The children at Stony Brook School in North Plainfield have an exciting new service club, thanks to Rotary.
The new EarlyAct Club is a service club for elementary-age children and has service to others as its primary focus. Kathy Lanadio, academic support teacher and adviser to the new club, was looking for a way to involve the children with the Rotary Club of Plainfield-North Plainfield. After contacting Mary Forbes, a past president of the club, Kathy pursued forming the EarlyAct Club.
“We thought it would be a great idea to start students early and get them involved in a service learning group like Rotary. The children at Stony Brook are always looking for ways to help and EarlyAct not only provides them with the opportunity to give back but also is a great way to learn leadership skills,” said Ms. Landadio. “Rotary has always been very supportive of North Plainfield School and this seemed like a great fit.
The Rotary Club purchased an all-weather banner for the kids to use with their events and for display in the school. They also provided the new EarlyAct Club with a framed charter to recognize the children’s commitment to service.
“We love the relationship that our club enjoys with the young people in North Plainfield’s schools,” said Ravenell Williams, president of the Rotary club. “Our Interact Club at the high school is a wonderful group of teenagers who love to help us with our service projects. We look forward to assisting them as mentors to the new EarlyAct members.”
The new EarlyAct Club also received Bank Bears from the Rotarians. They will use these banks to collect loose change in support of Rotary International’s initiative to eradicate the scourge of polio.
“The Rotary Foundation is making great strides and has eliminated polio from almost every country,” said Roberta Smith, the Rotary club’s Foundation Chair. “With every nickel, dime and quarter dropped into these Bank Bears, we move closer and closer to the day when polio will be totally gone. These children can help us reach that goal and can take pride in the benefit they will give to other children in countries a world away.”
North Plainfield’s Mayor Michael Giordano also participated in the EarlyAct Assembly at Stony Brook School. He presented a proclamation that recognized the children’s dedication to service and declared January 7 as “EarlyAct Club of Stony Brook School Day.”
“The children in all of our communities are the future leaders of our country,” said Ravenell Williams. “With this new service club, the students at Stony Brook School have an opportunity to learn and further develop leadership skills, teamwork, and gain the satisfaction that most of us feel when we help other people.”
More information about EarlyAct can be found at www.earlyact.org. The Rotary Club of Plainfield-North Plainfield welcomes new members who have an interest in serving others while developing new friendships. The club meets Wednesdays at 12:15 PM in Giovanna’s Restaurant, 1462 South Avenue, Plainfield. Come as a guest and see what Rotary is all about.
More information about the club can be found at www.RotaryPNP.org.
(above) Mayor Michael Giordano presents a proclamation to Stony Brook School Principal Kathy Kobylarz recognizing the new EarlyAct Club.
Photo Credit: Kathy Landadio
