"I am so proud of the Dexter Rotary Club for working year after year helping us to provide food or a warm Christmas meal for those in need in our county," stated Kim Slavings, Director of the Stoddard County Gospel Mission.
The Rotary Club donates endless number of hours helping those in need each year and raising money to donate to several organizations in the area.
Rotary is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. If you are interested in joining Rotary, please contact Jack Rodgers at jrod63841@yahoo.com or 573-624-5762.
The Rotary Club meets weekly and hosts several fundraisers, four blood drives per year and they host an annual 4-person golf tournament in June. Fellow Rotarians are amazed that they never miss a meeting and never fail to show-up to volunteer their time at community events. Thank you for your service and your commitment to Service Above Self.
The Rotary Club is always looking for people to join them each week at the American Steakhouse in Dexter. First and third Tuesday are morning meetings at 7:00 a.m. Second and fourth Tuesday are noontime meetings. If a month has 5 Tuesday then it's dinner with their spouse at a different restaurant voted on by the club.
Rotary is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. If you are interested in joining Rotary, please contact Jack Rodgers at jrod63841@yahoo.com or 573-624-5762.
Shown in the photo form left to right are Jack Rodgers, Wayne Jean, and Danny Talkington.
Bloomfield, Missouri – Every year since 1992, Wreaths Across American has been held across the country. Last year 20,000 volunteers unloaded 33 trucks and placed over 110,000 wreaths on graves.
A very special ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 13th at 11:00 a.m. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield to coincide with programs across the country.
Approximately 2,000 wreaths will be placed on Veterans graves throughout the cemetery. Randy Dunn will serve as master of ceremonies and seven special wreaths one for each branch, Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and a POW/MIA veterans’ wreath will be placed as memorials.
Wreath Across America is a non-profit organization and formed as an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project. Arlington will conduct their ceremonies at the same time as Bloomfield.
No matter the weather tomorrow, rain, sleet or snow the wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves. It will be a powerful image: a veteran’s headstone and an evergreen wreath wrapped in red ribbon. It’s an honor to participate. It’s a time of remembrance and a kind gesture of gratitude.
Please come out and honor those who have given so much. The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Bernie, Missouri – Brynlee and Baylor Owens are Bernie Parents as Teachers students of the month for December. They are the daughters of Richard Brittney Owens and have two older sisters, Macayla and Blair.
Brynlee is two years old and full of energy. She loves to sing and dance to make others smile. She enjoys everything about the outdoors. Her favorite TV shows are Doc McStuffins and Barney. She enjoys reading books and drawing. Brynlee’s favorite things about Parents as Teachers are getting to play different activities and looking at the books.
Baylor is eleven months old and always on the go. She loves to explore as she crawls around. She is starting to walk and always has a smile on her face. She enjoys playing in the bathtub and splashing the water. She does not watch very much TV as she loves playing with all the toys that makes noise. Baylor’s favorite thing about Parents as Teachers is the interaction with her parents and Mrs. McGarity as they try the new activities together.
If you would like to know more about Parents as Teachers contact Courtney McGarity or Paige Williams at 573-293-5335, ext 293 or find them on Facebook by clicking HERE.
The following information was taken directly from the Parent as Teachers Missouri website. For more information click HERE.
Our Vision
All children will learn, grow and develop to realize their full potential.
Our Mission
To provide the information, support and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.
Our Values
The early years of a child's life are critical for optimal development and provide the foundation for success in school and in life.
Parents are their children's first and most influential teachers.
Established and emerging research should be the foundation of parent education and family support curricula, training, materials and services.
All young children and their families deserve the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of any demographic, geographic or economic considerations.
An understanding and appreciation of the history and traditions of diverse cultures is essential in serving families.
History
In 1981, Missouri pioneered the concept of helping parents embrace their important role as their child’s first and best teacher. Today, Parents as Teachers continues to equip early childhood organizations and professionals with information and tools that are relevant—and widely applicable—to today’s parents, families and children.
The Parents as Teachers leadership team and Board of Directors is engaged in a three-year strategic plan, which positions the organization as a valued partner to support the organizations and professionals who serve families and children, especially those most vulnerable.
The concept for Parents as Teachers was developed in the 1970s when Missouri educators noted that children were beginning kindergarten with varying levels of school readiness. Research showed that greater parent involvement is a critical link in the child's development of learning skills, including reading and writing.
Early childhood professionals suggested that a program to provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, and parent education to help parents understand their role in encouraging their child's development from the beginning could help improve school readiness and parent involvement.
With funding from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and The Danforth Foundation, Parents as Teachers began in 1981 in Missouri as a pilot project for first-time parents of newborns. Recognizing the program's benefits and cost effectiveness, the Missouri legislature provided state funding in 1985 to implement Parents as Teachers programs in all Missouri school districts. Since 1985, Parents as Teachers has expanded to all 50 states and six other countries.
Dexter, Missouri – Mary Kate Miller has been chosen as the ShowMe Times December Calendar Girl. She is the 16-year-old daughter of Mike and Candy Miller and is a junior at Dexter Senior High School.
Mary Kate is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, FCCLA, TARS, and Future Teachers of America. She is also a Dexter Honor Society student. Mary Kate is involved with Rotary Interact, Varsity Tennis, and is a member of the CYF youth group at the First Christian Church. She is Junior Class President as well.
She plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University and obtain a degree in nursing.
Her hobbies are playing piano, swimming, shopping, and supporting the Dexter Bearcats!
Miss Mary Kate Miller was chosen as 2nd Alternate in the Miss Dexter 2014 Pageant. This is an annual pageant sponsored by the Dexter Senior High School Music Department. Each year Miss Dexter and her attendants are chosen as Calendar Girls throughout the year.
Congratulations Mary Kate! The Dexter community is extremely proud of you and your accomplishments.
