Liz Denius, communications manager for the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, was a last-minute substitute as our guest speaker...and she offered Rotarians the opportunity to sample hosting an exchange student.

She said the center is seeking 14 local families to volunteer to host either a pair of high school students or an adult leader participating in its Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program for eight days, April 9-17.  The International Training Office offers the opportunity to host either a pair of high school-age students or adult leader(s) participating in its Philippine Youth Leadership Program for 13 days from April 17-30. 

The programs are a great fit for Rotarians, Denius said. “Being a host family truly is a gift to the world,” she said. 

The program is looking for hosts in any living arrangement such as single people, retired couples, families with children. “It’s the simplest hosting gig there is,” Denius said.

Contact Denius at edenius@niu.edu to learn more about the Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program, and contact Leslie Shive at lshive@niu.edu to learn more about the Philippine Youth Leadership Program. 

The programs are sponsored by the U.S. State Department. 

Julie Sgarlata is collecting $25 Target gift cards or cash donations to be used for the EarlyAct Club at South Prairie Elementary School.

Each student will earn a raffle ticket toward a $25 Target gift card for each $1 in pennies he or she brings in for the Pennies For Polio campaign. The gift card will be raffled April 19.

To contribute, please contact Sgarlata at juliesgarlata@sycamoreumc.org.