If children are the future, then what better than to have that future be literate? This philosophy embraced by the Rotary Club of Winona has led to a groundbreaking project that will eventually put a dictionary into the hands of every student in Winona County, one third grader at a time.

Beginning in November, teams of Rotarians visited third grade classrooms across the county to give children their own dictionaries, for many the first they`ve seen of the giant book of words.

This is the third year of the Rotary Dictionary Project, with the first two years seeing more than 1,000 dictionaries put into the hands of schoolchildren.

And these aren`t just ordinary dictionaries. They sport world and state maps, a summary of American history, even the Declaration of Independence between the covers of a book students are encouraged to write their name into and get to know like a good friend.

The Winona Rotary is part of an international organization that promotes service above self by taking care of the community and world.

Locally, the Rotary Club has been responsible for 85 years of projects that include Winona`s gazebo, bandshell and frisbee golf course, the foot bridge on East Lake Winona, renovation of Lake Park Lodge and resurfacing the bike path. Rotary also spearheads efforts to send students to camp and on international youth exchanges, as well as classroom efforts like the dictionary project.

In addition, local Rotarians raised $7,300 to purchase gift cards for families affected by floods in August of 2007.

Operating with little fanfare through committees and weekly luncheons to network and discuss business, Rotarians have perhaps kept a lower than normal profile for an organization responsible for pumping so much financial support into a community.

But all Rotary Clubs operate according to something called the Rotary Four Way Test, not the amount of glory involved in an endeavor.

The Four Way Test asks Rotarians:

• Is it the truth?

• Is it fair to all concerned?

• Will it build goodwill and better friendship?

• Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

The Dictionary Project is all of that and then some, Rotarians believe.

And though at first glance it may look like a simple book donation project, Rotarians believe it is much more. Dictionaries cost a few dollars, but the gift of words is priceless for the doors it can open in a student`s mind.

To learn more about the Winona Rotary, visit the organization online at www.winonarotary.org.