Last Thursday, Membership Chair MARK CALL presented three new club members who delivered their Classification Talks. The talks are designed to allow each new member the chance to introduce themselves to the club by sharing their history and telling us how they became interested in ROTARY.
CLIF HIRST - He has lived in the area for 30 years and has worked the last 10 years at the Norristown Community Library, where he was introduced to Rotary by Karen. Cliff had previously run his own business in garden design after graduation from Temple with a degree in Sociology. He became involved with the Literacy Council of Norristown and is now Chairman of the Board. Cliff loves bird watching and has observed at least 187 species in Montgomery County.
He say "The best thing you can do for the Library, is use it"
JEANNE COVE - Also has worked at the Norristown Library for the last 29 years after working at other Montco libraries. Jeanne grew up in the DC area where she became failure with ROTARY through family connections. Her main point of focus is in increasing access to the library for those traditionally underserved in the community or do not have good access to the facility. Her background in social work and selling has given her a solid footing in finding ways to connect with the community and to encourage their participation.
MONICA D´ANTONIO - She comes to us from Cherry Hill N.J. and has a Masters degree in English from Temple. She has dedicated her life to advancing fair funding for Pennsylvania school districts. She asserts that the current system is unconstitutional and shortchanges many of the State's districts, stating the Norristown Area School District has been receiving $18 million less that it should under a more equitable system. Her personal experience of relocating to another area just to get a better education, and the added cost incurred in doing that, is something that not many can afford, thus the need for changes in funding.
She is a self-described Education Advocate and has led efforts in Harrisburg to promote Fair Funding for schools. Monica has been on NASD Board, the Literacy Council, the local NAACP, and has always centered her activities around education.
Thanks and welcome to these three newest members.
