[1260International] Dictionaries 4 Life-a great oportunity to make a differece

[John Moss]

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

Most of you will be aware that one of Rotary International's objectives is to tackle illiteracy in the world. With that in mind the Rotary club of Tower Hamlets has produced the most amazing beautifully illustrated dictionary for children 9 and older which has sold out.

Whoever represented your club at the District Council meeting on the 15th July might have picked up a 'Dictionary 4 Life' leaflet describing a new print run of an international version to be printed later in the year. It is aimed at children of developing countries where English is one of the official languages and it will cost just £2. per copy. Fantastic value and what's more orders over 300 will be delivered to any port in the world for free!

Your club may well be considering buying some dictionaries but hold on a second, we can do something special here. If  Clubs in District can raise £2,400, which is roughly $4,000, we can get $3,000 of District Funding and apply for a Matching Grant.  If successful, the Rotary Foundation would match the DDF 100% and the
club contributions by 50%. In other words Foundation would add $5,000 to the project which just happens to be the minimum that can be applied for.

We would now have $12,000 which would buy 3750 dictionaries at a notional cost to clubs of only 67 pence per book. So please clubs, can you spare £100 or maybe £200 to make this work? If we are to stand a
chance with a Matching Grant application we will have to submit it very soon, as Foundation funds are running out alarmingly fast, but it is worth a try.

Time is not on our side and I am asking if your club could make a quick decision, really quick, like in the next week or so. I feel sure your club will support this opportunity to join in with this project so I am asking for Club pledges at this stage of £100 (or even better £200). Please ping an e-mail off to me and let me know your club's response and then ask your treasurer to send your Club cheque, made out to D1260 (Foundation)  to; Tony Egington (Assistant Treasurer) 11 Highfield Road, Northwood, Bucks HA6 1EU. Please write D4L on the back of the cheque. 

We have in mind dozens of very rural schools in KwaZulu Natal that would benefit hugely from a gift of dictionaries and a good Rotary based distribution facility available to us. However, If your club has contacts abroad that would benefit from this project please let me
know.

All Club contributions will attract Paul Harris Fellowship credits and will be publicised worldwide. 

Thank you Rotarians, with your help we can do something special here.

John Moss, District 1260 International Committee
Phone 01908 670678