Lockport Rotary & Other Service Clubs Convene With The Head Of Local Schools
The Zonta Cl
ub of Lockport hosted a local service groups’ luncheon with keynote speaker Mathis Calvin III, superintendent of Lockport City School District, on Tuesday. To members of the Lions, Rotary, Sunrise Optimist, Barge Canal Optimist and Zonta clubs, Calvin spread his message of “welcoming” and “affirming” schools for all Lockport students, and unveiled the district’s slogan, “We Are All Lions — We All Belong.”
ub of Lockport hosted a local service groups’ luncheon with keynote speaker Mathis Calvin III, superintendent of Lockport City School District, on Tuesday. To members of the Lions, Rotary, Sunrise Optimist, Barge Canal Optimist and Zonta clubs, Calvin spread his message of “welcoming” and “affirming” schools for all Lockport students, and unveiled the district’s slogan, “We Are All Lions — We All Belong.”From left, Becky Wilson, president of Barge Canal Optimist Club, Mathis Calvin III, superintendent of Lockport City School District, Dianne Cross, past president of the Zonta Club of Lockport, Mike Stein, president of Lockport Lions Club, David Chanin, president of Sunrise Optimist Club, and Shelley Unocic, president of the Rotary Club of Lockport, stand for a photo during the Zonta Club-hosted 2023 joint meeting of local service clubs at 80 Main Banquet & Catering on Tuesday.
-submitted by Brandi Reed
Further, Calvin invited his audience to consider joining the district’s new strategic planning committee, which will consist of 54 interested community members.
“Everything you can say or do to support our students, we welcome,” Calvin said. “Partnership, connections. There are children in the community that need mentors. There’s children in our school district that need someone they can connect with. There are children in our district that just need someone to spend some time with who says, ‘You can do it, you can make it!’
“We know we can’t do this by ourselves, so anyone who wants to jump in and help? We’ll make it happen.”
Calvin’s speech seemed to be well received by local Lions, Rotarians, Optimists and Zontians.
“Each of us garnered a better understanding of the new superintendent,” said Shelley Unocic, Rotary Club president. “(Calvin) shared his personal story of past service and fellowship. This played a large part in his plan and vision to move the district forward and positively impact every student. He is a past Rotarian and exemplifies the Rotary model of ‘service above self.’”
Zontian Dianne Cross said Calvin did a “great job” explaining what the Zonta Club is all about and she enjoyed his speech.
“I think, because of this, there will be many great partnerships between Lockport school district and service group members,” she said.
Becky Wilson, president of Barge Canal Optimist Club, noted that there are four Optimist clubs in Lockport, all of them dedicated to serving youths, and predicted many Optimists will join in to help Lockport schools.