In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand Issue 2 | Page 46
them for their iconic Milford Track tramp. And, we also make
sure they get to take in as much of New Zealand as possible
by organising tours throughout the North and South Islands.”
Clubs can host a student – but hosts don’t have to be Rotarians.
“It doesn’t matter, either, if you don’t have teenagers the same
age at home. We currently have two sets of grandparents
hosting and the students are having a ball.”
However, to survive, Merv says, the RYE programme needs an
injection of support and participation from clubs.
“So, talk to your club, or contact one of the committee, to see
how you can get involved. I guarantee it will add a new lease of
life to your club and to you personally.”
URGENT: HOST FAMILY NEEDED
We’re looking for a host family for Sebastion, our Chilean
student, who arrives at the end of January.
Sebastion will be based in Dunedin until March/April, and will
be attending Kavanagh College.
Think you can help?
Contact District 9980 Rotary Youth Exchange
Committee chair Merv Clearwater by email:
[email protected]
rotary
youth
exchange
ALEXANDRA PRIMED
TO HOST RETREAT
Time’s almost up for District 9980 clubs to nominate
young adults from their community to attend the Rotary
Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) five-day residential
camp in Alexandra next year.
District RYLA co-ordinator Barry Bemrose, of the Rotary
Club of Alexandra – next year’s host – says applications
for the camp, which has a limit of 40 participants, close
on December 16.
Warren Lees, hospitality business coach Liz Perkins,
multi-sporter Scott Worthington, politician, broadcaster
and writer Michael Laws, motivational speaker and
author Wayne Perkins, and former New Zealand Cricket
chair and Rotarian Stuart Heal. Greg Bodecker, from
the Centre for Space Science Technology, which was
recently selected to be New Zealand’s second Regional
Research Institute, will also speak.
He’s encouraging each club to explore the programme
and think seriously about sponsoring a young person in
their community.
The camp, which is open to 18 to 26 year olds who have
left school, runs just after Easter, from April 17 to 21,
and will be based at Dunstan High School’s hostel.
Themed ‘Challenges of a Balanced Life’, next year’s
leadership camp has already secured a dynamic
speaker line-up, including Central Otago mayor Tim
Cadogan, former New Zealand international cricketer
“As our global environment becomes more challenging
and at risk, there’s increasing demand for real
leadership within our society. Successful leaders,
generally speaking, are made not born,” Barry says.
Page 46 | In Gear - Rotary in southern New Zealand - District 9980 | www.rotarydistrict9980.org