RYLA 2014

This summer marks the fourth year of District 5970’s RYLA Conference, and we are sponsoring four students; as many as the previous three years combined! Our conferees this year are: Griffin Lorenz, Jacob Wheaton, Samuel Gavin, and Brock Lukefahr. All are students at Linn-Mar High School.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference is an opportunity for Rotary Clubs to recognize proven or potential young leaders in their community and provide them with this unique leadership building experience. The purpose of the RYLA conference is to create a drive in these young people to affect change in their community and world and give them the confidence in their ability to cause action. After all the speakers, activities, and thoughtful discussion in an environment constantly focused on compassion and empowering themselves; many students look at their week at RYLA as a life-changing experience.

The RYLA Conference is planned at led by a volunteer youth staff, made up of exceptional leaders selected from previous years’ RYLA conferees. Each team of conferees is led by their youth counselor, and supervised by a volunteer Rotarian. Volunteering as a Rotarian staff member for RYLA is an extremely rewarding opportunity. As a Rotarian, you are able to see the transformation first-hand of a group of young people who overcome their personal reservations as the week starts and then begin to engage fully in the activities. Soon, the pride becomes inspiration as you see these students commit to personal plans for action. “Service above self” is a message that these young leaders may have never known before but will soon accept as a passion, much like us as Rotarians. As our four sponsored students return this year, it will be exciting to learn what impact they see their lives having in the future, and what role our Club and Rotary in general has played or will play in helping