Rasco From RIF

RIF Visits the Bluegrass State

August 31st, 2009

(From left to right.) North Middletown Principal Greg Ramey, Congressman Ben Chandler, Press Secretary Jennifer Krimm, Kate Fergusson, Field Representative Loren “Squirrel” Carl, Bourbon County Judge-Executive Donnie Foley. Congressman Chandler helping North Middletown students select books. Congressman Chandler reading at West Irvine Elementary School.

Greetings! This is Kate Fergusson, RIF government relations and community outreach coordinator, and I want to share with you my adventures in the beautiful state of Kentucky last week for three RIF Congressional Reading Celebrations with Congressman Ben Chandler. This was our first trip to the Bluegrass State, and RIF staffer Pati Carrada and I were in awe of the gorgeous winding roads of central Kentucky that offered amazing views of horse farms and the lush green countryside.

The first stop for Congressman Chandler, a long-time champion of literacy in Kentucky, was West Irvine Elementary School in Irvine, Ky. RIF Volunteer of the Year Award winner Elke Davis and coordinator Stacye Woolery managed to impress us with the creative ‘pirate themed’ book distribution. In the gym was a giant brown cardboard “sunken ship” with books inside as the “hidden treasure.” After reading aloud to a group of students, the congressman toured the school. Arrrrr!

The following day, in the beautiful town of Paris, Ky., North Middletown Elementary School conducted its RIF literacy celebration with the theme “Everyone Has a Story.” After enjoying storytelling performances in the library, Congressman Chandler read Farmers’ Market by local author Paul Brett Johnson to a class of 2nd graders and helped them with their book selection.

(From left to right.) Congressman Chandler and West Irvine Principal Tonya D. Isaacs. Southern Elementary School Librarian Jillian Anderson and Congressman Chandler.

The final literacy celebration was in Georgetown, Ky. at Southern Elementary School. It kicked off with an assembly in the gym that included Congressman Chandler; a professional storyteller; and the Superintendent of Scott County Schools, Patricia Putty. After greeting the assembly of 700 children and speaking about the importance of reading, the Congressman read aloud to a 1st grade classroom. Kudos to RIF coordinator and librarian of Southern Elementary, Jillian Anderson, for organizing such an impressive book distribution, after only her first year as RIF coordinator!

Time spent reading with children during these events were captured and logged on RIF’s Read for Change website, our RIF campaign tied to President Obama’s United We Serve initiative.

Thank you to all RIF coordinators involved in making these literacy celebrations a success! Another special thank you to Congressman Ben Chandler, Press Secretary Jennifer Krimm, and Field Representative Loren “Squirrel” Carl for participating in these events and for being such strong supporters of children’s literacy!

Happy Reading!

Kate Fergusson

Filed under: Children's Books, RIF Events, RIF Government Relations, RIF Programs, United We Serve

Tags: Ben Chandler, Congressman, Kentucky