2014 RYLArians speak to the club

Members heard from our 2014 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award)  students during their regular meeting this noon at Prante’s.  Leah Trosper (Wahpeton) and Samantha Goerger (Wyndmere) explained the program they were in at the District 5580 RYLA camp this summer at the U. Minnesota- Crookston.  It started with selecting their “family” as group of eight to ten high school students from North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario plus two leaders.  The family went through several team building exercises including a timed building project and a rope course.  They were all exposed to the “Seven habits of Highly Effective People”.  Samantha said that she learned to “first understand and then be understood” while Leah’s top lesson was to “sharpen oneself (look after you)”.  They told members about several other programs and speakers that they experienced including a cultural diversity program.

            Samantha Goerger                                                             Leah Trosper

                Each was amazed at how they bonded to the members of their family describing the experience as “one big bonding opportunity”.  Leah said that she felt very safe (psychologically) in the environment and the programs “got (her) out of (her) shell.  Like Samantha she speaks well and members found it difficult to imagine that she had ever been in “a shell”.

                They suggested that all of the students of the month for the year be returned for a luncheon in the spring where they would be willing to explain RYLA and speak of their experiences to their peer group.

                     President Norma Nosek presents the Awards to Samantha Goerger and Leah Trosper

          President Norma was a founding member of the D5580 RYLA committee.

                Anyone wishing further information on the District 5580 RYLA program should ask a Rotarian or go to http://www.district5580ryla.org/ .