March 5-7, 2010

Boy & Starfish – Making a DifferenceBased 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.

RYLA Workshop Theme

5W’s 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

RYLA History

The state government of Queensland, Australia invited local Rotarians to help plan a festival for the 100th anniversary. Queen Elizabeth II was sending her cousin Princess Alexandra, who was in her early 20s and Rotarians wanted to have activities specifically for the princess' age group.

More than 300 men and women between the ages of 17 and 23 attended. Encouraged by the event's popularity with the young attendees, Rotary saw potential to create an annual youth program. Governor Art Brand of then-District 260 approved the project, and on 2 May 1960, RYLA was born.

Australian districts 258 and 260 shared in establishing the official framework of RYLA: to train youth (ages 14-18) in character, leadership, personal development, and good citizenship. These guidelines helped RYLA expand to all Rotary districts in Australia and led to its eventual approval as an international program at the 1971 RI Convention in Sydney, Australia. By 1998, RYLA had become an established program in more than half of the 521 Rotary districts worldwide.

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

Pathway to Rotary

14 – 18 year olds Developing Skills14 – 18 year olds Developing Skills

14 – 18 year olds14 – 18 year olds 14 – 18 year olds Applying Skills

14 – 18 year olds Applying Skills

18 – 31 year olds Mentoring

Young Leaders

18 – 31 year olds Mentoring

Young Leaders

Service Above Self

Service Above Self

It’s about sharing with and mentoring our youth and developing tomorrow’s leaders.It’s about sharing with and mentoring our youth and developing tomorrow’s leaders.It’s about sharing with and mentoring our youth and developing tomorrow’s leaders.It’s about sharing with and mentoring our youth and developing tomorrow’s leaders.

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

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:Development of future leaders is more important than ever: Rotary’s 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.

Development of future leaders is more important than ever:Development of future leaders is more important than ever: Rotary’s 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.

Exposure To Values

Ethical Ethical behaviorbehavior

Ethical Ethical behaviorbehavior

Integrity of Integrity of charactercharacter

Integrity of Integrity of charactercharacter

Commitment to Commitment to community servicecommunity service

Commitment to Commitment to community servicecommunity service

Delegates are Delegates are exposed to values exposed to values

that Rotarians that Rotarians deem essential for deem essential for

those who hold those who hold leadership leadership positionspositions

Delegates are Delegates are exposed to values exposed to values

that Rotarians that Rotarians deem essential for deem essential for

those who hold those who hold leadership leadership positionspositions

Pressure on youth is increasing.. Standards and values are being challenged from every Pressure on youth is increasing.. Standards and values are being challenged from every corner. More than ever, young people need strong, effective leadership.corner. More than ever, young people need strong, effective leadership.Pressure on youth is increasing.. Standards and values are being challenged from every Pressure on youth is increasing.. Standards and values are being challenged from every corner. More than ever, young people need strong, effective leadership.corner. More than ever, young people need strong, effective leadership.

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.Meeting the requirements of the Four-Way Test and not forgetting fun.Meeting the requirements of the Four-Way Test and not forgetting fun.Meeting the requirements of the Four-Way Test and not forgetting fun.

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

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.

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”

What’s New?

• Facilitator Training (Mandatory)• Counselors background checks (Mandatory)• Waterfront location• All applicants interviewed• Meals structured like a Rotary meeting• Speakers from a diverse background—speaking

with the Rylarians not to them• Facilitator handbook• Handouts• Emphasis on transition to Interact

Share an inspiring experience with tomorrow's leaders?

Mentor youth to further develop their talents and abilities?

Help youth accomplish personal goals through teamwork?

To begin making a difference?

Rotarians are you ready?

Planning Facts

100 1st year RYLArians

15 (previous RYLArian) Junior Counselors

20 Staff Members/District Representatives/Volunteers/Rotarians

Total of 135 participating for the entire workshop

RYLA Chair

For more information contact:

RYLA Chair RYLA Vice Chair

Thud Hill Kelly Penwell

(631) 369-1234 x 107 (516) 903-7561

Thudhill85@yahoo.com KCPenwell@aol.com

March 5-7