ROTARY MAKES HELPING PERSONAL.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Sometimes it isn't the check you write that makes the giving rewarding.

John Fuller, a retired California Institute of the Arts administrator and Rotary Club member, found himself in a classroom at Newhall Elementary School this week, working with a second-grader on her language and spelling.

On Friday, his fellow Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club members presented eight boxes of books to the school during its awards ceremonies. The storybooks will be distributed through the classrooms and school library.

Some Rotarians are taking it a step further, spending at least an hour a week reading to students or groups during story time. Some, like Fuller, work one on one with children to help them polish their literacy skills.

``I'm trying to get her up to speed on reading and spelling. I hope it makes a difference,'' Fuller said. ``Rotary took this on as a project because it was something we could do and be of help. Kids who can't read are at a disadvantage, so several of us agreed to do this.''

Fuller hopes to continue at the school to watch students' progress.

``I know we'll be here at least until the end of the school year,'' he said. ``I hope they would pick up the program next year so we can continue.''

Ed Bolden found himself in Kathy Caswell's first-grade class two weeks ago. But instead of reading to the students, he was entertained by them.

``The first time, the kids had a story they practiced and they read to me,'' he said. ``That was really impressive. It's a fun opportunity and the kids are cute and I'm glad I'm doing it.''

``The teacher told this little girl, 'Read this to him with emphasis and emotion' and she starts waving her arms like a big bear,'' he said, laughing. ``It's unreal, it really is.''

Rotarians are not new to volunteering,'' said club President Mary Ann Colf. ``It's easy to write a check. We not only donate money but we give goods and services as well.''

Rotary Club started in 1905 when a handful of businessmen wanted to make a difference in their community and over the next 99 years it evolved into an international service group. Colf said that to commemorate the group's centennial, SCV Rotary is creating a meditation garden near the city's aquatics center.

Sherry Bell, chairwoman of the club's Youth Committee, said the literacy project is only one of several aimed at helping young people in Santa Clarita.

``We have our Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, where we get two or three students from each high school and send them to a camp in Malibu,'' she said. ``There are lots of programs for kids from broken homes or at-risk children. This program doesn't always involve the athletes or social achievers; these kids have at least a 3.0 grade-point average and are just good kids. We consider them our future leaders.''

While at the camp, participants learn to apply the Rotary 4-Way test to their lives: Is it the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it bring good will and better friendships, and will it be beneficial to all concerned?

``We give them different peer pressure incidents and ask them to apply the test,'' Bell said. ``It helps them become aware of how they affect others, as well as develop their communication and leadership skills.''

In addition, Bell said she hopes to re-establish Interact clubs on all area high school campuses by September. Interact is the high school version of a regular Rotary club; members provide service to their school and community by donating their time and talents.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Newhall Elementary students can't believe their eyes Friday as hundreds of storybooks are rolled in. Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club gave eight cartons of books to the school library.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer