol?” Videos, handouts, discussion
Week 3 - “What’s bad about drugs and alcohol?” Videos, handouts, discussion
Week 4 - “What is Cycle of Addiction?” Video, handouts, discussion
Week 5 - Impact on family, friends, school. Video, handouts, discussion
Week 6 - How drugs and alcohol work in brain-reward center activity in adolescents
Week 7 - Drug “Jeopardy” psycho-education game to assess knowledge and make connections from previous group education/discussion. Handout, questions
Week 8 - Twenty Questions handout and discussion. “What did the group do/not do for you?” Address initial goals. Video, discussion, each member’s summary, closing
Testimonial for Program Support
On June 29th, 2009, Rotarian Susan P. Silver, Scottls Valley Unified School District Superintendent wrote in a message to chairperson Georganna Hildebrand,
"Because students are not available to meet during the school day, it has been a wonderful gift that Rotary has provided – allowing Mike, who is especially trained in drug and alcohol abuse intervention, to work with students after hours. It is a highly-valued resource for which we have all been very grateful."
She concluded with a thank you for past support and asked for the club's continued help in 2009-10.
Learn More About Rotary Club Projects
The project detailed above is only one of the numerous efforts performed daily by Rotary club members around the world. An added by-product is the shared sense of camaraderie felt among the group.
There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
Related Article by June Smith - Child Abuse Awareness
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