Thank you for coming

1
Welcome
Orientation Program for Host Families and Club
Volunteers

• Thank you for coming

2
Congratulations!
Orientation Program for Host Families and Club
Youth Exchange Officers

• Youre Expecting a New Arrival

3
Orientation Agenda

• What is Rotary and its purpose?
• Who are Rotary exchange students?
• Expectations families, students, clubs
• Arrival and settling in
• Student transition throughout year
• Insurance, Finances, Travel, School
• Rotary involvement Support system
• Activities and calendar
• End of the year
• Other topics
• Student Protection Policy (video)

4
What is Rotary International?

• Worlds oldest and most international service
  organization
• 1¼ million Rotarians, in 170 countries
• Celebrated 100th anniversary in 2005
• 32,000 clubs, in 520 districts
• Rotary Motto Service Above Self
• The Four Way Test
• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOOD WILL and better friendships?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
• The Rotary Foundation
• Polio Plus
• Nicaragua

5
What is Rotary District 5890?

• In Houston area, Rotary is District 5890
• 10 counties
• Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Harris,
  Matagorda, Washington, Wharton, Fort Bend,
  Montgomery
• From Weimer to Brenham, to Tomball, to Kingwood,
  to Clear Lake, to Lake Jackson, to El Campo
• 60 Rotary Clubs
• Approximately 1,700 Rotarians

6
District Leadership

• Co-Youth Exchange Officers
• Tony Sortino
• sortino_at_cdstexas.com
• 281-370-5162 (home)
• 281-351-4040 (work)
• 832-723-1302 (cell)
• Mindi Snyder
• mindis_at_ci.rosenberg.tx.us (until Sept 1)
• msnyder_at_ci.el-campo.tx.us (after Sept 1)
• 979-543-1822 (home)
• 832-595-3369 (work until Sept 1)
• 979-541-5000 (work after Sept 1)

7
District Leadership

• Youth Protection Officer
• Ted Turk
• tedmturk_at_sbcglobal.net
• 713-957-9888 (home)
• 713-821-9335 (work)
• 713-305-3026 (Cell)

8
District Leadership

• District Insurance Officer
• Carl Luckenbach
• cluckenbach_at_sbcglobal.net
• 281-257-8564 (home)
• 281-651-0002 (work)
• 281-796-8151 (cell)

9
District Leadership

• District Compliance Officer Anais Watsky
• Please send compliance paperwork and information
  to Beverly Galinski !!!
• 281-937-0298 (home)
• 713-542-6704 (cell)
• beverlygalinski_at_yahoo.com
• 7403 Orchard Hills Lane
• Sugar Land, Tx 77479

10
Purpose of Long Term RYE Program

• Promote Rotarys goal of world peace and
  understanding, one person, one exchange at a time
  

11
Background Information

• District-to-district program
• 8,000 exchange students per year
• Open to children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians
  alike
• Operated completely by volunteer Rotarians as
  part of Rotarys commitment to international and
  community service
• In compliance with certification reqments of RI
  and US Department of State

12
Who are Our Inbound Exchange Students?

• Outstanding young people
• Age 16-18½ upon arrival
• Carefully selected and well prepared
• Most speak English well
• Anxious and excited to
• Learn our language
• Discover American culture
• Represent their countries
• Become part of your family

13
Expectations of Club YEO

• Ensure YE committee for club
• Ensure club compliance with district
• Forms required on district web site
• Provide counselor
• Lead effort to find host families
• Report changes of address to district

14
Expectations of Counselor

• Club representative for student and host families
• Beginning tasks
• Save important papers
• Return airline ticket
• Passport, Visa, DS 2019 form, I94
• Retain emergency fund (400)
• Register student at school
• Obtain Texas ID for student (using I94 form)

15
Expectations of Counselor

• Throughout year
• Be an advocate for student
• Support host families schools
• Ensure help with transportation
• Invite to meetings/involve club members
• Arrange transition to new host family

16
Expectations of Counselor

• Ongoing tasks
• Maintain monthly contact (form enclosed)
• Provide monthly allowance
• Inform students and families of district
  activities
• Transition
• Orient new families about current situations and
  upcoming activities
• Problem Solving
• Assist student and family with resolving problems
  before problems get big

17
Expectations of Host Families

• Provide a home away from home
• Clearly communicate family expectations
• Treat student like your own child
• Love, support, encouragement, understanding,
  discipline
• Know their new friends
• Be willing to say No when appropriate

