In honor of Veterans Day a special program will be presented at our meeting on November 5th.
A profile of Korean War hero William Charette will highlight the fascinating life of this
Michigan farm boy who would go on to win his country’s highest military honor.
Please take this opportunity to invite any local veterans or other interested persons to
join us at our meeting as we celebrate this significant National Holiday.
Editor’s Note:
We’d also like to take this opportunity to recognize Cecil Latham and thank him for sharing his knowledge and gift for storytelling.
The
Round Rock Caring Kids Serteen Club was formed during the 1985-86 school year at C.D. Fulkes Middle School. Round Rock Sertoma, Round Rock Evening Sertoma, and Round Rock La
Sertoma jointly sponsored the Serteen Club. Gerry Brown, was and is the teacher sponsor.
Gerry Brown came to C.D. Fulkes from the Texas School for the Deaf bringing her special
gift of understanding, caring, and “yes” demanding the best from her students. Gerry is
said to epitomize the old teacher’s prayer:
“Wanting to teach students how to live life on earth – to improve their worth.
Not just the
lessons in a book, but how to choose the proper path wherever they may go.”
From the beginning the club was enthusiastically embraced by students with warm giving
hearts and hands. Service to mankind had a very special meaning to the young students.
The club started with 21 students and quickly grew. The club has always been multi-cultural
and filled a special need on campus. At first the projects were small; survival kits for
teachers, corsages for PTA leaders, Christmas decorations for nursing homes with visits by
the club members, and pizza parties from good Sertoman’s.
In 1990 Gerry lead the club in an effort to build a memorial garden complete with stone
marker to honor the memory of Kelly Brumbelow. Kelly’s sudden death at the hands of a fellow
student left students and faculty at a loss for dealing with such tragedy. The club raised
funds, $2,500, and Gerry used her persuasive ability to get club members, faculty, students,
parents, and local businesses to contribute time, work, and funds to the project. Serteens
worked to prepare the area, about 1,500 square feet, for planting. About 100 students
assisted in the actual planting. The garden is still maintained by Serteens. Gerry arranged
a beautiful dedication ceremony with the honoree’s parents, school officials, and other
dignitaries. The dedication provided a beginning to healing.
For a time the Serteens put on puppet shows at Brackenridge Children’s Hospital. The plays
were in high demand by the hospital and much enjoyed by the students. Unfortunately the time
needed to put together the plays, rehearse, and then perform became too much for one person
to coordinate.
Activities since 1995 have included maintaining the memorial garden, adding names to the
memorial for students and teachers that passed away, mentoring students at Berkman Elementary,
storytelling at Berkman, raising funds for a teacher with larger medical bills, putting
together teacher and PTA officers appreciation programs at Valentines, and making and
delivering cookies to nursing homes.
In August 2001 a new memorial garden was installed just outside the main entrance. This
consists of flowers surrounding a granite bench engraved with a memorial to Katelyn Spann
Chatron, 5/1/98 – 9/26/00. Katelyn was a sixth grade student that died last year from a
brain tumor. Her two older sisters had been Serteens and it was her wish to live long
enough to also be a Serteen.
Fund raising has consisted of car washing; concession stand operations; selling Valentine
carnations, balloons, Mother’s Day orchids, face painting, and manning the striker.
All activities carried out by the Round Rock Caring Kids Serteen Club are to teach kids
respect for others and themselves, provide low cost ways for students to recognize their
parents, school faculty, other students, and the people in their community. It is all about
teaching values.
The Round Rock Sertoma Club recognized Gerry Brown as their Service To Mankind award winner
in 1998. Visit their web site at:
http://www.roundrockisd.org/cdfulkes/OurSchool/clubs/serteen.htm
Contributed by Rufus Honeycutt
Serteen Advisor