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Reminders:
Register NOW for district conference May 12/13 in Prior Lake. 50% of your conference fee will be reimbursed by the club. Information and registration here.
We need hands to help pack backpacks with emergency items for at-risk teens. This is our grant money at work! These bags will be made available at sites that make frequent contact with at-risk youth. Meet on Monday, 4/25 from 3:30-5pm at PROP.
Register now for the Above & Beyond dinner on May 11. Register here.
Spotlight on Rotary is April 26th, time to invite friends and colleagues, we are looking for 100% participation!
What's Rotary all about? Please join us to learn about Eden Prairie A.M.'s impact in our community and our world. You are invited to check us out at our "Spotlight on Rotary" open house event at Buca de Bepo Restaurant on Tuesday, April 26th from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Admission is free, and appetizers will be provided. The event will allow you and your guests to meet and mingle with members of Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary and hear very brief Spotlight presentations illuminating our local and international service. You'll receive free tickets to attend our weekly breakfast meetings. Bring a donation for the PROP foodshelf, and your first beverage is free. Registration is not required, but appreciated. For more information or to register online click here or email maureenmara28@gmail.com.
Jane McGinty, Maria Friedman, and Hunter Johnson: The International and Local Impacts of the Rotary Youth Exchange
EP AM Rotarian, Jane McGinty, kicked off the program by sharing some photos to test the skill and memory of fellow club members on previous in-bound, and out-bound, Rotary Youth Exchange alumni. Jane was an RYE student who lived in Germany for a year, and she said it was a life-changing experience. As our club’s RYE representative, Jane wants to help other young people have this amazing opportunity. Jane also shared some fun facts about the Rotary Youth Exchange program that began in 1927 in France and other European countries. In 1939, exchanges between California and Latin America started, and exchanges with Eastern European countries followed in 1958. Today, more than 8,000 youth in 60 countries worldwide participate annually in the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE).
Each RYE student stays with 2 to 3 host families and they are required to attend school. The cost to be a RYE student is $6,000. This covers an open return airline ticket, health insurance, the official RYE blue blazer, and other expenses. Other exchange programs, such as AFS, can cost families as much as $10,000, making the RYE experience a good value, and perhaps the best youth exchange program around.
Maria Friedman and Hunter Johnson are recent RYE out-bound students who now serve on the ROTEX Leadership Team. Maria Friedman, our club’s outbound student in 2014-14, spent a year in South Africa, using the experience as a “gap year” between her graduation from Eden Prairie High School and beginning college. Maria is also a former STRIVE student and learned about the RYE program from her mentor who encouraged her to apply. Hunter Johnson is a Minnetonka High School student who spent 2013-14 in Paraguay as a sophomore. Maria and Hunter explained that ROTEX is comprised of students who successfully completed their year abroad, and come home to share their experiences and help new in-bound and out-bound students prepare for their experiences with extensive orientation events. Hunter is a Rebound Officer in ROTEX, and these officers plan and organize a weekend in August for the Americans returning from their RYE stay abroad. All activities for the in-bound and out-bound RYE students are designed to help them build friendships with other ROTEX members. Maria and Hunter said there is quite a reverse culture shock when coming back to the U.S. after living abroad, and ROTEX supports the returning travelers and helps them reacclimate. The goal of ROTEX is to have the RYE students eventually become Rotarians, and future leaders in our Rotary clubs.
Finally, our club heard from Susie, a host “mom” to 8 RYE students over the years. She began hosting RYE students when her own children were very young. She said it has been the greatest experience ever, “bringing the world to my house.” Susie, who is now a Youth Exchange Officer covering the countries of India, Indonesia and Thailand, said exchange students want to experience all of the “regular” things as part of your household—i.e. walking your dog, shoveling snow, etc.
Over the years, the EP AM Rotary Club has hosted 69 students, 35 in-bound and 34 out-bound. We haven’t offered scholarships to help students cover the cost of being an RYE participant in the past, but it is certainly something we could consider. In-bound students have the opportunity to go on an East Coast trip in the spring/early summer of their stay, before departing for their home country. The trip costs approximately $2,500 and many students’ families cannot afford this expense, in additional to the $6,000 for being an RYE student. A scholarship for the East Coast trip is another option our club may want to consider as part of our support for our in-bound students. There are many ways Rotary club members can support the RYE program. Being a host family or helping to identify potential host families in the community is a great way to help. In addition, you can support our in-bound student by inviting them to participate in an activity with you and your family. Our current RYE student, Art, has been enjoying visiting host family Craig and Sue Blixrud’s cabin. Helping to recruit potential out-bound RYE students, or serving as our club liaison to the high school are also excellent ways to be part of our RYE program. Our Rotary Youth Exchange program is a fantastic opportunity for young leaders all over the world, helping them build greater cultural competency and confidence in their own abilities.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The District conference is May 12-13 in Prior Lake.Check the website or contact Jeanne Zetah for details.
Adam is organizing our Spotlight on Rotary Event coming up on April 26th.Invite friends and acquaintances to come and see what Rotary is all about.Special bragging rights bestowed to anyone who can best our star performer, Cathy Haukedahl’s, record for bringing the most guests last year!
The Ethics Lunch will be on Thursday, April 21st at Edina Country Club.
Monday, April 25th at 3:30 p.m. Rotary volunteers will be gathering at PROP to prepare emergency backpacks for homeless youth.These backpacks will be provided to the police, school and others who may interact with these youth in crisis.If you have questions or want to help, please contact Carol Bomben.
Pei Ling announced that Saturday, May 21st will be our club’s progressive dinner.After having last year’s event at Biaggi’s, we are returning to dinner hosted in club members’ homes.Please sign up if you and a guest plan to attend, AND if you would be willing to serve as one of our hosts for what is always a fun evening of fellowship.
May 3rd is our STRIVE Breakfast meeting at the Eden Prairie Community Center.
May 11th is the “Above and Beyond” Award dinner recognizing and honoring some extraordinary EPHS students.Please sign up to attend the event, which will be held from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Olympic Hills Country Club.
HAPPY FINES
Roger was visiting Arizona recently and attended the Sunrise Rotary Club meeting in Scottsdale.He said they were a very warm, welcoming and fun group.Also, special thanks to Jan for sparring Roger embarrassment throughout the day (XYZ, gents).
Good news: Dan O’Brien’s grandson Ethan is interested in using the potty. Bad news:Needs more practice.
Pei Ling’s 4 year-old daughter really enjoyed helping with last week’s park clean up.
Bev Aho reminded Rotarians that April 30th is the EP Community Foundation’s annual gala, “EP Gives.”She and other foundation board members have tickets for purchase—please consider supporting this great charitable organization and attending this fun event at the Green Acres Event Center.
Jeanne Zetah hopes to see fellow Rotarians at tonight’s (April 19) EP Reads event at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church.
VISITORS
Visiting Rotarians:Jack Kuehn (Burnsville) and Susie Beaumaster (RYE Country Officer)
Prospective Members/Guests (sponsor): Jeff and Kim Kim (2nd visit); Susan Blixrud (Craig Blixrud); Chris McGinty (Jane McGinty)
Students: Alex Modeas and Natalie Page (interns) Art Matanboon (exchange student) , Maria Friedman (past RYE and U of M student) and Hunter Johnson (past RYE/Rotex from Minnetonka HS)
