ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to: 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 and recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities.  Students from all over District 6220 including Rotary Youth Exchange students participated in the conference from Friday, October 4 – Sunday, October 6 at Camp Manito-wish YMCA in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin.  Our Club sponsored 6 students – 2 from Appleton East, Appleton North and Appleton West High Schools.  These students were selected by school administrators and members of the RYLA Committee. Today, the students were awarded a framed certificate in recognition of successful completion of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards curriculum. 

Noah Young said that he did not know what to expect when he was chosen to attend.  He met some outstanding people that he still keeps in contact.  Noah participated in many activities that changed his definition of leadership - someone who is able to take the strengths and ideas of many to benefit the whole. 

Gloria Salinia Villagomez told how she was honored to be picked.  It was a fun and awesome experience meeting and working with many new people.  She learned how to trust people playing with noodles on the high ropes.

Jovante McGraw had a phenomenal time learning about himself as well as others.  The camp was a place that he felt comfortable with no one making judgments or racial slurs. He feels that the conference made a difference to help change the world.

Emily Osenroth originally did not want to go since she did not know what to expect.  The last day she did not want to leave.  There was an activity where people shared their dreams for the future which varied.  She gained a new understanding of what she wants to do after she graduates high school. 

Myra Medina thought this was going to be a symposium.  She met many new people from different cultures since Rotary Youth Exchange students also attended.  While in groups, everyone was considered a leader.  She learned that there were different kinds of leaders:  some helped to reach goals and some settled or calmed others.  She learned the importance of self reflection and awareness during a night hike.  She also appreciated being out in nature.

Desiree Lipka told how she got out of her comfort zone once everyone got to know one another.  She said it was one of the best experiences she has had.  During a campfire, people confided in one another and shared secrets.  During a trust game, she found out that people were always there for her. 

Thanks to the RYLA Committee for planning this for the students:  Dennis Hietpas, Gary Hermsen, Marta Weldon, Shannon Full, Rosie Cannizzo, Alyce Dumke, Jon Kester, John Mielke, Martin Rudd and Patti Warmenhoven.  Thanks to Jon Kester for driving the students to camp and John and Sally Mielke for bringing them back to Appleton.

DINNER AND SAMP PACKING

the Family of Rotary Committee is holding a dinner before packing for the Sharing Around (the World) Medical Project:

Tuesday, October 29

Dinner - 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Packing - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Goodwill Industries Shiner Center

Get to know your fellow Rotarians and get a makeup.

ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENTS - ELINOR BELL AND FLORA PRADA

Rotary Youth Exchange is a study-abroad opportunity for young people who spend anywhere from a few weeks to a full year as an international student hosted by local Rotary clubs to foster world peace, understanding and goodwill.  Rotary International started this program in 1929 and District 6220 started it in 1970.  Annually, over 30,000 students from 78 countries share their culture with one another. 

Elinor Bell spend last year in a small village called Maglod near Budapest, Hungary.  Ellie talked about the culture and how families including extended families are very close.  There is also the fear of getting sick.  Public transportation became part of her everyday life and it gave her freedom.  The food was the favorite part of the culture which was heavy on spices and carbohydrates.  All the food was homemade and not out of a can or box.  The people in Hungary are very proud of their country which is like no other.  Hungary was part of the socialist regime.  The people in Hungary celebrate Christmas for 1 week (December 24 - January 1).  Each day family gets together to eat a massive meal and give gifts.  St. Stephen's Day is celebrated on August 20 and is similar to the 4th of July where fireworks are displayed over parliament.  During St. Nicholas shoes are put on windows.  The official language is Hungarian which is said to be one of the hardest languages to learn.  There are 44 letters in its alphabet.  Ellie stayed with one host family during her year in Hungary.  They took her to everything worth seeing.  She went to 2 different schools since the first one did not go so well.  She took piano lessons, went on a European tour of 11 countries and Ellie's family came to visit her.  Ellie participated in a competition with a one hour test, singing, acting out a scene, writing a poem, speaking Hungarian only for an entire week and writing a speech.  She was the first American to win this award. 

