Charlotte Ruoff Receives the Service Above Self Awards
Charlotte Ruoff, a member of the Independence, MO Rotary Club since 2002, was nominated for and awarded Rotary’s coveted “Service Above Self” Award. This special award is awarded to only 150 Rotarians worldwide, out of over 1.2 million Rotarians, who truly exemplify Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self.
Kenny Harris, Charlotte Ruoff, Cassy Venters
In 1988, Charlotte began holding seminars in Honduras to train teachers who had little education and no training. Each summer, 3-4 seminars are given in Honduras with 15 to 60 teachers attending. In 1998, Charlotte began a program to bring Honduran teachers to the U.S. for two weeks training in elementary schools. These teachers then commit to train others when they return to Honduras.
With the aid of other Rotary Clubs in Honduras, and the aid of Rotary’s Matching and District Simplified Grants, Charlotte has established eight teacher resource centers in Honduras, providing tools, aids, and equipment for many teachers and thereby helping hundreds of students.
Due in large part to Charlotte and Norman Ruoff’s efforts, hundreds of Honduran teachers have received training and have been provided with resources to help them be better teachers, and thousands of children have had their lives changed.
Charlotte accepted her award at District 6040’s Annual District Conference and Reunion in Blue Springs, MO on April, 27, 2013.
Charlotte and Norman Ruoff