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Susan Rueger tapped as one of Idahos Brightest Stars
Owner of Footnotes Bookstore, Susan Rueger, Mountain Home, has been named as one of Idaho's Brightest Stars.
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and First Lady Patricia Kempthorne honored Idaho's 2004 Brightest Stars and presented the inaugural Community of Promise Red Wagon Award in a ceremony held in the regal settings of the Statehouse's fourth-floor Rotunda last week.
The awards recognized individuals, businesses, organizations and communities for their efforts to better the lives of Idaho's families and children.
"These are the people who truly make a positive difference in the lives of children all across the state of Idaho," Kempthorne said. "Their personal investment of time and resources is a driving force in the spirit of caring that makes our state so great. The grand prize winner and the 38 Brightest Stars represent the best of Idaho. They reflect our commitment to the future … our children."
Rueger opened her bookstore, Footnotes, in 2000 with a dream to transform her town into a reading community. She has provided more than 1,400 books to children and families through reading reward programs and partnered with the parents, schools, health care professionals to develop reading families.
Nominated by the Community Action Coalition, Rueger first came to Mountain Home in 1992 courtesy of the United States Air Force. When she retired in 1999, she was already a strong volunteer in the community. She volunteered for the Idaho 2-1-1 project for four years.
Through Footnotes, she made a broad impact on the community's reading program, partnering with both state and national program to put books into the hands of young readers and their families. Her efforts have helped the migrant community, neighboring rural communities, the school children of the Mountain Home School District and their teachers.
Rueger humbly points out that her contributions are really "effortless. There is no pushing, prodding or stressing. Everything just seems to run itself. It is as if people just needed an idea and then they just jump in and make it work like with the Prescription for Reading program or the AR (Accelerated Reading) awards.
"Kids like it because they get to choose their own book. Parents like it because they don't need to 'buy' anything. There are no hidden strings attached."
An avid reader herself, Rueger sees books as an equalizer and reading as a pastime that lends itself to sharing.
In addition to the AR Awards, Parents As Teachers, and Prescription for Reading programs, books from Footnotes also find their way to the rural libraries of Pine, Prairie, Grand View, Bruneau and Glenns Ferry. Others have been donated to the Mountain Home Library for its annual book sale.
Rueger hopes to add still more programs to encourage youth and families to develop their appreciation of reading.
Gov. Kempthorne also awarded the citizens of Orofino with the inaugural Community of Promise Red Wagon Award for the community-wide efforts to help youth.