It's All About The Future

Eagle River Area Rotary members are embarking on a number of fall youth programs designed to support a variety of age groups.  Members of the organization are committed to hands on programs that make a difference in supporting the lives of our future leaders.

 

One of the most important programs that Rotarians have brought to the Anchorage School District is “Choices.” This nation-wide program is all about helping our youth stay in school and successfully finish high school with a plan after graduation.  Students experience interactive decision-making workshops that empower young teens to achieve academic success in pursuit of their career and life aspirations. In two hour-long sessions, our business and community Rotarians take students through real-world exercises on academic self-discipline, time and money management, and goal setting. Members will be in both Gruening and Mirror Lake during the month of October and again in the Spring to conduct the workshops.  

 

During the Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting and community gathering at Town Square on December 4^th, Rotarians be present to collect canned goods and cash donates for the Eagle River Food Pantry, help with school choirs, and man the Santa brigade with his real reindeer as he visits with all of the children. This is fun filled community evening done jointly with other service clubs and sponsored by the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber.

 

Academic values are important for every child’s future. At the end of each quarter, Rotarians provide pizza lunches to our middle and high school students honoring their achievements for the quarter. Students are selected by their faculty, presented with certificates of achievement and a hosted lunch. This long- standing program is designed for all types of students to create an atmosphere of support and encouragement.

 

Four high school scholarships in the amount of $1500 each are awarded each spring to high school students from our local community. There are two types of scholarships available: academic and vocational.  Students admitted to a four-year degree program leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Science or equivalent and students enrolled or admitted to a program of study leading to a skill or trade.  Scholarship application deadline is March 15^th of each year and applications can be obtained at http://portal.clubrunner.ca/2454 or searching for Eagle River Area Rotary in your browser.

 

Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) is a joint annual project done by local Rotary clubs that bring high school students together to work on elements of leadership. This program originated with Rotary International and has been adopted by many districts around the world.  Over a weekend of fun and bonding, topics covered include ethics of positive leadership, qualities of a “servant leader”, importance of effective communication and leadership, conflict management and problem solving, building self-esteem and confidence, elements of community and global citizenship.

 

New this year is the creation of a Junior RYLA program for middle school students. This one day leadership academy will be designed to challenge students at a young age to learn about what leadership means and how they can make a difference. Eagle River Area Rotary will work with other local service organizations to implement the event next spring.

 

Eagle River Area Rotary also sponsors the high school Interact Club. Interact is a club for young people ages 12-18 who want to join together to tackle the issues in their community that they care most about. Through Interact, students carry out hands-on service projects, make international connections, and have fun.

 

Finally, every year Eagle River Area joins with Rotary Clubs world-wide to host a youth in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. This year, our student, Ella Kupianinen is from Finland and attends Chugiak High School where she is actively participating in academics and playing flag football. Each quarter she joins a new family and will experience new Alaskan adventures.  

 

Rotary is open to anyone committed to the core values of the organization of “service above self.” Eagle River Area Rotary has two meetings a week to accommodate busy schedules. The morning group meets at Bear Mountain Grill at 7am on Thursdays and the noon group meets at Piccolino’s also on Thursday. For more information on joining, contact Linda Landers, Membership Chair at 907-694-9098, or Eric Bushnell, President at 907-360-7471 or any the many Rotarian members in town.