Club's Colin Thacker playing key role in Guatemala Literacy Project
February-19-13
Bill Hagborg, President, Rotary Club of North Bay
Subject: Thank you for your club's support of the Guatemala Literacy Project
Dear Bill,
My name is Joe Berninger and I’m the Executive Director and co-founder of Cooperative for Education, Rotary’s partner in conducting the Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP). I had the great honor and pleasure of spending 10 days with Colin Thacker and his wife, Marlene while in Guatemala. Firstly, I want to thank you and your Rotary club for your most generous support of the GLP over the past two years. Your club was the “top GLP club” in terms of giving for Rotary year 2012-2013, out of 65 clubs (from 16 districts) that participated in both the US and Canada. Your support made it possible to deliver textbooks, reading books, school supplies, and computers to very needy schools, and provide a badly-needed scholarship to Alberto Catú Granados.
However, most of all, I want to thank you for lending us Colin Thacker for the week. I joke with Colin that he is our “poster boy.” He embodies everything that is best in Rotary: He is honorable and driven by values; he pushes himself hard in the service of others; we ask him to “go a mile” and he ends up going two or three… At our introductory dinner on the tour, I asked him to stand up and say a few words. I had a lot of new Rotarians on the tour, and I wanted to “show off” Colin, because I’m hoping that they’ll become like him. Last year, I was having lunch with Colin, Marlene and three of our scholarship candidates. When Colin learned that these kids did not yet have a sponsor, he said to me: “Give me the names of these kids.” Within weeks, all three were sponsored.
In recognition of all that our “poster boy” has accomplished for our program, we decided to surprise Colin during the tour last week. On Feb. 4 at Chixuar school, Colin stood up to give a dedicatory speech in front of an assembly of parents, teachers and students. It was an emotional moment for him, since he was sponsoring the school in the name of his father, Rotarian and PDG, Bert Thacker. As he approached the stage, he noticed a large sign, previously blocked from view, saying “Service above Self.” There, below the words, he saw his own photograph! We had truly made Colin our “poster boy” for this project. And I can think of no other Rotarian who more embodies the words “Service above Self” than Colin Thacker. Later on the trip, we insisted that he pose for a photo alongside his poster. It just so happened that he was wearing the same shirt! (Please see photos, attached.)
In addition to all his other service, Colin has agreed to be our Rotary point person for setting up a legal entity and registration in Canada.
Thanks again Bill. There’s much to be done in Guatemala, and we look forward to your club’s continued partnership. Please give Colin an hearty pat on the back for us!
Sincerely yours,
Joe Berninger
Joseph Berninger
Executive Director
Cooperative for Education