And the winners are....
Two lucky kids will hear their names at the end of that sentence on Sunday, March 18, for the Books for Bikes awards.
After an ice cream social at the Green Lake Library, one boy and one girl will each receive a new bicycle and a $30 gift certificate to Gregg's Greenlake Cycle for a safety helmet.
Why? Because of a reading program initiated by the Green Lake Masonic Lodge and designed by Esther Myers, children's librarian at the Green Lake Library.
A GREAT START
Dale Boudreau, chairperson of the lodge's new Books for Bikes committee, had met with Myers about the lodge's donation of two bikes and two helmets as an incentive for a children's learn-to-read program. He asked Myers to design an appropriate program.
Even though the library already had a children's reading program in place, Myers designed this program specifically for first- through third-graders.
Entrants would be limited to 25 children, and the rules would be to read 10 books during the library's winter reading program and then give an oral report to one of the librarians on each book.
Myers enlisted the help of the young-adult and adult librarians because even with just 19 active participants, that's 190 book reports. She noted that participants were split pretty evenly between girls and boys.
"The response has been great," Myers said. "One mother said, 'One day, it just kicked in, and now she's reading.' Parents are just thrilled. This has been a lot of fun."
Myers wanted to make sure that there was something for all the children who participated, so she asked Boudreau if they could have an ice cream social before announcing the winners. Boudreau agreed, and the lodge picked up the tab.
"We're trying to have someone come and speak to the kids about bike safety, as well," Myers said.
All in all, Myers said the program has been a great success. Initially, Myers targeted children from just Green Lake and Daniel Bagley elementary schools, but ended up "having kids from all over the city participating," she said.
She hopes they can expand to include a bike giveaway for the spring reading program, as well.
COMMUNITY SERVICE PRIORITY
Boudreau, of the Masonic Lodge, said that "some lodges back East started doing a program like this with elementary schools, and we just thought it sounded like a good idea. We went to the library first because it's only about a block away from our building. We thought we'd start there."
Boudreau said the lodge does programs like this because community service is one of its main priorities. As its website states: "The members of Green Lake Lodge live in, support and provide services to the surrounding community of Green Lake. In addition, we participate in other programs started or continued by our Masonic district and jurisdiction."
The Green Lake Masonic Lodge No. 149 has been part of the Green Lake community for more than 100 years. Started in 1905, it is in the same building that the Masons had built in 1922, at 307 Maple Leaf Place N.E.
Boudreau said most lodges across the country give money to the Shriners hospitals and then each does local projects, as well.
He said he really liked the idea of being able to give kids just learning to read an added incentive.
The lodge will look at expanding the program if this first one goes well, he added.
The Bikes for Books program concludes Friday, March 16. The winners' names will be drawn after the library closes that day.
The ice cream social will take place at 2 p.m. at the Green Lake Library, 7364 E. Green Lake Drive N.
Two kids will then take home new bikes, but 19 children will have become more prolific readers.
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