This week's speaker was Mr. Ted Garcia,
Counselor at the John Paul II High School.
Mr. Garcia started his presentation by thanking
the Boys Scout of America for their contributions
to building young men of character.
According to Mr Garcia, the relationship between
the Rotary club and John Paul II High School (JPHS),
started when he was approached by VP David
Walker, and RYLA Director, Bridget Markwood, to
start the Interact Program at their school. He said
that since then, they have achieved quite a lot.
According to Mr. Garcia, the Interact club at JPHS has worked on multiple projects both internationally and locally.
Local projects accomplished last year include, the school worked on collecting donations of 52 stuffed animals,
and later on collecting 80 gift bags which were taken to the women's shelter for Christmas.
On international projects, Garcia said they had three options, the first option was The Shelter Box, they also considered
working on a Adam Braun's Pencils for Promise program, but settled on the XO Tablet project.
The XO Learning system was designed by an MIT charitable group, with the goal of providing educational opportunities
to less privileged children through "connected devices".
Garcia stated that they were able to send out 22 tablets to two orphanages in Guatemala. "You should have seen the faces
of the kids when they received the tablets," he gushed. He concluded by stating that, "It all started because your club was
willing to partner with us".
For his presentation, Ted Garcia received a Tacks Shelter, from President Michelle Maresh-Fuehrer on behalf of the club.
The Tacks Shelters are designed and built by club member, Rodney Vaughn.
