Rotary Exchange Students Gather at First Christian Church of Malvern
The Rotary Clubs of Malvern and Minerva hosted eighteen Rotary Exchange Students for their monthly overnighter at the First Christian Church of Malvern on Friday night until Saturday morning. The clubs have been hosting these gathering for over ten years in November. Exchange students from ten countries attended this year, as well as high school students who were interested in becoming exchange students to similar countries next year.
This year's overnighter included a program by two gentlemen from Dover who demonstrated steel drum instruments. They are the same kind of steel drums that are used by the Dover High School Steel Drum Band. Exchange students had a chance to ask questions and to play the drums for themselves.
Each year Rotary District 6650 hosts monthly overnighters for exchange students to help them become adjusted to life in the United States and to their host families. Plans are also made for trips to different parts of the country for students to be able to see many of the popular sites while they are also expected to attend one year of high school. Their progress in school is reviewed, and any difficulties are addressed and resolved.
Potential exchange students, also called "Outbounds", are invited to attend overnighters in order to meet the "Inbounds" to ask questions and to learn about the experience. Parents of potential Outbounds also have a chance to meet Inbounds and to ask questions of Rotary staff in charge of the program.
Each year the event also offers an opportunity for students to have their senior photos done professionally for submission to their senior yearbooks at their schools.
Photo: District Governor Mike Raulin, Will Krebs, Susan Anderson watch as students learn to play the steel drums at the Rotary Exchange Student Overnighter