From Madera Tribune by Nancy W. Simpson​ 

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. – The Madera Rotary Club held a speech contest at its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 30. There was only one contestant, Isaiah Hernandez, from Juvenile Hall’s Endeavor/Voyager Secondary School.

The contest was introduced by Rotarian Bobby Carter, and Alice Carter gave the instructions to Rotarian judges Candy Talley, Karen Mitchell, and Bert Roper and to Rotarian timekeeper Velvet Rhoads. The speech was to be five minutes long. This year’s topic was “How does Rotary create hope in the world?” Hernandez began his speech with a compliment to Rotary saying, “Rotary creates hope by selfless care and concern for the people of the world.”  

He then gave information he had researched about Rotary, its history, and how it got its name. “They named the club after a cog and wheel. They did this because the club meetings rotated in various offices,” he explained. Hernandez gave many examples of programs the Rotary Club has implemented both locally and internationally. 

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He continued, “They have provided valuable service to Madera Food Bank. They have provided funds for Christmas food baskets and toy giveaways. What a wonderful surprise for children to receive toys on Christmas morning. Additionally, Madera Rotary has given many scholarships for high school seniors.” He talked about the work being done in Guatemala and other parts of the world.

Hernandez was supported by family, friends, and instructors. His speech was well-received by the Rotarians present. When the speech was completed, Betty Klein, Isaiah’s English teacher at Endeavor/Voyager Secondary School spoke about how much the Rotary Club has done in our community. She said, “Rotary has done many works in Madera County, but there is none that parallels to what Rotary, has done for the juvenile home. Eleven years ago, I called Cindy Dolph, who was then Assistant Superintendent of the Madera County Office of Education.

And I asked her, ‘We’d like to enter a speech contest.’” Dolph introduced the idea to the Rotary Club, and for the past eleven years, they have participated in this speech contest. Even through Covid, they were able to do the speeches via Zoom.