Rotary Club of Minden Short Term Youth Exchange students Maddi Francis (from Douglas County) and Maja (from Germany)

LOCAL YOUTH SHARES AMERICAN CULTURE AND LEARNS ABOUT EUROPEAN CULTURE

Imagine yourself as a 17 year old from the Carson Valley spending 5 weeks with a host family in Europe and then being able to share your own culture for 5 weeks with their 17 year old.  Maddi Francis did just that this summer and shared the experience with the Minden Rotary Club recently.

Maddi’s Rotary exchange started with a flight to Germany in July where she connected with her host family for the next 5 weeks.  The family lives in a small town near Stuttgart.  The first half of her stay was spent in and around their home exploring the local sites and festivals (and volunteering to do face painting)!   She even learned how to ride a horse.  Then her host family took her to Paris where she toured the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, catacombs and attended a concert with her host sister.  The final stop in Europe was in Lago di Guarda, Italy.  

Maddi left Europe with her host sister (Maja) to show her America for the next five weeks.  Their first stop was with their mothers in New York City where they toured the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the One World Trade Center as well as a dinner cruise.  Then they went ziplining in Santa Cruz, attended a Zach Bryant Concert at the Boardwalk, toured the Monterey Aquarium, played at Disneyland, California Adventure, and at Huntington Beach.  But one of the most impressive sites for Maja was, as we call it, “The Lake” which she expressed as being more beautiful than Lake Como in Italy.  Since school had already started here in Douglas County, Maja was also able to attend classes with Maddi.

When asked what she saw as different in Europe than America, Maddi mentioned that the grocery stores are much smaller in Europe (host sister Maja took a picture of the chip aisle in Walmart which would only be a partial shelf in Europe).  She also described the classes in Germany where the students stay in one classroom and the teachers rotate to them.  Some school days were over at 11am and others not until 5:30pm.  And there are no school sports nor dances.  Maddi hopes to go abroad again for a full year exchange experience.

Each year, approximately 9,000 students (ages 15-18) are sponsored by Rotary Clubs worldwide.  This global initiative allows youth to experience new cultures and languages while promoting peace and global citizenship.  Exchanges can be as short as several days to a full academic year. 

MINDEN ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE WELCOMES DANI!

Dani was spotted at the Douglas County Rodeo volunteering in the VIP tent.  Knowing her host mom, Whitney, that was only one of many opportunities she created for Dani to get involved!

The Rotary Club of Minden is happy to welcome the following new members:

• Ric Casper is a graduate from Carson City High (but is quick to add his 3 kids all graduated from Douglas High).  He attended BYU as an undergraduate and Yale Law School.  He worked for the US Attorney's office for 4 years before coming back home and working for the Douglas County District Attorney's Office
• Loral Langemeier from Live Out Loud Publishing.  Loral has 2 kids (Logan age 25 and Tristan age 18).  She is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan, has an MA from Omaha and is a writer.  AND she's dating President Graham.
• Eric Barter from Bad Boys Bail Bonds (Past President from the Rotary Club of Arcadia) .  Craft talk was given at the 9-4-25 Rotary meeting:  Eric has a long history in Rotary as his dad was President of the Arcadia club in 1937.  In 1891, Eric's grandfather started Homen's Grocery Story.  Eric continued in the retail path at places like Gottschalks and Emporium Capwell.  When Emporium's went out of business, he joined a bail bonds business his nephew had started.  It was at this point that he got back involved in Rotary.  He was President of the club in 2005.  One of the projects he is most proud of is the wheelchair project in Tijuana, Mexico in honor of each week's speaker.  He had throat cancer the year he was President - talk about overcoming obstacles and dedication to Rotary!

We look forward to hearing the rest of the craft talks soon and getting to know you better!

New member Eric Barter gives his craft walk with Past President Sam at the helm for the week.

New members Ric Casper and Loral Langemeier were inducted into the club and received their blue badges this week.

9/11 Rotary Club of Minden Foundation Grant applications due

9/11 (3-5pm) - Job Fair and Volunteer Expo at the Douglas County Community Center - Minden Rotary will have a table and needs volunteers to man the table!  (contact Whitney to sign up)

9/11 - STEM Literacy Night at Gardnerville Elementary School

9/13 (7am setup; 8-11 serving) SMASH Pickleball Fundraiser (club will be serving Breakfast Burritos)

9/26-9/28 Genoa Candy Dance - see link in email from Whitney for volunteer opportunities

10/4 Gardnerville Fall Fest - this is Main Street Gardnerville's biggest event (see Whitney's email for volunteer opportunities)