Robert Burns Bikes-for-Books Program
The Grand Lodge sponsors a program called Bikes-for-Books, in which a lodge and local elementary school work together with a bike retailer (sometimes a specialist, sometimes a local big-box store) to help inspire kids to read. Essentially, for each book a child reads (subject to some restrictions), his or her name will be put into a hat, and at the end of a given time period (year, semester, etc.) one girl's and one boy's bike, with helmet, will be awarded to young readers. This page will have news on our program.
4 April, 2008: Today our first two bicycles were presented, to Nhi Vnong (1st grade) and Alex Thien (4th grade) of the Discovery Elementary School. They each were presented with a bicycle in turn for their having been selected at random from a group of readers at their school. We are very proud of these young students, and wish them a great deal of future success.
Our First Winers:
Alex Thien (l) and Nhi Vnong (r) of Discovery Elementary School
4 March, 2008: At the stated meeting this evening, WB Steve Wandel announced that he had purchased bikes for the presentation, which is to be on 4 April at 9:15 AM at the school. All are encouraged to attend. Attire will be announced. The bikes were purchased at Wal-Mart with money from the Scholarship Fund. WB Steve also announced that he is going to apply for a $500 grant from Wal-Mart to cover some of our future expenses, as they will not supply discounted bikes for the program.
Unfortunately, the second bike shop we contacted has been unresponsive, as well. WB Steve has made the decision that we need to go and buy bikes in order to keep the program moving ahead, so the last week of January or the first week in February we will go and buy bikes from a local big-box store. In better news, we may have found a partner in Snohomish County Fire District Number One, which will most likely provide and fit helmets for the children.
In January of 2008, WB Steve Wandel met with the principal of Discovery Elementary School in the Mukilteo School District to begin Robert Burns #243's foray into the Bikes-for-Books program. We also have contacted bike shops to provide the prizes; the first one showed insufficient interest, so we are moving on to another. If we come to an agreement, a link will be posted here. Currently it is likely that the program will involve the 5th and 6th graders from Discovery. We expect to make our first presentation in mid-March, when their Winter Trimester ends.