On Sept. 20, 2011, the Rotary Club of Irvington donated 50 copies of Sean Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” to the Irvington Juvenile Conference Committee (JCC), the single state agency responsible for providing juvenile correctional rehabilitation and parole services.  The JCC is comprised of volunteers trained by court staff and appointed by the presiding judge for Division of Youth and  Family Services cases for at-risk, court-involved youth, as a sentencing option referred by the court.  Recognizing a unique and pivotal opportunity to redirect the lives of youth in its custody, the JJC is committed to realizing the potential of the youth in its care, and thereby helping them change the direction of their futures.

In July, Sandra Kearney, Chairperson of the Irvington JCC, attended a meeting of the Rotary Club of Irvington (at the recommendation of Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith) to request the book donation.  The club agreed, with Mayor Smith (also a member of the Rotary Club of Irvington) contributing a portion of the cost via his Educational Fund, as well.  Such collaboration aligns with the mission of the Rotary Club of Irvington and its township.  The club’s service projects lie within the areas of improving literacy and health education, water provision and sanitation, youth empowerment, social responsibility, and eliminating hunger in its local communities and in our world.

Rotary - an organization of volunteers united in humanitarian service - is a worldwide association of 33,000 clubs with more than 1.2 million male and female members in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Its mission is to provide, encourage and foster the ideal of service to others and the development of acquaintance as an opportunity to do so; the application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life; to promote high ethical standards; and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.  Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by its motto - Service Above Self - Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Its secondary motto is "They profit most who serve best".

The Rotary Club of Irvington meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in the Irvington Public Library’s Community Room, located on the lower level; visitors are welcome.  For more information on their club activities, view their website: http://rotaryclubofirvinton.wordpress.com/ or contact them via email to avbkat@msn.com.