"Service above self" is the motto of the Rotary Club, something the Marked Tree chapter takes very seriously.

The club recently reached out to children in Lepanto, Marked Tree and Tyronza by donating a student dictionary to every third grader in the three towns. In addition to definitions, the book featured facts such as commonly misspelled words, a list of presidents, information about the branches of government and a variety of other useful learning tools.

"This is one of the best books you'll ever own," past president Bill Stanley told a group of students as they were receiving the dictionaries. "It is second only to the Bible. Sometimes you even need this book to understand the Bible."

The Rotary club distributed over 100 dictionaries to students who enthusiastically accepted the books.

These third grade students from Marked Tree Elementary School were among children from all over the Tri-City area to receive new student dictionaries from the Marked Tree Rotary Club. This is the third year for the club to hand out dictionaries to area students. (Tribune photo / Samantha Martin)

"Let's give the Rotarians a big thank you," said Jana Hatley, who lead the children in a loud group "thank you" to the club. Hatley is principal of Marked Tree Elementary School and also a Rotarian. The school's third graders visited the club during their noon meeting where each member hand delivered the books.

They club also visited both the Tyronza and Lepanto Campus of East Poinsett County Elementary School where they spent time talking with the children.

Michael Miles, a fellow Rotarian and director of student services at Arkansas State University in Marked Tree, handed out brightly colored pencils and rulers to the students as well.

Literacy is a main focus of Rotary, and the Marked Tree chapter of the club felt that donating dictionaries was a great way to introduce children to the fundamental aspects of literacy. The club also offers scholarships to local high school students as a way to help students achieve their goals of higher education.

Rotary focuses on other humanitarian projects around the world including the eradication of polio. On a more local level, the Marked Tree Rotary Club just completed its third annual Peggy Bankston Walk/Run for the Cure in conjunction with the Delta Cotton Pickin' Jubilee. The walk-a-thon, held in memory of a fellow Rotarian who passed away in August 2005, helped raise funds for breast cancer research.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs located in 166 countries.

For more information about the Marked Tree Rotary club, contact president Donna Henry at 358-2462.