2023 Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Summer Conference - Gary Francque reported on his participation in the 2023 CSRYE Summer Conference at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. The CSRYE Summer Conference is an event that brings together the current Inbound Exchange Students (foreign students that have been on exchange in the U.S. in 2022-23, and are returning home next week; Rebound Exchange Students & parents (American students who have just returned home from a year abroad) and future Outbound Students & parents (American students who will be departing on their exchange in other countries in August). The conference includes extensive training for future Outbound Students and parents, including sessions with Inbound Students from other countries and American students who have just retuned home and their parents. About 195 students and 150 parents attended with about 50 Rotarians staffing the event. In attendance was our 2023-24 Outbound Student to Brazil, Lucy Lareau and her parents. Lucy will be leaving on her exchange year in August, but will first visit Moline Rotary with her parents.

 

2023-24 Inbound Student - Moline Rotary's 2023-24 Inbound Student from Brazil is Joao Miguel, a 16 year old boy from Sorocaba, Brazil. Joao will be hosted by the Dan & Melissa Russell family in Coal Valley. 

 

 

 

Meet Former MoRo Exchange Student - Guest Amanda Currey, daughter of Rotarian Mike Drymiller was Moline Rotary's 2000-2001 Outbound Student to Denmark. Amanda related her memories to Gary Francque after the meeting. Amanda enjoyed a challenging experience, staying with four host families during her year. She still maintains a close relationship with her host families, including host parents attending her wedding a few years ago. Amanda hopes her twin daughters Rosalie and Emmy will consider the opportunity of Rotary Youth Exchange. 

 

JDC - Rotarian Kevin Rafferty, a member of the JDC Board of Directors, reported that the event is considered to be very successful and expressed the Board's appreciation to Rotarians and all volunteers at the 2023 JDC. 

 

Ace is the Place - Moline Rotarian Butch Trevor, owner of Trevor True Value Hardware in Moline, announced that he will now be affiliated with ACE Hardware. Trevor Hardware has been family owned and operated since 1887. Many may remember Butch's father John "Jack" Trevor who owned and operated Trevor Hardware until Butch took the reins. Butch reported that he and his family are very excited about this new opportunity for the future of their business. 

 

 

ACE Hardware has over 5,000 stores around the world with the majority of those stores independently owned and operated by local entrepreneurs.  Founded in 1924 by a small group of Chicago hardware store owners, Ace changed the retail landscape by allowing individual stores to purchase merchandise in bulk to save money and buy at the lowest possible price. This partnership enabled even the smaller stores to compete effectively at retail despite larger stores in their market. And to this very day, Ace Hardware Corporation is still owned solely and exclusively by the local Ace retail entrepreneurs. Best Wishes Butch!