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(April 14th, 2016). Also, according Also making big strides in In fact, Atwood showed me how the
WelchAllyn spot camera works after using
improving Vallejo’s community
to Shannon, “Vallejo Rotary gives out
Lions each year to Vallejo high school students 1974 is the Vallejo Executive Lions Club. telling me that the room first needs to be
it on my own eyes for a quick reading—
approximately $11,000 in scholarships
and youth education since
I met with the club president, Thomas
who plan to go to college.”
fairly dark so that the pupils open up for an
accurate reading—and then the rest is like
(Tom) Atwood, who told me that the club
actually still has an original member! With
getting your picture taken.
Furthermore, with its annual golf tournament
members on Vallejo’s Board of Education
as its biggest fundraiser, Vallejo Rotary
After an eye screening, the club can
raises money every year to buy and give
and past Vallejo Chamber of Commerce
Rotary & dictionaries to every third grader in Vallejo. presidents, to name a few, the Lions have help subsidize eyeglasses and eye
exams, as they can be expensive—
“In some cases, this will be the only book
a very diverse membership with differing
opinions—though what unites them is their
the child will own at the time,” explained
about a week’s worth of pay for some.
Shannon. “The dictionaries are part of
passion to help Vallejo.
Members really want a better solution to
eye problems, which can correlate with
the third-grade curriculum in California.
To make positive changes, the Vallejo Lions
better performance in the classroom. I
Club has very clear goals set. Partnering
believe Vallejo Lions will reach their goal
Soroptimist with Dr. Roger Carlson and Dr. Anthony in reaching all third-grade classrooms
in Vallejo schools for eye screenings by
Agadzi at Redwood Eye Center (2852
2019 (they started this plan a year ago, in
Redwood Pkwy.), one of the biggest and
2016). However, I asked what the club’s
current things that the club is doing is eye
screenings. “The practice manager at
plans are for after that. “Once we have
reached all schools, we can move to
Redwood Eye Center, Kathleen Castanho,
has been instrumental in allowing us to test
younger students—to the preschool level,”
oh my! more and more children—we are changing answered Atwood.
our focus to get out there and do the eye
testing,” said Atwood. An eye screening
Moving to the third club, I had
can let people know whether someone
the great opportunity to meet with
needs glasses or not, which is significant
the Soroptimist International of
for so many reasons like safety (driving)
Vallejo club President Jackie Arnold. She
as seniors], but we prioritize testing young
an opportunity to become more literate,
telling me the history of the club in how the
and increase their vocabulary. There is
Vallejo’s Service Clubs – serving the community Our efforts make sure each child has and education. “We test everybody [such educated me all about the club, such as
very first Soroptimist club actually started in
also a feeling of esteem each child gets
when they own their own dictionary.” As Alameda County in 1921 (appropriately
named Soroptimist International of
someone who actually teaches third grade Alameda County). More importantly,
and who has worked closely with grades however, she told me about the great
transitional kindergarten (TK) through 6th things that the Vallejo club does for its city.
By James Quinn grade in Vallejo, I could not agree more
with Shannon. Club members are all women from a vast
allejo has so many amazing things happening all over the city that the local age range, not just older women. “The
community may not be aware of. Teaching in Vallejo, I am passionate about Shannon told me that each year the new average age is probably about 50,” Arnold
serving the community, and one of my main goals is to get more in touch president of Vallejo Rotary chooses a said. “Half of the women in the club are still
with my fellow community members. As such, I had the great opportunity charity or cause to bring awareness to, in careers like business owners and working
Vto research and meet leaders of three Vallejo service clubs that have made a and he chose Boy Scouts of America. “This nurses. A little over half are retired. We have
year, I am bringing awareness of Scouting
positive impact on Vallejo and the local community for years. These great clubs are the to our Rotary Club. The Boy Scouts members in their 70s and 80s—our oldest
Vallejo Rotary, Vallejo Lions, and Soroptimist International of Vallejo. of America bring skills, opportunities, two members are 95 and 98.”
and hope to boys in every community. children. Our goal is to have every third- Members are especially committed to
The first club that I want to recognize delivered fire trucks to Pátzcuaro, Mexico,” Many boys in Vallejo come from homes grade class in Vallejo schools screened serving girls and women in the community.
is the Vallejo Rotary Club. Established said current club president Anthony (Tony) where they would not normally get these within the next three years.” With the For example, according to their website
in 1921, this club has done so many Shannon. Each year the club gets a new opportunities … Graduating high school, WelchAllyn spot camera or PediVision and Jackie, the club gives: “scholarships to
great things that transcend Vallejo and the president to keep things fresh. The club is going to college, and getting a good camera—both of which detect potential graduating high school girls and awards
local community. “We have a long history of a big supporter of education, bringing in job all seem more possible to the boys eyesight problems—eye screenings are to women in local colleges working to
serving the community and the world at large. the “Every 15 Minutes” program to Vallejo who might not otherwise have had those quick and efficient. “A whole class only provide a better life for their families;
We have raised money for, acquired, and schools to fight driving under the influence hopes,” Shannon said. takes about 30 minutes,” said Atwood. grants for science and art programs for
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