Prayer delivered by Daniel Whitney: "Our gracious God, we thank you for the gift of our Rotary family of brothers and sisters with common purpose, and for our personal lives that shape our character, and our service to others. Bless our club with unity, patience, and gratitude. Strengthen us to forgive quickly. Encourage one another, and live with the integrity that comes with truth and love. Please protect our spirit so that we can do your will in our community. In God's name, we pray. Amen."
Guests
Ruth Clough, District Governor.
Donna Deos, Immediate Past District Governor.
Jim Rumrill, Chair of the Essex Eastern United States Student Exchange program.
David Saturley, District Youth Exchange Chair.
David Najem, RYLA participant.
Kylee Maltais, RYLA participant.
Hayden Hebron, RYLA participant.
Announcements
Thank You Notes
The club has started collecting thank-you notes, and we will add them to the Documents section of ClubRunner. Please take a moment to read them and see the impact our club is making:
The manual has been in development since late winter.
Gary Dehnel is serving as editor, working alongside Bruce Reichlen and Harry Reichlen.
The team is consulting subject matter experts rather than writing the content themselves.
The first iteration is close to being published.
The manual is organized by committee:
Systems Committee, covering computer and technology needs.
Trailer Operations Committee.
Derby Campus Committee, covering campus setup including the fish board.
Presentations
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) Program Overview (Gary Dehnel)
Gary Dehnel led the presentation introducing the program.
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, sometimes called Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a district-level leadership program for sophomores.
For the past three years, the club has sent sophomores to the program.
This year's event took place at Northern Vermont University in Wilmington, Vermont, with roughly 100 students attending.
Students arrive Friday morning and depart Sunday after lunch, taking part in leadership activities they typically do not encounter in high school.
Three students represented the club this year: Ivy (currently overseas on a youth exchange program and unable to attend the meeting), David, and Kylee. Hayden, a past RYLA participant, returned this year as a counselor.
Kylee Maltais' RYLA Experience
Described RYLA as a journey of service, leadership, and community.
Her group created a team banner and sign and used paper plates as informal awards to recognize each member's contributions to the group.
Shared Rotary's mission as a global network of volunteers addressing community challenges through service and fellowship.
Highlighted Rotary's core values of honesty, diversity, service, and fellowship.
Noted the talent show and closing circle activities helped her connect with students outside her immediate group.
David Najem's RYLA Experience
Attended RYLA in a group of about 10 students called a "ring.
His junior counselor, Lily, was a second-year participant who helped guide the group.
Two standout activities:
A silent team-building exercise in which groups built a paper-and-tape structure to support a 10-pound paint bucket.
A guessing game in which students wore a word on a piece of tape and had to identify it by asking only yes-or-no questions.
Cited "service above self" and the Four Way Test as guiding principles he applies to his own decisions.
Uses his RYLA and Rotary service hours toward Scouting, National Honor Society, and graduation honors.
Personal highlights included catching a fish after the event ended, performing at the talent show, and playing basketball with other participants until close to midnight on the final night.
Hayden Hebron's Perspective as a Junior Counselor
Hayden serves as this year's Interact Club president.
Explained the RYLA leadership structure: participants move up to junior counselor, then senior counselor.
As a junior counselor, Hayden led a group of nine students through the full weekend schedule, arriving a day early on Thursday to help set up.
Junior counselors complete performance evaluations on their assigned students, which are used to help select the following year's junior counselors.
Plans to return next year as a senior counselor.
Happy Dollars
Dean Cascadden: Expressed appreciation for Donna Deos being in Meredith.
Kevin Kelly: Suggested a SYLA gathering, the senior version of RYLA, as a way for elderly members and participants to reconnect.
Jim McFarlin: Thanked district leadership for traveling to attend the meeting.
Peter Kador: Shared a story about attending a pharmacy alumni event in Boston.
Donna Deos: Thanked the club for having her.
Bonnie Ireland: Shared that she was happy everyone was there.
Winner: Heidi Barrett-Kitchen donated winnings to the food pantry.
Adjournment
The Four Way Test was recited to close the meeting.