18
Expectations of Host Families

• Help with challenges
• Language
• School
• Culture shock
• Homesickness
• Provide an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, a
  hand to depend on

19
Expectations of Students

• Represent country and Rotary (be ambassadors)
• Adapt to host family
• Learn our language and learn our culture
• Perform well in school
• Communicate
• Participate in Rotary, school, and community
  activities
• Return home within 2 weeks of end of school, or 1
  week after USA Tour

20
Expectations of Students

• Program Rules Guidance
• No Driving, Drinking, Dating, and Drugs
• No Downloading onto family computers
• Well Groomed (no tattoos, extra body rings)
• No Smoking (state law)
• Maintain Excellent School attendance
• Make Right Set of Friends
• Participate in Community Volunteering
• No Working at a job
• Restricted visits / communications from home

21
Arrival and Settling In

• Welcoming your student
• Meet at airport
• First Night Questions (enclosed)
• Introduce them to family friends
• Have a welcome party
• Encourage family involvement
• Do not let them retreat to their room
• In-room tv, telephone, computer not good

22
Being the 1st Host Family

• Excitement everything is new
• Culture shock major adaptations
• Language struggles
• School arrangements
• Often the closest bonds
• Set the standards for the year

23
Sample Family Rules

• Be on time / let family know where you are
• Curfew
• Do school homework
• No telephone after certain hour
• Help with chores (cleaning dishes, mowing lawn,
  etc.)

24
Use of Telephone

• Explain how it works set rules for use
• Limit calls to country (family, friends)
• Helps them to overcome homesickness
• Options for student calling home
• Telephone card
• Call parents ask them to call them back
• Be aware Large phone bills have occurred

25
Use of Family Computer

• Do not let student spend too much time on
  computer
• Limit / prohibit downloading information
• Explain no visits to sites in poor taste
• Ensure not too many emails to family and friends
  back home
• Makes adapting to our culture more difficult

26
Making Close Friends

• A major challenge to YE students
• Help in finding clubs for student to join, even
  before student arrives
• Interact (in many of the schools)
• Sports
• Theater
• Band, orchestra
• Active participation is good cure for homesickness

27
Problem Solving

• Some problems will occur
• Student must ask for help, in this order
• Host family
• Club counselor
• Club youth exchange officer
• District Youth exchange committee (inbound chair,
  YEO, committee)
• Do not let small problems become big problems

28
Being the 2nd/Last Host Family

• Second (or Third) Host Family
• Transition issues
• New family practices
• Language and culture begin to click
• Last Host Family
• Comfortable with language and culture
• Big events prom, graduation, departure
• Preparing for separation
• Tearful goodbyes

29
Sibling Relationships

• The Good
• Set the example
• Be a protector and a listener
• Introduce to friends activities
• The Not-so-good
• Jealousy
• Withdraw from family exchange student

30
Medical Insurance Care

• All Inbounds Insured (keep cards on them at all
  times)
• Plan B CISI/Bolduc policy normally
• Plan A for Sweden, Belgium, Danish students who
  bring insurance from their country
• CISI/Bolduc Plan B
• Medical per Accident/Illness - 500K
• Repatriation - 10K
• Medical Evacuation - 50K
• Deductible - 100 One time
• Web Site www.cisi-Bolduc.com

31
Medical Insurance Care

• In the event of illness/accident
• Stabilize first
• Call Rotary Contact in Club (counselor, YEO)
• Emergency medical release provided by family
• Be sure each host family has copy of release form
• Part of students application
• Use club member or host family doctors
• Notifying students family
• Let Rotary do the contacting once details are
  known

32
Student Finances

• Emergency Fund
• 400.00 from students maintained by Host Club
• True emergencies medical, etc.
• Monthly Stipend from Rotary
• Student Bank Account
• Rotarian normally co-signs
• Student may have home Credit/Debit Card
• Student should not overspend

33
Host Family Finances

• Support day to day routine expenses
• Room and board
• Laundry detergent, toothpaste, soap etc.
• Regular family activities movies, out to eat,
  family trips etc.
• Extra-ordinary expenses
• Clothing and postage are student responsibility
• Telephone Long distance costs are student
  responsibility
• Family vacations discuss expenses, establish
  share of cost long before departure