Flora Prada is from Berazategui, a town in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Berazategui has a population of 320,000 people and Buenos Aires has a population of about 13 million. During the winter, temperatures are about 34-40 degrees and in summer 100-110 degrees.   She was born on December 23, 1995 and is the youngest in her family.  She has 2 step brothers, 1 step sister, 2 cats and 3 dogs.  Her family travels to their beach house for a couple of months each year.  Flora's hobbies are dance, choir, musicals, painting, field hockey, Rotaract and learning the English language.  Elementary, middle and high school are in the same building.  Flora went to a private fine arts school where there were about 300 students.  During her trip to Appleton, she didn't sleep on the plane, got sick, missed her flight because she was buying a t-shirt and got lost in the Detroit airport.  Flora's first host family was the Cross'.  In the beginning of her stay, she was very homesick.  The Cross's took her to Henryville, Indiana, and Sarasota, Florida.  Flora then stayed with the Taylor's who took her to the Mall of America.  Her aunt came to visit and took her to Atlantic City and New York City.  Flora then stayed with the Helein's who took her to Upper Michigan, their cabin, fishing and held an Argentina night for her.  Now she is staying with Carol Busey.  Flora attends Appleton East High School and is involved in choir and went to homecoming 2 weeks ago.

Happy Hour - Tuesday, November 5

The next Rotary Happy Hour, sponsored by the Family of Rotary Committee, will be:

The Melting Pot

Tuesday, November 5^th

2295 W. College Ave. in Appleton

5-7 p.m.

Cash Bar / Sampling of Appetizers Provided

As leaves melt from the trees, so we go to The Melting Pot! Bring a spouse, significant other, friend, potential Rotarian – and join us at The Melting Pot as we relax in their guest room reserved for us.  Get to see old friends and meet new ones, and just enjoy camaraderie and conversation.  This is a great way to get to build better friendships – and earn a makeup as well!

NOBEL CONFERENCE - THE UNIVERSE AT ITS LIMITS

The Nobel Conference is the first ongoing academic conference in the United States to have the official authorization of the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. It is held annually at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota and links a general audience with the world's foremost scholars and researchers in conversations centered on contemporary issues related to the natural and social sciences. This year, the conference was held October 1 and 2 and explored "The Universe at Its Limits".  They discussed some of the most fundamental questions of science.  What is the universe made of? Where did it come from? Where is it going?  Two busses of students and teachers from the 5 Appleton high schools, Fox Valley Technical College, U. W. Fox Valley and Lawrence University attended the conference. 

Josh Shelley, senior at Appleton West High School, said that this was a valuable experience.  He has been interested in space for the past 3-4 years and this helped give him in depth information.  He enjoyed the ability to interact with the speakers which humanized the field of space.  Speakers spoke face to face with some of the teachers and students which clarified some of the presentations that were given.  The panel discussions showed how the speakers interacted with one another and how they could openly express their opinions.  Josh would like to pursue a career in astrophysics. 

Jake Zaruba, senior at Appleton West High School, expressed how he truly enjoyed this experience and learning about the universe.  He plans to pursue a career in photography but continue to gain knowledge about various topics.  The speakers admitted that they did not know everything and are continuing to learn new things.  Jake reads many books about science and some of the questions that he had were cleared up.  The presenters were very passionate about the universe and world around them.  The future of the universe matters to everyone.

Anne Dollemann, science teacher at Appleton East High School, talked about how she learned about subatomic particles to the universe.  The speakers were not only passionate but made the information understandable using analogies.  Learning is a part of each community.  The students experienced what the "old folks" had to say.  Time was set aside to think about the information presented and share various thoughts and ideas.  Lifelong learning is important to everyone.