Jean Dean RIF Opelika, Alabama

62 folks registered for this year's Ride and 59 folks braved the 100 degree heat to enjoy a 55+ mile ride that started and ended at Big Swamp Harley Davidson, with pleasant stops at Chewacla State Park, Lee County Lake and Shelton Fireworks.
Over 25 volunteers gave their time to make sure the event ran smoothly.

    All enjoyed a delicious meal provided by Outback Steakhouse and every person registered got an event t-shirt, a coupon for an Outback "Bloomin' Onion" and a $5 Kash Coupon from Kinnucan's and everyone enjoyed super music from Auburn Audio.
    The auction was well supported and many folks bought and enjoyed the delicious baked goods made by local Emblem Club members.
    Participants also enjoyed door prizes, donating to the 50/50, bike games and a soothing massage from Rebekah Hall, Licensed Massage Therapist,
(AL License #2655).

Terry Vandenbaum had the best hand and won the grand prize- a two night stay at a beachfront condo in Gulf Shores, compliments of Springdale Travel.
David Dismukes had the second place hand and won a Harley Davidson Leather Jacket, compliments

of Big Swamp Harley-Davidson.
Big Swamp also provided a surprise prize for the worst hand winner, Yancy Carpenter.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Major Sponsors Big Swamp and Outback Steakhouse, Double Chrome Sponsors Opelika-Auburn News and Wal-Mart Distribution Center-Opelika, Chrome Sponsors M&M Trucking, Springdale Travel and Thompson Carriers, Gold Sponsors East Alabama Medical Center and Kinnucan's, Silver Sponsors Auburn -Opelika Emblem Club #280, BancorpSouth, GKN Aerospace (Tallassee), Millbrook-Coosada Kiwanis and Thornton Animal Clinic, and Bronze Sponsors Xi Beta Iota Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi and Glover Tire.

Save the Date! Jean Dean RIF Site Coordinators Meeting for 2010-2011 will be Friday, September 17, 2010. At least one person who is directly involved with site management of RIF distributions from each program served needs to attend! Details and on-line registration available by August 1.

Cathy's Message:

Thanks so much to everyone who helps with Jean Dean RIF!!! It has been another exciting year! Hard to believe that y'all have made it happen for another close to 25,000 at-risk young children in Alabama to get close to 75,000 quality, age-appropriate books in their hands and homes! Now their families CAN HAVE family literacy and these precious "babies" have had the opportunity to learn from you that reading is important to you and for them! The next step is doing well in school and having the hope of doing well there and being able to look forward to a productive life in their communities. Hundreds of volunteers in the Lee County area and several thousand more around the state make it possible for Jean Dean RIF to succeed year after year in giving children books, growing vocabularies, and providing very necessary pre-reading skills. Lots of other exciting things have happened in '09-'10: Staffers from National RIF attended a distribution in Tuscaloosa this spring! Kiwanis International President Paul Pallazolo attended a RIF distribution in Birmingham! Lots of new groups volunteered this year and we are expecting them back ! The '09 Run to Read was a huge success and we are busy making sure the one on 9/11/10 is also fun for our participants! Thanks for making donations and finding time for Jean Dean RIF-- we need YOU!