Leslee Shafer (right) with her membership sponsor Rotarian Denise Springer

October 11, 2011

Leslee Schaffer took the Rotary pledge for community service today, but the Putnam club's newest member already had taken an active role while her membership application was still under the required review. Shaffer rolled up her sleeves and took part in the 2011 Thesaurus Project.

Putnam Rotary distributes personal thesaurus copies to all sixth grade students as part of the National Dictionary Project. (Putnam students receive thesauri because most of them already have dictionaries.)

When the reference books were given out at Poca Middle School (September 30th) and Winfield Middle (October 2nd), Shaffer took charge during the assembly programs and fielded questions while she explained the usage of the new books.

Shaffer comes by her speaking and teaching skills quite naturally in a family of Putnam educators: Her grandfather is Roy Ross, a former principal of Winfield High School; West Teays principal Valerie Fowler is an aunt,

Shaffer holds a bachelor of science in journalism degree from West Virginia University where she graduated magna cum laude.

In her professional life, she is community relations director for Broadmore Senior Living in Teays Valley.

Shaffer was drawn to Rotary by her interest in community outreach activities. She was sponsored for membership by Denise Springer.