The purpose of RYLA is to recognize young leaders and provide them with an opportunity to expand their perceptions and ideals. RYLA participants gain knowledge about themselves and learn to work with others in order to become a better person and a future leader. Participants are selected through an essay and application process through their local Rotary Club. Once selected to receive the award, young adults are invited to attend a weeklong seminar aimed at further developing their interpersonal and leadership skills.
Candidate selected by the Rotary Club of Milwaukie will have all expenses paid for by the club!
PLEASE FIND APPLICATIONS & MORE INFORMATION ON OUR HOMEPAGE
Keynote Speakers
RYLA is a once in a lifetime experience! It is a week of stimulating seminars and lectures by top professionals in various fields.
Past speakers include:
- Lou Radja, Co-Founder and Executive Director of EduCongo
- Chuck Ferguson of 21st Century Leadership
- Junki Yoshida, Founder of Yoshida Sauces
- Dale Carnegie representatives and many, many more!
During the week
RYLA participants will have an opportunity to:
- Share and explore new ideas
- Enhance communications skills to improve their relationships with family, partners, co-workers, and society
- Collect innovative ideas for key leadership and successful business strategies
- Network with positive leaders
- Explore family dynamics, interpersonal relationships and values
- Learn how to better understand ourselves and others
- Learn about world fellowship, understanding the peace process (conflict resolution) and environmental issues
Eligibility
- Open to men and women, 19-28 years old.
- Candidates should hold a position of leadership or be interested in expanding and displaying leadership qualities.
Accommodations
Developed as a family estate during the 1920’s, Menucha overlooks the magnificent Columbia River Gorge. It offers recreational facilities for swimming, volleyball, hiking, tennis and basketball in a beautiful wooded setting. The center features dormitory style rooms with showers, and provides home-cooked meals.
The Rotary Connection
Rotary is one of the largest international service associations, with some 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries. Its members are dedicated to humanitarian service, high ethical standards and promotion of world understanding and peace.
One of the goals of Rotary is to help young people develop their leadership abilities and self-confidence to the fullest.
To accomplish that goal, Rotary clubs host thousands of young leaders through Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programs each year. Rotarians who are business and professional achievers organize RYLA events.
Rotary clubs also sponsor other complimentary programs for young people. They include:
- Rotaract, a service club for young adults
- Interact, a service club for secondary school students
- Youth Exchange, a chance to live and study abroad
- Ambassadorial Scholarships, for university or post-university study abroad