THE GIFT OF WORDS

A Dictionary Project

 

A Community Service Project which:

Join “The Gift of Words – A Dictionary Project” and take advantage of the tremendous purchasing power of high volume buying.

 

THE DICTIONARY

 

 

The Macmillan Dictionary for Children is an inviting book to open because it is colorful, and it is full of photographs and diagrams. The Reference Section is loaded with many fascinating entries including pictures of each president, a diagram of the solar system, descriptions of the planets, and there is a Thesaurus. There are 35,000 entries and the book is appropriate for children ages 8 to 12. The publisher is Simon and Schuster.

 

WHAT HAVE BEEN OUR RESULTS?

Rotary year 2001-2002 was the first year of our District wide dictionary project.  Twenty five Clubs participated and purchased 8,350 dictionaries. The second year was 2002-2003 and 34 clubs purchased 10,120 dictionaries. The 2003-2004 year saw 36 clubs in District 5130 participate plus several out of District clubs extending from Hawaii to North Carolina and the total purchase was 17,180 books. During the current Rotary year, 2005-2006, clubs ordered approximately 30,000 books, which included approximately 100 clubs across the United States.

 

ESTIMATED BOOK COSTS (2006 Information)

The retail price for the book is now $17.95 each. Including sales tax in our area, the total price is $19.30.  The publisher gives our project a 61 percent discount.  We then pay local sales tax and freight costs from New Jersey to our facility in Petaluma, California, or to a drop point closer to the participating clubs

The following price estimate, delivered to Petaluma, is a projection based on information from the publisher. The final price is determined just prior to shipping.

Book Cost:                            $7.000
Sales tax at 7.75%:                  .543
Freight (est.):                             .730
Associated expenses:              .025
Estimated Book Cost:          $8.298

The publisher has allowed up to 10 drop points at the discounted price. So, while the basic book price will remain the same, say $7.00, the freight cost will be based on the destination, weight and the sales tax charge will be based on the tax rate at the destination. This year the books going to North Carolina cost $7.97 each and the 90 books to Hawaii cost $9.87 each.

We can order dictionaries from the publisher at any time, however, the significant discount we receive when we all order at one time, is not available for small orders.  Small orders will receive a reduced discount.

 

STEPS TO ORDERING PROCESS FOR A NEW CLUB

1. Contact the office of the Superintendent of Schools in the district in which you want to supply dictionaries and inform them of your project. Some school administrators have rejected the offer.

2. Frequently the Superintendent will want a textbook review committee to consider the book prior to approving it for the children. Single copies can be purchased at a local full service book store. Following approval of the project by the school district, most principals and third grade teachers will be aware of the project.

3. Determine the total number of dictionaries the club will purchase by contacting a representative of each school you will be serving. Forward that information to one of the project coordinators.

4. The project coordinator will provide the cost of the order to the participating club.

 


IMPORTANT

If you are interested in participating in the dictionary program, please contact the coordinator by September 1st.

 

 

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tawny Tesconi, Project Coordinator
3912 Walker Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95407

Telephone: 707-545-4218
Cell: 707-480-6947

dictionaries at petalumarotary dot org