Making a Difference!

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DISTRICT 7260
March 5-7, 2010
2010
Making a Difference!
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RYLA Workshop Theme
Boy Starfish Making a Difference Based on the
story by Loren Eisley I awoke early, as I often
did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's
edge. As I moved through the misty dawn, I
focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a
youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms,
dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of
the perfect day soon to begin. As I approached, I
sadly realized that the youth bending to sift
through the debris left by the night's tide,
stopping now and then to pick up a starfish and
then standing, to heave it back into the sea. I
asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The
tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and
they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the
youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will
die, unless I throw them back to the sea." As the
youth explained, I surveyed the vast expanse of
beach, stretching in both directions beyond my
sight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers
beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the
youth's plan became clear to me and I countered,
"But there are more starfish on this beach than
you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely
you cannot expect to make a difference." The
youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent
to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as
possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made
a difference to that one." I spent the rest of
the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the
sea.
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5Ws of RYLA

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why

• Rotarians and Students
• RYLA Workshop
• March 5-7 2010
• Camp de Wolfe, Wading River, NY
• To share and exercise leadership skills with youth

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RYLA History
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Why RYLA?

• Investment Opportunity - spending time and
  developing youth leadership
• Community Service - promoting closer
  relationships between youth and adults
• Providing Understanding - bringing youth from
  across Suffolk County to share ideas and
  experiences
• Inspiring Youth - creating a forum where together
  youth discuss, work, and learn about problems
  facing their generation
• Making a Difference - exposing them to and
  refining leadership skills and techniques

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Pathway to Rotary
14 18 year olds Applying Skills
14 18 year olds
18 31 year olds Mentoring Young Leaders
Service Above Self
14 18 year olds Developing Skills
Its about sharing with and mentoring our youth
and developing tomorrows leaders.
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District 7260 RYLA Aims

• Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for
  youth
• Provide an effective training experience for
  selected youth and potential leaders
• Encourage leadership of youth by youth
• Recognize publicly young people who are
  rendering service to their communities

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RYLA Opportunity

• Develop and exercise leadership skills
• Increase Self Confidence
• Gain exposure to a variety of issues and people
• Make new friends
• Obtain career information and skills
• Meet community leaders and mentors

Development of future leaders is more important
than ever Rotarys emphasis is on helping
youth, we want to seize the opportunity to help
shape and inspire the lives of future generations
by taking an active role in the development of
their leaders. RYLA is that opportunity.
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Exposure To Values
Ethical behavior
Delegates are exposed to values that Rotarians
deem essential for those who hold leadership
positions
Integrity of character
Commitment to community service
Pressure on youth is increasing.. Standards and
values are being challenged from every corner.
More than ever, young people need strong,
effective leadership.
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RYLA Core Curriculum

• Fundamentals of leadership
• Ethics of positive leadership
• Importance of communication skills in effective
  leadership
• Problem-solving and conflict management
• Rotary's purpose and service to the community
• Building self confidence and self-esteem
• Elements of community and global citizenship
• Leadership Confidence

Meeting the requirements of the Four-Way Test and
not forgetting fun.
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Selecting First Year Rylarians

• Sponsoring club review applications and conduct
  interviews
• Tenth graders
• Children of Rotarians
• Interactors
• Local students
• Focus on demonstrated leadership potential in
  community, schools, and service organizations
• Sponsoring clubs submit up to 2 primary and 2
  wait list candidates
• RYLA alumi may choose to serve Rotary by applying
  to be a Facilitator the year following their RYLA
  experience.
• Approximately 15 will be selected by the District
  RYLA Selection Committee
• Looking for exceptional RYLArians to serve on the
  youth committee

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RYLA Selection Criteria
Leadership Potential Does the applicant possess
the qualities required of an effective
leader? Leadership Experience Does he/she
have experience in a leadership (e.g. class
officer, team captain, school club officer)
Academic Ability Do they seriously pursues
his/her studies to the best of their
ability? Extracurricular Activities Does the
individual participate in after-school
activities? Intellectual Curiosity Do they
question what they experience or do they simply
accept it? Articulation Does the applicant
express thoughts and feelings clearly and
effectively? Relationship with Peers How
easily does the individual get along with
others? Openness to RYLA Experience Are they
willing and eager to participate in a new
experience, with a new group of
peers? Diversity Does the
candidate reflect the cultural diversity of your
community? Commitment Will the applicant
dedicate themselves to fully participate for the
entire workshop?
Rotary is looking for sincere, interested and
well-rounded students for the RYLA Workshop.
Club assistance and
cooperation is very important in making this a
quality experience for all.
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RYLA Facts

• District Program
• Completely run by students structured by
  Rotarians
• Variety of ways to help (big and small)
• Success of the program is based on
• quality of participants
• trained and certified facilitators and youth
  committee members
• well-prepared exercises, events, and
  presentations
• well executed curriculum
• adequate funding
• support from Rotarians from across District 7260
  Making a Difference

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Whats New?

• Facilitator Training (Mandatory)
• Counselors background checks (Mandatory)
• Waterfront location
• All applicants interviewed
• Meals structured like a Rotary meeting
• Speakers from a diverse backgroundspeaking with
  the Rylarians not to them
• Facilitator handbook
• Handouts
• Emphasis on transition to Interact

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Rotarians are you ready?
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Planning Facts

• 1st year RYLArians
• 15 (previous RYLArian) Junior Counselors
• 20 Staff Members/District Representatives/Volu
  nteers/Rotarians
• Total of 135 participating for the entire workshop

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RYLA Chair
For more information contact RYLA Chair RYLA
Vice Chair Thud Hill Kelly Penwell (631)
369-1234 x 107 [phone] Thudhil
l85_at_yahoo.com KCPenwell_at_aol.com
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DISTRICT 7260
March 5-7
2010
Making a Difference!