Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 09/22/1999 All articles from this issue

'Partners' to gather at symposium Sept. 30

printer friendly version

By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

Cindy Leudtke is a vice president at Bank of Los Altos. But she still finds time to tutor in the Friendship Program with a teen at Mountain View High School.

"This girl was in need of a friend. She was a freshman in Mountain View High School and didn't want to talk to anyone," Leudtke said. "She liked photography and I let her take a picture of my family and she started to talk to me. By the end of the year she called me "my older sister."

Leudtke and 60 other Los Altos Rotary Club members mentor in many school locations in the community.

For instance, Bob Adams and Larry Madsen volunteer in noontime sports programs at Alta Vista High School and Joe Renati tutored a Santa Rita student from the third through the fifth grade.

These are a few of the success stories that originate in a program bridging adults and kids called, "Partners for New Generations." This year's program starts with a symposium scheduled 7-9 p.m., Sept. 30. at the Graham Middle School multipurpose room, 1175 Castro St., Mountain View.

The symposium program will feature radio sports personality Joe Eyck and the Rev. Mark Bollwinkle, head pastor of the United Methodist Church in Los Altos.

The program is sponsored by the Los Altos Community Foundation and the three Rotary Clubs of Los Altos and Mountain View.

"The world is changing so rapidly, today kids face uncertainty, confusion and dislocation," last year's speaker, Leo Chavez, chancellor of Foothill-De Anza Community College District, said. "Kids need confidence in their future. One adult working with one child can give that child hope, and some satisfaction to your life."

After the formal speaking session, participants can visit 17 different agencies to choose an area of volunteering interest. Joanna Medin, this year's organizer, said prospective volunteers can visit each of the rooms and if they find an interest in an agency, they can turn in an "interest sheet" at the end of the event.

Partners for New Generations was started during Adams' year as president of the Los Altos Rotary Club in 1996-1997. More than 200 people attended that session.

"The purpose of the evening is to bring people in the community in contact with an agency that assists today's youth," Adams said. "It could be tutoring, mentoring or coaching."

Some of the agencies at this year's symposium include, Friends For Youth, Dreams and Futures, El Camino YMCA, CHAC and Children's Health Awareness Council.

For more information, call 562-1195.