The following email, recently went out to all Rotary Clubs in District 7070. It really brings everyone in District 7070 up to date on the District 7070 Youth Exchange Program. Here is the letter:
YEAH! Deb Murray and Jason Pole - Co-Chairs for District 7070 Youth Exchange Program are excited about the progress being made with the implementation of the YEAH system (Youth Exchange Administrative Hub). We are starting to see, first hand, the value YEAH will bring to the program. The list of values is long but certainly includes the following:
Consolidation of information on all inbound and outbound students securely and appropriately accessible,
Enhanced processes and procedures resulting in greater security surrounding safety of our program delivery and YE students
Trackable communications
Reporting and analyzing opportunities
much much more.........
As of today, current year inbound and outbound students are entered in YEAH and historical records back to 2000! Several Youth Exchange Officers have registered for access and all but a few vacationing committee members have system access too. We even have a few host families who have started their application! So now seems like an appropriate time to ensure we are all on the same page as we move towards of goal of 20*2020 (our challenge to all Rotary Clubs in District 7070 - - 20 Exchange Students by the year 2020)!
So, for those of you who have not yet completed your application for access to YEAH, please do so a.s.a.p. All Youth Exchange Officers and Club Counsellors must be in the system as this is how you will receive and provide important structured information going forward. For district executives who need access, please also complete a volunteer application. Volunteer applications, once approved, receive an access level based on the role you play.
Youth Exchange Officers and the club counselors, in particular, are very important to the process. As has been the case in the past, your role includes ensuring the co-ordination, safety and well-being of your hosted exchange student along with the host families All host families must also complete an application to host and have access to YEAH.
NOTE : To All Youth Exchange Officers and/or club counselors:
Please direct your host families to the host family application from the district website www.rotary7070.org either from the "Youth" menu or the "Member and Club tools" menu. If you are a Youth Exchange Officer and also a host family, you will need to complete both applications, and provide references for each. The references ask different questions specific to the role.
If you have any questions regarding the need for a police vulnerable sector background check requirement for host families, please contact Lynda Ryder - Protection Officer at lryder@silicates.com.
Wow this email is almost as long as a youth exchange year, but there's still a bit more we need you to know.
Again - THANK YOU! Your dedication to the Youth Exchange Program is stellar and we really appreciate your patience and participation as we move forward with new processes and procedures. We need you. You are our champions and the foundation to growing the program and we truly hope you are on-side with us in this system - YEAH.
Sunday August 26th - Returning YE Students Debrief - Trenton
Saturday September 8th - Inbound Student Orientation - Trenton (Mandatory for Inbound Students and highly recommended for Youth Exchange Officers and first host parents - please let host families know about this, because, until host families are in YEAH - we can't communicate easily with them)
Thursday September 27th - Club YE Officers and Advisory team - YEAH overview, process discussion a scrumptious appreciation dinner!
and Location TBD but possibly Trent Port Marina.
Thanks again for your past and continued support! Because of you, tolerance, understanding, goodwill and ultimately world peace is closer, one YE student at a time.
Yours in Rotary,
JP & Deb
Jason D. Pole & Deb Murray
District 7070 Youth Exchange Committee Co-Chairs