Once Upon a Time…
Once upon a time, back in the early 1960s—before kindergarten was offered in many public schools—a shy little five-year-old girl was sent off to first grade.
She had been read to at home and loved books, but she didn't know how to read yet. School was going to be a grand new adventure.
Or so she thought.
Her first-grade teacher was Mrs. B., a tall, stern woman with lots of rules. And one of those rules became especially important when the little girl's Oxford shoes came untied one day at recess.
She asked Mrs. B. if she would please tie them.
Mrs. B. had another idea.
It was time for the little girl to learn to tie her own shoes.
And so began what felt like a very long year.
Recess after recess, while the other children played, the little girl practiced tying those shoes. And no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get it.
Those shoelaces became much more than shoelaces. She began to dread school. She worried about recess before recess even arrived. And when it was time to return to the classroom, she was so anxious that concentrating on reading and numbers became nearly impossible.
Mrs. B. eventually told her father that his daughter was a terrible student.
The little girl believed her.
Her mother tried to help by tying double knots in those Oxford shoes each morning, hoping they would stay tied all day.
Finally, first grade came to an end.
And before second grade began, her dad did something that changed everything.
He bought her penny loafers.
No laces!
And, of course, they had to have bright, shiny pennies tucked into each shoe.
Second grade also brought Mrs. Duran, a teacher with a bright smile and a new way of teaching reading called phonics.
Something clicked.
Without shoelaces to worry about, recess became recess again. School wasn't quite so scary. Letters became sounds. Sounds became words. Words became sentences.
And sentences opened the door to stories.
That little girl who had been called a terrible student discovered that she could read.
In fact, by the end of second grade, she won the Book Snail Contest for reading the most books in her class.
And yes…
That little girl was me.
I still remember those Oxford shoes. I still remember those shiny pennies. And I still remember Mrs. Duran.
More than six decades later, I understand something that five-year-old Cindy couldn't possibly have understood:
Sometimes the difference between a child believing “I can't” and discovering “I can” is simply having the right teacher, the right opportunity—and someone who believes there is another way to help them learn.
And sometimes, apparently, it also helps to have a really great pair of penny loafers.
The Next Chapter…
Perhaps my own little literacy story is one reason Rotary's commitment to education and literacy has always resonated so deeply with me.
As we remember and celebrate all that Dolly Parton did for children through her Imagination Library, I think the real magic of her vision was wonderfully simple: put books into the hands of children and introduce them to the joy of reading at a very young age.
Dolly started the Imagination Library in 1996, inspired in part by her father, who never learned to read or write. What began in her home county in Tennessee grew into a worldwide movement that has now mailed more than 300 million books to children.
And Rotary has been part of that story.
Rotary International partnered with the Imagination Library to help spread the word, fund the effort, register children and bring books into more communities. In fact, Dolly spoke about that partnership in a wonderful interview originally published in The Rotarian in 2010.
Read Rotary International's “Talking Reading and Rotary with Dolly Parton” here.
Think about what can be inside one little book.
A new word. A new idea. A new place. A new possibility.
Maybe even that moment when a child who thinks “I can't” suddenly discovers “I can.”
And Here in Colorado…
Since 2021, more than 3.4 million books have been mailed to Colorado children through the Imagination Library.
Today, more than 92,000 Colorado children receive a book in their mailbox every single month, and more than 62,000 Colorado five-year-olds have already graduated from the program.
Our Rotary clubs throughout District 5450 have long understood the power of education. Over the years, our clubs have contributed many thousands of dollars to Imagination Library programs while also supporting scholarships, schools, literacy projects, youth programs and countless other educational efforts in our communities and around the world.
But our commitment to children goes beyond books.
When we help a child learn, build confidence, feel supported and discover what is possible, we are investing in that child's future—educationally, emotionally and socially.
I am incredibly proud to be part of a Rotary community that continues to say YES to children, YES to education and YES to creating opportunities for the next generation.
Let's Raise a Glass - and a Book!
On September 12, we have an opportunity to celebrate that commitment together.
I invite you to join me at Books on Tap, a community fundraiser benefiting Imagination Library of Denver.
Saturday, September 12 | 2:00–5:00 p.m.
Station 26 Brewing Co. | Denver
Admission is FREE!
Come enjoy an afternoon of books, music, children's activities, community—and yes, perhaps a beer!—while helping put more books into the hands of Denver's youngest readers.
The goal for the afternoon is to raise $40,000—enough to put more than 30,000 books into the hands of Denver children. Even better, the first $10,000 in donations will be matched dollar for dollar.
Books on Tap — Event Information & RSVP
Let's celebrate what has already been accomplished, support what comes next, and continue doing what Rotarians do so well:
Opening doors. Creating opportunities. And helping write the next chapter.
With gratitude,
Cindy Chase
District Governor 2026–2027
Rotary District 5450
Rotary District 5450 is partnering with 