34
Student Travel

• Cultural Educational Program
• NOT Travel program
• District, clubs, families often provide
  opportunities
• Students not allowed to travel alone or make own
  travel plans
• Special requests must be pre-approved by YEO
• Approval from natural Parents Required
• Unauthorized Travel will result in student being
  returned home (has happened)

35
School

• Educational program - student visas
• Class participation essential
• Rotary counselor to set schedule
• NO Driver Education
• Encourage participation
• Sports (not in varsity if has graduated)
• Music, Theater, etc.
• Interact
• Help with Homework
• Suggest student get phone for attentive
  classmate in each class

36
Support System

• Club Level
• Counselor
• Youth Exchange Officer
• President
• District Level
• In-Bound Chairman
• Youth Exchange Officer
• Student Protection Officer
• Dept of State requires students to know how to
  contact them
• All information on club contact form

37
Activities and Calendar

• Mandatory Events
• Inbound Orientation September 10-12
• In New Braunfels
• Depart Friday morning, 800 AM
• Transportation by Rotary
• Return Sunday afternoon, 500 PM
• District Conference April 28-30
• Hyatt Regency Resorts and Spa
• Lost Pines, Texas (Bastrop)

38
Activities and Calendar

• Optional activities
• George Ranch Week-end Oct 16-17
• Christmas party Dec 4-5
• Youth Exchange Conference Jan 28-30
• Host Family Appreciation Banquet Feb
• Interact District Conference Mar 5-6
• RI Convention New Orleans May 19-23
• Farewell party Jun 4

39
SCRYE Spring Break Tour

• Participation at student expense
• Orlando / Disneyworld
• March 13 19
• Coincides with most spring breaks
• Not to interfere with family plans
• Student Cost -- 795 airfare

40
SCRYE Summer Tours

• 2 weeks Tours in June
• Western tour Las Vegas, California, Grand
  Canyon
• Eastern tour Washington D.C., New York, Niagara
  Falls, Boston
• Student cost 1,975 airfare
• 4 week Tour June / July
• All across US cost 2,600 airfare
• Rotary will suggest flights so students can
  purchase / fly together

41
The End of the Year

• Leaving for home will be hard for the student and
  the host families
• Reverse culture shock
• The more successful the exchange, the harder the
  leaving re-entry
• Maintain contact
• You WILL probably see them again

42
District Student Protection Policy

• See Video

43
Student Protection Policy

• Our Role
• Maintain safest possible environment for all
  participants
• Safeguard welfare and prevent physical, sexual,
  emotional or financial abuse of exchange students
• Provide means to address all concerns and
  indications of harassment or abuse

44
Student Protection Code

• Do
• Treat students with respect - be aware of your
  tone of voice manner and their reactions
• OK to touch and hug students in a way that is not
  intrusive/disturbing to them or observers
• Control who they hang around with
• Communicate with Rotary D5890 Student Protection
  Officer if there are any allegations or
  suspicions or if you have questions

45
Student Protection Code

• DO NOT
• Engage in rough physical games including
  horseplay
• Use physical force in any way, especially as a
  form of punishment
• Touch an exchange student in any way that could
  be interpreted as intrusive or sexual
• Make sexually suggestive comments, even as joke
• Spend excessive time alone with a student, which
  may lead to misunderstanding

46
Student Protection Guidelines

• What to do if your exchange student tells you of
  Harassment and/or Abuse (video)
• Listen attentively let him/her know it was
  right to tell you
• Assure him/her that they are not to blame
• Remain calm and make sure student feels safe
• Encourage student to share with you what happened
  and who was involved
• Make detailed notes including date time
• Dont promise to keep secrets explain the
  necessity of informing Protection Officer

47
Student Protection Guidelines

• Keep Communications Open
• Assure student that you can jointly address
  his/her concerns/problem
• With all of us working together, we can keep our
  exchange students safe and make this a meaningful
  and happy exchange experience for all of us.

48
Summary

• We have assumed the legal and moral
  responsibility for someone elses children
• We are here to help you and the student have a
  meaningful and safe year to learn and live our
  American culture
• We cannot help if we do not know

49
Particulars for 2010 2011
50
District 5890 Exchanges

• 23 Inbound exchange students (15 countries)
• List of students / host clubs enclosed
• 23 Outbound exchange students
• 16 Short-Term exchanges
• For 2011 2012 recruiting
• Will conduct information meetings in September /
  October
• Presentation Available
• Let us know if you wish for our help)
• Club interviews October / November
• District interviews December 4-5

51
Questions

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