1/21 SMART Ashley Griggs – Reading Program
This week’s meeting offers us an opportunity to learn firsthand about the SMART Reading program, one of this community’s dedicated partners in the battle to improve literacy and, therefore, life outcomes, for our children. SMART’s vision as a literacy nonprofit is an Oregon where all children can realize their full potential through reading and today we will hear about how that program is impacting our community. SMART Reading offers a meaningful way for community volunteers to support kids and their families through shared reading time and access to books. Our speaker is Ashley Griggs, Development Officer at Smart Reading, whose primary role is securing resources for local SMART programs. This year that includes a $2500 Literacy Grant from our own Salem Rotary Foundation.
Program Chair –Ann Syrett
Meeting Location: Main Street Alliance Building, Cedar Hall
President’s Message
January Focus: Identifying Our Club’s Community
Exceeding Service Goals
The E-blast article last week about Community and Geography sparked a couple of responses by Club members. I welcome additional feedback this week and during the remainder of this month while we are focusing on the Community Needs portion of the our club, and specifically, the Hands-On committee which reports to and is monitored by our Community Needs Director, Alicia Bay.
Each month the 7 Salem Area Rotary Club Presidents and Presidents-Elect meet for an hour with Area Governor, Shelly Egli.
We are encouraged to update our Club Goals and the progress made toward each goal in Rotary Central. Rotary International provides goals for Club leadership to select from each year. Prior to the beginning of the 2025-26 Rotary year, our board established 14 goals for our club to work toward. Five of those goals are Priority Goals designated by Rotary International. Priority goals are particularly effective ways to strengthen our club and help Rotary create lasting change. Those five goals are Club Membership, up-to-date Strategic Plan, Service Participation, Annual Fund Contributions, and PolioPlus Fund Contributions. Our Club has achieved 3 of these 5 priority goals thus far with a little over 5 months remaining in the Rotary year. The other nine goals that we selected include Update Website and Social Media, Inbound Youth Exchange Students, RYLA Participation, Outbound Youth Exchange Students, Social Activities, Service Projects, New Member Sponsorship, Online Presence, and Media Stories About Club Projects. Through January 15, 2026, we have satisfied three of these nine goals. We have made good progress toward achievement of the other six selected goals.
The Club goals which pertain specifically to Community Needs and our Hands-On Committee work include Service Participation and Service Projects. Through January 15 we have completed 7 Hands-On projects toward our 2025-26 goal of 10 service projects. Our Hands-On Committee has more of these projects planned in the coming months. Watch Club Announcements in the E-blast. If you become aware of Hands-On projects in our Community that 7 to 10 or more Rotarians could accomplish, please reach out to Alicia Bay or a member of the Hands-On Committee. To date we have seen 60 of our Club members take part in one or more of the 7 Hands-On projects that have been completed. Those 7 projects included:
- Tree of Joy Gifts – Oregon State Hospital
- Tree of Joy Gifts – Salvation Army
- Holiday Bell Ringing – Salvation Army
- Blood Drive – American Red Cross
- Resource bags for unsheltered women – Safe Sleep (United Way)
- The Great Clamshell Cover Up – Salem Harvest
- Sorting of Donated Items – Helping Hands Resources
Keep up the good work as we UNITE FOR GOOD and demonstrate our Club efforts to Get Things Done. Many organizations in our community have needs and many organizations in our community have benefited from our Hands-On efforts and our monetary support through various grants.
See you on Wednesday!
President Doug Parham
Rotary Club of Salem
2025-2026
