Annual Meeting Summary (06/25/2024)
 

Overview
On June 25, 2024, the Rotary Action Group for Basic Education Literacy (BELRAG) held its annual meeting, chaired by Nancy Leonhardt. The meeting focused on reviewing recent achievements, discussing strategic plans, and outlining ongoing projects aimed at enhancing education and literacy worldwide. Key highlights included:
  • Introduction of a new website and member database
  • Continuation of current board members and the addition of two new board members: Anu Narula (Rotary Club of Canton, GA, USA) and Yair Velasquez Gutierrez (Rotaract Club of Boquete, Panama)
  • Emphasis on forming professional expertise teams to enhance engagement and support for education-related activities, with a focus on outreach, professional development, and the use of technology.
 
Next Steps for Members:
 
  1. Suggest topics, speakers, or volunteer to lead a webinar for the September Literacy Month webinar series.
  2. Submit qualifying projects for the Basic Education & Literacy Awards.
  3. Volunteer for the BELRAG booth and symposium at the 2024 Rotary International Convention in Calgary.
  4. Join the professional expertise teams (STEM, early literacy, professional development/teacher training, etc.) by contacting BELRAG.
  5. Apply to become an ambassador for the BELRAG Ambassadors program by applying on the BELRAG website.
  6. Express interest in joining the communication, education, or membership groups by contacting BELRAG.

 
Details
The meeting began with an overview of BELRAG's purpose: to support programs that strengthen communities' abilities to provide basic education and literacy for all. Nancy reported on the organization's membership growth, reaching 215 members as of June 20th, and its financial status, which saw an increase in revenue over the previous year.

Board's Strategic Plan
Carol Marcotte, a Board Director, outlined the board's strategic plan with four priorities: strengthening infrastructure, expanding reach, increasing financial partnerships, and enhancing participant engagement. She stressed the importance of adapting to changing circumstances, developing connections with other Rotary Action groups, and encouraging membership input to improve the plan.

Projects
Joan Littleford, Board Secretary, highlighted several Rotary-led projects focused on education and literacy:
  • The Rotaract and the Rotary Clubs in Ecuador developed the "Rolling Library," which brings reading materials to schools for a month at a time.
  • The Rotary Club of Blacksburg, Virginia created "Giving Hope through Literacy," a program that supports beginning and struggling readers.
  • The Rotary Club of Grove, Oklahoma established an education foundation that supports literacy initiatives, providing books to children who might not otherwise have access to them.
  • The project, "Co-Create a Better Community," was led by the Rotary Club of Golden Bonnea in Hong Kong, focusing on teaching AI to low-income youth.

BELRAG Activities
Carolyn Johnson, Chair Emeritus, highlighted the success of the technology-focused webinars and the growing interest in the professional expertise teams. Nancy introduced the new website and member database, emphasizing the resources available, including the "showcase of projects" and the "support needed" pages, and the member directory feature.
Nancy announced that the current board members, including herself, and two new members will continue their roles for another year. Plans for the 2024 Literacy Month awards were discussed, including improving application criteria and broader promotion. Carolyn introduced a new initiative to showcase Rotary members' projects globally, with daily webinars throughout September, and a BELRAG symposium in Calgary featuring exemplary projects and speakers.
Furthermore, a new BELRAG Ambassadors initiative was introduced to raiseawareness of basic education and literacy issues within Rotary clubs and districts, and professional expertise teams were established to provide resources for clubs and members implementing various projects.

Improving Education and Professional Development Teams
Nancy led a discussion on education, literacy, and professional development, with a focus on forming of expertise teams within the Rotary organization. Frank, a former special education teacher, expressed his interest in improving children's learning and his previous experience in curriculum development and staff management. Carolyn emphasized the importance of professional development for teachers and the need for outreach and support to develop global grants. The team agreed to enhance engagement within the professional expertise teams by directly asking members for their assistance and providing them with clear tasks, focusing on those attending the upcoming Symposium.

STEM Team, BELRAG Initiative, and Communication
Joan talked about her early literacy session and the challenges of literacy and technology. The BELRAG initiative, led by Nancy and Anthony Bloome, a Board Director, aimed to engage members in various groups like the communication, ambassador, and education groups.
  • The communication group will handle newsletters, the website, and social media
  • The ambassador group will plan district-specific events
  • The education group will explore ways to promote education-related activities.
  • Interested members were encouraged to get involved.
 
Technical Cadre Collaboration and Impactful Projects
Frank, Nancy, Joan, Tony, and others discussed their relationships with the technical cadre for grants and BELRAG, focusing on recent projects and potential future collaborations. They highlighted the importance of following grant guidelines, staff development, and the use of technology in education. The team also shared personal experiences, such as Frank's three-year project in Uganda, and proposed including these types of impactful projects in upcoming webinars. The conversation ended with expressions of gratitude and a discussion about potential new members.