Last Saturday, President Laura and Rene McGruder enjoyed the District Awards Dinner. Among the many awards presented, Rene received a Star Award for Youth Service. Her nomination reads as follows:
“Rene has worked tirelessly to expand our Citizen of the Quarter program, which was in four schools when she began, and is now in six elementary schools locally. She is training six members to have full responsibility for that quarterly program, expanding the membership involvement and engagement.
In addition, Rene has built Interact from one school under our Club's mantle to two clubs, one of which is inclusive of all high schools in Frisco ISD. This group started with 10 students, and ended the year with over 30. At our August leadership meeting, we had over a dozen teens on the leadership group alone, planning for the coming year events. We anticipate a large group this year that includes all high schools and is building relationships that extend beyond individual school boundaries.
As part of this effort, Rene has worked with school counselors and now has two FISD representatives from different schools as permanent members of her team. In addition, there is a second Interact Club she oversees at a local middle school, which is feeding into the high school level club seamlessly. As she continues to expand membership involvement, we hope to expand the middle school program.
Our Club also has a high school scholarship program she oversees, working with the Club Scholarship Coordinator to assure it is inclusive and handled according to the charter.
As Youth Services Chair, Rene also works with the Four Way Speech Contest, assuring that a Club Member is coordinating in a timely manner. Further, she oversees responsibility for the RYLA participant selection from our Club and when we have more qualified participants than we can send, she refers them to other clubs. For example, this year, we had three superbly qualified young men and could only send two. Rather than keep the third as our alternate, Rene provided him to our sister club in Frisco, and as a result, he participated as their representative.
Aside from her Club activities in Youth, Rene is also involved at the District level. This year she served as RYLA Treasurer and participated in RYLA as an adult leader at camp. Her connection and relationship with the teens and adults involved continues to expand and nurture the involvement of all.
Rene encompasses all aspects of the Four Way Test, and represents the best of consensus building and leadership. Her example of building bridges between schools, as well as between Rotary Clubs, is one that befits the best of the Rotary principles and the Star Award.” Congratulations Rene!