for years I have been honored to be associated with the RIF program here in my community.

I am sure you are familiar with this wonderful program. Locally it is funded by the Women's Club and operates with volunteers from service clubs that survey their memberships for participants.

It is above gratifying to be part of a program that introduces a book to a child that may come from a home where this is the first book to enter. To be able to tell a second or third grader that he can write in THIS book because it is his, brings some confusion to the child, but great delight.

It really doesn't matter what children start to read, but it is all important the habit and love of reading be given them. That this gift can be from their own community is also a lesson worth learning.

Like most lessons, not only the recipient, but also the giver learns values from it.

Publius