RYLA - The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
Come learn about RYLA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and hear from our District Chairperson, Darin Arrasmith as well as the students who attended the weekend retreat on behalf of our Club.
Our Speaker's official biography is posted below.
Darin Arrasmith moved to the Conejo Valley in 1978 and has lived, worked and served the community since that time. Darin began working for Westcord Commercial Group in 1987 as portfolio manager. He successfully managed, leased, sold and financed all types of properties in California and Texas including residential houses, apartments and condominiums, Office, Industrial, Retail, Medical and Flex properties. He left Westcord on good terms and co-founded multiple real estate based companies, he has managed large and small firms through several economic swings. Darin has owned and operated Newbridge Real Estate Services, a private corporation that has enjoyed a successful relationship with Westcord Commercial Group since 1999. Westcord Commercial has served the Southern California market since 1967 by developing, brokering, and managing all types of real estate. Darin has a vast experience as a menu of services including, brokering residential and commercial properties, commercial leasing and all aspects of real estate finance.
Darin and his wife, Lydia, have 4 children. Darin has lived in the Conejo Valley since 1978 and has been a member of the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club since 2003. He served on the Board of Directors two times and has served Rotary in the following ways: Foundation Board of Directors, Youth Services Director, RI Foundation chair, Youth Leadership, Youth Exchange, Interact, Street Fair, holiday gifts for homeless and foster children. He became the Director of Rotary District 5240’s RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) in 2005 and has successfully run the event since that time. He formed the RYLA scholarship program awarding students college scholarships for their achievement’s as leaders. Darin is a Paul Harris Fellow, a recipient of the Wilfred A. Rothschild Award for his contributions to youth in the community and a 2 time recipient of the Bob Morrison award for Service Above Self. He teaches public speaking at RYLA.
He is a current member of the Board of Directors for Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank. He is a 3rd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, A 2nd degree Black Belt in Kilatkamot and a 1st degree Black Belt in Sikaran and a 3rd degree brown belt in Doce Pares Eskrima. He has also trained in 3 other styles of martial arts and is a substitute instructor with an emphasis in self-defense. He enjoys playing with his family, snowboarding, offroading, playing guitar and writing.