EarlyActTM   EarlyAct Chairman Chuck Snyder-Hinsdale 630-325-2043 iamisutu@aol.com Committee John Keane - Oak Forest 708-687-7747 jkeane99@gmail.com Chuck Johnson, PDG (815) 942-3722 Cjohnson0969@comcast.net DG Sue and EarlyAct Chair Chuck presented Charters to Millennium School and Westmont Jr. High EarlyAct Clubs at the Dec 9th Conference Click on the Check Mark for our Downloads Click HERE for EarlyAct Power EarlyAct`s Own On-Line Newsletter! Click HERE for EarlyAct Advisor Forum Adobe Reader 5.0 or newer is required to view these materials. A link to Adobe Website is on the home page. Reflections on the First EarlyAct Conference In the District 6450 “Birth Place of Rotary”    Congratulations to the 34 people that attended the first EarlyAct District Conference on December 9, 2006.  Our objectives were simple: to hear from our EarlyAct Clubs, share ideas and get to know each other.  And it worked.  Time passed quickly as information was presented from each of the clubs forming the panel of experts. Great questions came from the audience highlighting the challenges of organizing a club within school environments already filled with competing activities.     The three groups represented at the conference were: teachers, principals and club sponsors who are actively involved with an EarlyAct Club; Rotarians and school personnel interested in starting an EarlyAct club; and District leadership.    Reports from the EarlyAct clubs were impressive.  Creative energies were evident in how the various clubs were organized, how they select their leadership and conduct their meetings, how they identify and implement their projects and how they build interest and enthusiasm in their schools. The club profiles from kindergarten to 8th grade enriched the conference and showcased the range of options available to schools and Rotary Clubs.   The opportunities we now have are: to capture the enthusiasm and channel it to our existing EarlyAct clubs, to continue supporting the teachers and school sponsors who are providing the adult leadership to our EarlyAct Clubs to take the energy and interest created by the conference and charter more EarlyAct Clubs in the District. And finally, momentum is important.  We have it.  But as important as momentum is, we, as Rotarian sponsors, still need a clear understanding of what our role and responsibilities are in relation to our EarlyAct Clubs.  The EarlyAct Brochure now on our website at www.rotary6450.org makes clear what they are.   Share your “Rotary” experience and expertise with the teacher and students.  Invite your teacher/principal/sponsor to your Rotary club meeting Support the club and their projects financially Make sure they have the symbols of Rotary in their classroom. Attend their meetings when possible. Include the EarlyActors in your club projects. And a big thank you to all Rotarians of District 6450 that have made EarlyAct a reality touching the lives of hundreds of kids and soon to be thousands with a life’s commitment of “service above self.”   The Beginning of EarlyAct in District 6450:    District Governor Chuck Johnson appointed an EarlyAct Committee in February 2004 to begin organizing immediately to bring EarlyAct Clubs to the communities we serve in District 6450. The committee consists of Chuck Snyder, from the Hinsdale Club, John Keane from the Oak Forest Club, and Dave Carlson from the Lockport Club. The committee’s first meeting was held on March 23 at the Burr Ridge Ramada. The focus of the committee’s first meeting was how best to educate local clubs and communities of the powerful benefits of the program. Also a point of discussion was how to identify and motivate clubs in the district to become "Pioneer Clubs" in sponsoring an EarlyAct program in their community. What is Early Act? Well it might best be understood as an Interact program for elementary and middle school students. Built on the same concept, it is an organized part of the school’s activities program emphasizing service. The mission of the program is to promote goodwill, understanding and peace while improving the quality of life for everyone. The program teaches caring, tolerance, respect, empathy, responsibility, tolerance, citizenship, compassion, friendship and leadership; all of which we can use more of in our schools and communities. Your Rotary Club can be the catalyst in starting an EarlyAct Club.    What an opportunity to be a part of something that will enhance your club’s service activities, promote the ideals of Rotary, and serve as a resource of future leaders for Interact and Rotary everywhere. District Governor Chuck Johnson has said, "…EarlyAct is a phenomenal opportunity for each and every club to build a community resource base for the future".    During District Governor Chris Reilly’s year (2004-2005) six EarlyAct Clubs were formed.  We currently have 11 clubs officially chartered.     If you would like more information on EarlyAct please contact any one of the committee members or Chuck Snyder directly at 630-325-2043  This is only a small sample of photos that are submitted by the EarlyAct clubs.  Visit the EarlyAct on-line newsletter caled EarlyAct Power. A new club banner was displayed at Ridge Early Childhood Center. Forest Trails Middle School EarlyAct is sponsored by the Park Forest Rotary Club. G. Kerkstea Elementary School EarlyAct is sponsored by the Oak Forest Rotary Club. Pierce Downer School is shown filling food bags. They are sponsored by Downers Grove Rotary Club. G. Kirstea also did a "Feeding the Children" project. DG Chris was proud to attend the Chartering of Ridge Early Childrood Center EarlyAct.  Ridge was sponsored by Oak Forest Rotray. Home | EarlyAct | EarlyAct Power | EarlyAct Downloads | EarlyAct Advisor New Generations This page updated March 10, 2007