RYLA 2009

Buena Park and Savanna High students attend RYLA
The adventure began on April 24 for Kent Nguyen, Sharon Don, Jaclyn Hale, and Luminosa Sanchez. These young adults were selected to represent Buena Park at this outstanding event. One hundred eighty four (184) High School students were selected from Orange County. Sharon and Kent at Savanna High, Luminosa and Jaclyn at Buena Park High. These four outstanding young leaders are members of Buena Park Rotary Club sponsored Interact youth service clubs. Rotary District 5320 Youth Programs Director said, “All four students expressed how terrific the weekend was, and would like to go back again if they could.” There were three outstanding students were selected as alternates this year they were: Lauren Monsanto, Noemi Gomez, and Alexis Wright.

What is RYLA?
RYLA stands for ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS. RYLA teams Rotarians with youth in leadership development. This intensive training program for High School Juniors helps students learn life skills. The students are chosen for their proven or potential leadership abilities. Students are awarded an all-expense paid 3 day Camp at Idyllwild Pines, California. Camp is organized by Rotarians and facilitated by RYLA student Alumni. The RYLA event is sponsored by District 5320 and the 46 local Rotary Clubs. Students are joined by talented young people from communities throughout the district. RYLA provides a memorable opportunity to learn, grow, have fun, and make new friends.

What RYLA Offers
The core curriculum for RYLA includes the following:
? Fundamentals of leadership
? Ethics of positive leadership including the Rotary “Four Way Test”
? Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
? Problem-solving and conflict-management
? What Rotary is and what it does for the local Community and Internationally
? Building self-confidence and self-esteem
? Elements of Community and Global Citizenship

Each student is assigned to a “Family” Group of 10 kids with 2 Rotarian leaders (l male and l female). These groups are the vehicle to process the day’s events, build teamwork, and integrate the positive examples of leadership, ethical behavior and constructive group dynamics.

By investing in our youth today, the Buena Park Rotary Club believes that we have an insurance policy for our future. Enthusiastic students return to their schools and their communities with an increased sense of self confidence and self esteem and better equipped to implement the fundamentals of leadership in their every day lives.

The Rotary Connection
Rotary is one of the largest international service associations, with some 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs and 200 countries. Its members are dedicated to humanitarian service, high ethical standards in business and professional life, and the promotion of world understanding and peace.

One of the goals of Rotary is to help young people develop their leadership abilities and self-confidence to the fullest. To accomplish that goal, Rotary clubs prepare young leaders through the RYLA program each year. Rotary clubs also sponsor other complementary programs for young people. They include Interact for High School students, Rotaract for young adults age 18-30, Youth Exchange (a chance to live and study abroad), and Ambassadorial Scholarships (for university or post-university study abroad), and more.

The Buena Park Rotary Club meets each week at 12:00 on Wednesday in Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Visitors are welcome – membership is open to all adults of good character who believe in service in the community & the world. WWW.BPRotary.Org