Dictionaries:: Essential tools for success

  Earlier this year, the Rotary Club of Dodge City passed out over 600 large hardcover Scholastic dictionaries to every third-grader in Dodge City, Spearville and Bucklin. This is a dictionary that is child­friendly, with 35,000 entries, photos, illus­trations and a reference section contain­ing information about the solar system, international flags and U.S. presidents.
  Our members actually trekked into the classrooms, handed out each dictionary and helped each child write their first and last name in the cover of it. To date, the Rotary Club of Dodge City has passed out over 2,400 of these dictionaries in the past four years.
  Why did the Rotary Club of Dodge City do this?
  A dictionary is perhaps the first and most powerful reference tool that a child should own. Its usefulness goes beyond the spellings, pronunciations and defini­tions it lists. It is also a companion for solving problems that arise as a child develops his or her reading, writing and creative thinking abilities. Students bene­fit from an increased self-reliance and resourcefulness inspired by the maxim 'Look it up.' The importance of using a dictionary to make sure all words are spelled correctly is emphasized. This is an opportunity for children to expand their vocabulary.
  The goal of this program is to assist all students to complete the school year as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing the students with their own personal dictionaries. The dic­tionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come.
  The success of this dictionary project has been through the tireless efforts of the people who have made a personal commitment to improving literacy and the quality of life in our community. A dictionary is an essential tool for a quality education. A child cannot do his or her best work without one. Together we can make sure that every child benefits from the power of words, because that is the only way they can become self-reliant.
  Reading is the most important skill of all.
  It is the starting point for all the econom­ic and social opportunities our world has to offer.
  Our Rotary members are the breath of life of this dictionary project. All of our members made a special effort to take part in this program. A very special thanks to the businesses that also helped the Rotary Club support the cost of this project. The gift of these dictionaries would not have been possible without the help of our local business sponsors, of which there were 38. Their names are list­ed on the inside cover of each dictionary.
  Thank you all.
  Some comments from parents and stu­dents: 'My daughter brought home her Rotary dictionary today — WOW!!! I am thrilled. What nice dictionaries! When I heard of this project, I pictured some paperback, boring dictionaries, but these are terrific! The kids ought to be delight­ed! I encouraged my daughter to write you all a thank-you note, because I don't want her to take this gift for granted.
  Thanks, Rotary Club members, for invest­ing in this project filled with such prom­ise and hope.' 'Thank you so, so, so much for the dic­tionary. I looked in the book, and I loved it! And so did my parents. You guys rock!' Inside each dictionary is a sticker with the Rotary four-prong test: 'Is it the truth? Is it fair? Will it build goodwill? is it good for all?' This is what Rotary stands for. If you would like to share in this pro­gram, talk to a Rotarian. We would be happy to have you join us and work with us in helping make our community a great place to live.
  Rotarians meet every Monday at the Cowtown Club for lunch. You are wel­come.
  On behalf of the Rotary Club of Dodge City,
  KURT SCADDEN, PRESIDENT, 2008-2009.