President Mack opened the meeting with a moment of silence for our dear friend and fellow Rotarian Byron Hanson. Byron passed away on Friday, March 19, 2021 at the age of 79. He was a long-time member of our club and many of us have fond memories of Bryon playing the piano at our weekly meetings. Even though he struggled with symptoms of Parkinson’s disease over the past few years, he still managed to play a robust version of God Bless America for us. He was a kind soul, a brilliant musician and will be greatly missed by our club and community. To read his obituary, please visit: https://www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com/obituaries/Byron-Hanson-3/#!/Obituary
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and Nikki Subkowski offered up words of inspiration during our Gratitude and Reflection moment.
Awesome Allison Beers introduced an awesome new Rotarian Jen Wilson. Jen has an impressive career in public service that has taken her from Capitol Hill, London and San Francisco. Jen worked with the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the country through the Macy’s Passport program. Since moving to Traverse City, Jen has joined the Old Mission Peninsula Education Foundation and has helped support their fundraising efforts. Welcome Jen! We look forward to serving our community with you!
Connor Miller updated us on the March Madness brackets and all we can say right now is “Go Blue”.
Bob Stow updated the club on behalf of Rotary Camps and Services with the activities of The Discovery Center. The Discovery Center is looking forward to some summer activities. They include:
The Schoolship Program with Inland Seas for a summer program
MHA will be launching their Sail Champion program for at-risk youth
Two new for-profit ventures will be operating from the Pier this summer.
The Manitou will continue operations from the Pier
All three businesses will pay full market rate lease fees and will provide The Discovery Center with free vouchers for distribution among local youth who are under privileged. Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and TBAISD will partner with The Discovery Center to launch this opportunity.
President Mack announced that a Rotary Task Force has been formed for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. The purpose is to make everyone feel valued and respected at Rotary. A survey will be conducted among a random sample of current Rotarians and District Governors. The information that is gathered will be used to develop a DEI policy.
Rotary International will have another area of focus and service beginning July 1, 2021. The environment will be included in world community service activities.
Ken Weaver introduced Carla Weaver as our program speaker today. Carla currently serves as the Youth Exchange Officer for our club and has been involved in every aspect of Rotary Youth Exchange from being a host sister in her earlier days, to sending her own children on Rotary Exchange years and everything in between!
The purpose of the Rotary Youth Exchange is: World Peace One Student at a Time.
The program first began in Denmark in 1929 with exchanges taking place over the summer break. In 1959 the first-year long exchanges were implemented.
Being a Rotary exchange student is a three-year commitment. Students fall into three categories: Outbounds, Inbounds and Rebounds. Outbound students are those who are preparing for their exchange year which begins a year before they leave on exchange. This is a preparatory year of interviews, district conferences and attending Rotary meetings of their sponsoring club. Once on exchange in their host country, they are considered Inbound students. Upon return from their successful exchange year, they are Rebounds and often serve as mentors to Outbound and Inbound exchange students.
Outbound exchange students have the task of completing a 30-page application that includes academic status, health information and personal information on the student’s hobbies and family. Students aged 15-18 are eligible for exchange. Students are interviewed locally and at the district level before acceptance into the program.
Outbound students have a financial commitment of conference fees and the cost of air travel. In the past, a local fundraising dinner has been held to help support these students with some of the expenses of their exchange.
In non-pandemic years, 9,000 students worldwide go on an exchange year to 80 countries. A true exchange is a “one for one” exchange where a Rotary Club sends out one student and takes in one student. The hosting Rotary Club is responsible finding host families, providing educational and fun opportunities for the student to learn the culture and language along with transportation needs. Each hosting Rotary Club commits to helping the students with district conference fees, a monthly stipend and sometimes school lunches.
Inbound exchange students are placed with three families during their exchange year. Each family hosts the students for 3-4 months and this helps create a variety of experiences for the student. Many host families develop lifelong connections with their exchange students, attending their weddings and welcoming international grandchildren into their families! (Just ask Marsha Minervini about her exchange kids! Nothing makes Marsha light up faster!!)
Each inbound student also is paired with a counselor who serves as the student’s advocate. The counselor is a Rotarian and can help with transportation, the transitions between host families and smooth out any bumps the student may be experiencing.
How do you spot an exchange student in an airport? Exchange students wear a blazer identifying them as Rotary Exchange Student. Should they have missed connections or need assistance in an international airport, they will often encounter a friendly Rotarian who can help. Carla shared a story of when Amelia, her daughter was traveling to Brazil. While on her fourth layover, Amelia was exhausted. While wearing her blazer, she was approached by a Rotarian who presented a Rotary business card, helped her find her gate and made sure she had something to eat!
A year ago, our exchange students found themselves away from home when the pandemic hit. It created a whirlwind of uncertainty and our Youth Exchange committee found themselves navigating through situations that no handbook or training could have prepared them for. But in true Rotary style, these Rotarians helped students return safely home at appropriate times based on their home country’s restrictions and family requests. It was kudos all around for our Youth Exchange committee and dedicated host families!
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, the 2020-2021 exchange program was halted and students who were scheduled to go on exchange, missed their year. Some have now aged out of the program. With students who are left without an exchange year, Carla is helping create opportunities for them to have international exposure through the International Affairs Forum at NMC.
Applications for the 2022 – 2023 exchange year will be available in August. The Youth Exchange committee normally would recruit students in local high schools. If you know of a great student who is interested in the exchange program, please contact Carla at: cweave3@gmail.com
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program nurtures our young people, helps them build a sense of service to the world, provides a greater international understanding while developing great avenues for lifetime achievement. To make this program a success, it takes an army of Rotarians working locally, at the district level and above.
You can be a part of this program by hosting a fabulous exchange student, becoming a super cool counselor or serving on the Youth Exchange Committee.
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