[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 27, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE NEW LONDON ROTARY CLUB

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 2010

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in appreciation and support 
for the New London, Connecticut Rotary Club's Camp Rotary, a service 
program showcased at a July 23rd event that I had the opportunity to 
attend. The event joined together the Connecticut College AmeriCorps 
VISTA volunteers and students and teachers of New London Public Schools 
to celebrate the success of Camp Rotary.
  The Rotary motto ``Service Above Self'' exemplifies their strong 
devotion to community service internationally, and the Rotary Club of 
New London demonstrates this commitment every day. The New London 
Rotary Club organizes many service projects annually, including a 
holiday book drive, a literacy initiative, and a community playground 
cleanup.
  Rotarians have long understood that many young students lose academic 
momentum over summer vacation. Often, students also practice unhealthy 
eating habits and sedentary lifestyles over the summer because they 
lack access to healthy, affordable food and places to exercise.
  Camp Rotary, now in its 18th year, provides a valuable opportunity 
for disadvantaged students of the New London Public School system to 
enrich their summers through physical activities, educational programs, 
and college preparation. The school system partners with New London 
teachers and Connecticut College student volunteers who graciously 
devote their summers to helping these youth progress.
  Camp activities aim to provide an educational and entertaining 
experience for the 11-15 year olds, but the overarching goal of the 
program is to put the students on a college path. Many of these young 
people would be the first in their family to attend college, and Camp 
Rotary helps them plan for their future by offering tours of 
universities and goal planning workshops.
  The importance of this effort was recently underscored by a report 
issued by the National College Board finding that the U.S. is now 
ranked 12th in the industrialized world in college graduation rates. As 
recently as 1986, the U.S. was ranked first. Camp Rotary aims to solve 
this problem by awakening interest and motivation in college 
achievement at the middle school level, which experts agree is the most 
successful strategy to increase college involvement and completion.
  The New London Rotarians understood the need for the Camp Rotary 
program in the community and successfully and generously established a 
program to provide more productive summers for hundreds of 
disadvantaged students. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
valuable opportunity the New London Rotary Club and the Rotary 
Foundation continues to provide for the youth of New London, and the 
New London teachers and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers that help Camp 
Rotary to succeed.

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