Telling Tales

Susan Jasper, a Rotarian from the Hamilton "Martini" Club, is the driving force behind Telling Tales, a community festival that promotes children's literacy. Susan reviewed the previous two festivals held at Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton where attendance grew from 4000 to 5000 children and family members. The goal of the organizing committee is to use literacy to break the cycle of poverty and to empower people. The first year the festival raised $20 000 and last year it raised $45 000 of which funds were used to promote literacy in the area. Telling Tales won a Tourism of Hamilton Award and was presented with the best community project in Rotary Zones 24 and 32 as well as being written up in the Rotarian Magazine.

The Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club has supported the children's literacy festival financially and with sweat equity since its inception. This year the club has moved up to a Silver Sponsor. Club members are encouraged to check in with Kathy Starodub who will coordinate volunteers and the collection of gently used books for the September 18 event. Everyone is asked to invite their family and friends to attend. It is a great day to be entertained by original children's authors and period costumes in an authentic heritage village. Best of all, there is no charge to attend.