Bulletin for March 1-7, 2013

Kim Frank (left) and Julie Adams (right) with Provo Rotary president Vaughn Park (center).

Upcoming Provo Rotary Luncheon Programs and Events

March 7: Paul Glauser, Director
Provo City Redevelopment Agency

Report of Provo Rotary Luncheon Meeting February 14, 2013

The meeting was conducted by President Vaughn Park. Dinner music was provided by Ron Roberts. The singing was conducted by Jill Moon. Rick Gregory offered an invocation.

Matt Siafanua and Rick Gregory

David and Heather Rogers

Guests included Matt Siafanua of the Provo Police Force, guest of Chief Rick Gregory, and Heather Rogers, wife of David Rogers.




President Vaughn Park announced that the monthly meeting of the club's Board of Directors will be next week March 7.

Wayne Beesley

There will be no noon lunch on Thursday, March 14. The regular club meeting that week will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Riverside Country Club. All Provo Rotarians are invited to bring their wives, daughters, granddaughters, etc. for the annual club Girls Night family party. Entertainment will be provided by Celtic Dreams, the Westlake High School Ballroom Dance Company. Party chair is Wayne Beesley.

The annual Utah Rotary district conference will be held in Ogden May 3-5. Registration may be done online at UtahRotary.org.

Sue and Kelly Lau

Kelli Lau thank-you note

Frank Gardner presented a thank-you note from Kelly Lau for her $1,000 scholarship from the Provo Rotary Foundation. She will participate in a BYU Study Abroad program in India.



Fund-raising for the Provo Rotary pledge to the Provo Recreation Center is almost 1/3 of the way to the goal of at least $50,000. $15,000 in pledges from club members has already been received. Gifts of any amount are welcomed, usually $1,000 per year for three years made payable to the Provo Rotary Foundation. Scott Smith is chair of fund-raising for this project.

Pete Pletsch

Pete Pletsch served as sergeant asking trivia about planes, trains and automobiles.

David Rogers

David Rogers introduced the two speakers, Kim Frank and Julie Adams of the Utah Charter Network, the organization representing charter schools in Utah. Both of these ladies have children with special needs which prompted these mothers to get involved. Together they founded the John Hancock charter school in Pleasant Grove.

All of the eighty-eight charter schools in Utah are funded by the taxpayers but are not subject to the leadership of the local school district. Each has its own board of directors, usually comprised of a few parents of students. They serve children with special needs or exceptional talents. Admission is by lottery from a waiting list. Most charter schools are small, intimate, with all teachers knowing all of the students.

Charter schools are funded the same as public schools with a per-student allotment from the state. With these funds the school must fund capital improvements (school buildings), teachers, administrators and operating costs. They follow the same rules as public schools. There is no tuition collected from students.

Charter schools exist to help meet the needs of students, especially those who do not learn well in public schools. All are required to teach US government and history. Many of them have a special type of student they serve such as:

One will prepare all graduating seniors with a college associate degree.

Walden School in Provo is based on the Montessori method.

Some teach certain classes on campus and others online (by computer from home).

Some specialize in helping drop-outs from traditional schools to graduate.

East Hollywood High is focused on film production.

Some are language immersion programs teaching part of the day in another language.

One is for Pacific Island heritage based on Polynesian culture.

One is for unwed mothers.

One focuses on teaching the Socratic method.

One has international partnerships with students spending part of their year in another country.

One (Tuacahn) focuses on performing arts.