Rotary Youth Leadership Academy

It's been nother successful RYLA year! We engaged sixty one 16 year old students and fourteen staff counselors over the June 21 – 23 weekend. Fifty of the students were from District 7850 and we had eleven students from our southern District, 7870. The fourteen staff counselors were graduates from previous RYLA events, who got the opportunity to practice their leadership skills.

Throughout the weekend, the students get to participate in activities, figure out how they did, and what to adjust to improve how they performed. We pulled all students out of their comfort zone. At the end of the weekend, DGN Ariel questioned the group “Now what? Where do you go from here?" Many participants shared concepts of community service: One concept was to give manicures at senior housing, and I hear that this is already in process.

I want to thank the Rotarians involved with this program. Bob, our Registrar, and those in person for the weekend: Mike from Plymouth, Jason from Middlebury and Marti from Lincoln Woodstock. Also, our leadership from District 7870 included Carson and Robert.  Katie from Southern Connecticut came up and shared how to be a public speaker and identifying “what is a leader”. Roger, a former Sherbrooke Rotarian, is still highly involved in this program, encouraging the youth to reach out of their comfort zone and lead.

Finally, thank you to ALL of the Clubs who sponsored RYLAians to attend, building their confidence and showing ways to be good citizens. Without your support, we would not have this Leadership Academy!

Next year, RYLA will be held on June 20 – 22. Please consider sending students. 

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITY! We are looking for at least 8 clubs to contribute $500 each to support the Rise Against Hunger event that happens at RYLA. We will pack at least 10,000 meals for families overseas. This allows us to stay in budget and not increase the cost to send the students. Please let me know if you are willing to help feed the hungry. Larryvrotary@gmail.com