Rotary Club of Long Beach

‘Reading By 9’ Literacy For Life

One 4-year-old boy said he dreamed of being a pilot when he grew up — so he wanted to read about airplanes. A little girl wanted to read a book about birthdays because she was 5 and looking for new ways to celebrate.

Other children said they wanted to learn to read…because reading is fun!

These were the reactions of just some of the hundreds of preschool and K-3 kids helped by the Rotary Club of Long Beach’s ‘Reading By 9’ program, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. 

The Long Beach Rotary Charitable Foundation has raised more than $1 million and donated more than 350,000 books and ebooks to local kids, teachers, libraries, and nonprofits to help children read by the time they are 9 years old.

Working in partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District, the charitable foundation offers grants to teachers, libraries, childcare centers, nonprofits, and other organizations that provide ideas and programs to prepare students to read.

The Rotary Charitable Foundation is one of many literacy efforts supported by RCLB. A Centennial Legacy Gift to the downtown Long Beach Public Library funded two rooms featuring interactive educational activities and new books. ‘Rotary Reads’, born over 20 years ago from Long Beach Rotarian Bob Bowden, is now modeled around the world and earned Bob the ‘Heroes In Education’ award. Club members volunteer their time to read aloud to kindergarten through third-grade students, helping improve their literacy skills and offering encouragement and mentorship.

Literacy is just one of the many causes members can support through RCLB’s Avenues of Service. What community issues would you like to address?

Explore RCLB Membership

When considering membership, it’s a good idea to reflect on the “Is Rotary For Me?”  questions and see if you align with the Criteria for Membership.

Also note that RCLB meetings are every Wednesday at noon on the Queen Mary.

Service Above Self... Together

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Queen Mary  |  1126 Queens Hwy
Long Beach, CA  |  90802

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Criteria For Membership

 

Long Beach Rotary is looking for members who:

1. Are of good character and reputation in both their professional and personal life,

2. Affirm they will follow the concepts of The Four Way Test — the ethical guide Rotarians use to help make business, professional, and personal decisions — which are as follows:

  1. Is it the truth?
  2. Is it fair to all concerned?
  3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
  4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

3. Have attended at least two RCLB events before being sponsored for Membership. Attendance of at least one weekly lunch meeting and a Rotary Connections meeting is highly recommended, although any two events (social, service, or committee meeting) will fulfill this requirement,

4. Be open to consider voluntary contributions to the LB Rotary Charitable Foundation, and/or the LB Rotary Scholarship Foundation, and/or the Rotary International Foundation,

5. Are comfortable with the following financial expectations:

  • The one-time Application Fee of $450. 
  • The Annual Dues of $760, which includes Rotary International dues, Rotary District dues, and the cost of Club administration.
  • Cost of weekly lunch meetings ($35/week) or, if preferred, the $950/year meal plan.
      

Is Rotary For Me?

Good question! If you can answer “yes” to any or all of the following questions, then perhaps Rotary is for you:

  • Do you want to feel a closer personal connection to Long Beach?

  • Do you want to give back to the community to help improve the lives of those living in our city?

  • Do you want to form friendships that can last a lifetime?
     
  • Do you want to surround yourself with people of truth and integrity and who do things that are fair and beneficial for all concerned?

  • Do you want to grow in personal development and leadership skills?

  • Do you want to have lunch weekly with a room full of like-minded and kind people to hear and learn from interesting speakers on various topics?

  • Do you want to be able to meet others throughout the world by visiting any of the 46,000 Rotary clubs internationally?

  • Do you want to be part of an organization with a mission to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace?

  • Do you want to share your time, talents and/or treasure to make a positive change in our community and in the world?