Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

                                                                                      Rotary International District 6170         

October 1, 2007

Dear Rotary Club President:

This year our District will continue the very successful Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program.  This program allows individual Rotary Clubs to honor outstanding local high school sophomores and juniors for their leadership potential, service mindedness, and academic record.  As you may know, this honor includes three-day leadership camp we call "Camp RYLA".  This year's Camp RYLA will be held at Camp Winnamocka in Arkadelphia from Thursday afternoon, March 27 to Sunday morning, March 30, 2008.

The cost to the club is $225 per student.  Last year, clubs sent as few as one student or as many as four.  Most clubs sent at least two students.  Some clubs use Wal-Mart grants to sponsor four students!   Camp RYLA will be limited to 70 students in order to provide all of the quality activities Camp Winnamocka offers.  We will accept the first 70 paid registrations.  If you would like to reserve a certain number of spots your students, your club can “pre-pay” the registration fees before you have selected your students.

I have enclosed the official Camp RYLA application that must be returned to me fully completed with the registration fee by DECEMBER 15, 2007.  However, in addition to using the enclosed application, you may select your students however your Club chooses.  Last year, some clubs held interviews and some clubs enlisted the help of the school counselor or Interact Club sponsor.  One club even held an essay contest!  I encourage you to start early and to look for students who may not have had the opportunity to attend this sort of event before. 

Also, please make sure that the students who apply can commit to attending the entire camp.  The camp begins with registration on Thursday, March 27 between 4:00PM and 5:00PM and ends on Sunday, March 30 at 11:00 AM.  Due to the short duration of the camp and to ensure good team-building amongst the group,  requestS to arrive late,  leave early or to be absent from any portion of the camp will  be denied. 

In addition, please note that this is an active, outdoor-oriented program in a rural summer camp-like setting.  To benefit the most from the camp, the student should be physically able to undertake the scheduled activities.  Of course, we will do our very best to accommodate students with limitations.   Please note that the children and grandchildren of Rotarians ARE eligible for RYLA.

In addition to the payment of the registration fee, we ask that the sponsor Rotary Club provide transportation to the camp on Thursday, March 27 to arrive between 4:00 and 5:00.  This provides an important opportunity for the student(s) and a Rotarian to interact. Once you have delivered your student to the camp on Thursday, your Club's representative's duties are done and he or she may depart.  The Rotary Club may or may not decide to provide transportation home.  If the Rotary chooses not to provide round trip transportation, the student's parents will be responsible.  I do ask that you communicate with your students' parents' to make sure transportation home is arranged.  I will provide your RYLA contact person with a map and specific instructions closer to time for the camp.  We also hope that you will invite any students you sponsor to visit a meeting of your club either as your guest or as the program after they have returned from Camp RYLA.

You can learn more about Camp Winnamocka, its facilities, and the activities it offers at www.winnamocka.com. 

STEPS TO SEND STUDENTS TO CAMP RYLA

·                     Decide how many students you would like to sponsor.  Apply for Wal-Mart or other         grants for funding, if necessary.  Clubs may “pre-pay” registration fees for their desired           number of students to guarantee space at Camp RYLA, but that is optional.

·                     Recruit students to apply for the scholarship.  You can direct students to the District 6170             website where they can access the application form in Adobe Acrobat format.  The   application is a “fill-able” form.  Students can type in their personal information and then     print it out to turn in to your club.

·                     Select your students.  Please make sure that your students can attend the entire camp.

·                     Make sure the Sponsor Club information at the top is completed of each application. 

·                     Submit $225 and a completed application for each of your students no later than    DECEMBER 15, 2007 to:

                        Linda Rowe, RYLA Chair

                        c/o Union Bank

                        P O Box 898

                        Mena, AR 71953

·                     *Please note that Camp RYLA will be limited to 70 students.  We will accept the first 70 paid registrations we receive.

·                     In early March, contact your students and arrange to transport them to Camp RYLA on   Thursday, March 27, 2008.

·                     On March 27, 2008, have a member of your club drive students to Camp Winnamocka in Arkadelphia to arrive between to arrive between 4:00 and 5:00PM.

·                     Arrange to have parents or Rotarians pick up the campers at Camp Winnamocka by 11    a.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2007.

·                     AFTER THE CAMP:  Ask students to visit your club either as a guest or as the program presenter to tell about their Camp RYLA experience.

I hope your Club will consider selecting a student or students for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.    We would love to have 100%  participation by the clubs this year!  Thank you for your interest in this worthwhile project. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  My e-mail address is lrowe@unionbankofmena.com  and my work telephone is 479-394-2211.  You can reach me at home at 479-394-1801.

 Sincerely,

Linda Rowe

RYLA Chair – District 6170

Click here for an application to Camp RYLA