Presidential Ponderings
Today is harmony day - the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
It’s also World Poetry Day so go home and sing a sonnet to your loved one.
For tree lovers, we celebrate International Forrest Day too! Did you know that more than five billion people around the world use forest and non-timber forest products for food, medicine and livelihoods, with over 2 billion people still relying on wood and other traditional fuels for cooking.
And of course the 21 March is the equinox where the sun shines directly on the equator and consequently day and night have an approximate length all over the Earth.
Guest Speaker - Jill Hannah, Chair of Rotary Youth Exchange
Jill Hanna has been a member of the Rotary Club of Matilda Bay for nearly 14 years and has been on the Rotary Youth Exchange Committee for over 10 years, the last 2.5 years as Chair of the RYE Committee. Jill is passionate about the program and has seen first-hand the impact it has on students, host families and many others.
On a personal level Jill is retired management professional with the last 20 years of her career spent as a senior executive in Aged Care and consulting in that industry, primarily in strategic property matters. She is a Board member of a retirement and aged care organisation.
Jill explained “What is Rotary Youth Exchange?”
- It is a program for 15-18 year olds to “live like a local” in another country for a year and attend secondary school (compulsory)
- RYE started in 1927 in Denmark and 1958 in Australia
- Each student has a Sponsor Club in their home District and a Host Club in their exchange country
- The WA program is organised by the District RYE Committee (most have kid/s who went on exchange
The D9423 RYE Committee comprises twelve hard-working Rotarians from different clubs. Member David Cleary from RC City East has five children and they have all been on a Rotary Exchange! Graeme Fardon (RC Applecross) will be taking over from Jill as RYE Chair on 1st July.
There are about 9,000 RYE students per annum around the world.
Inbound students (“Inbounds”) arrive in July each year and a local students (“Outbounds”) will go on exchange the following January.
In July last year, 23 Inbounds arrived from 14 counties and in January 22 West Australians left for 11 different countries.
The typical involvement for Clubs with inbound students involve:
- Providing host families (typically for three months at a time) and a mentor
- Enrolling the student into school and setting up bank accounts and phone
- Welcoming and involving them in their Club
- Paying the student a monthly allowance of $150
- Covering the cost of the student’s attendance at club meetings & events, school costs and uniforms
- Advising district Placement Officer when student is going to change family and ensure travel approvals are gained
Two optional trips are organised by District RYE Committee and paid for by student’s families:
- NW Safari in April-May (3 weeks)
- Sydney in November (1 week)
The Clubs must adhere to the District Child Protection policies. All members of a host family who are 18+ must have a Working With Children Card (WWC) and have a Rotary Volunteer Declaration clearance.
Typical hosts for Exchange students are:
- Families not connected to Rotary (statistically 61%) – you may get a new member
- Rotarians (and their adult children)
- Family with small children
- Family with high school aged children
- Retired couples/grandparents
-
A
single host parent with or without
a child a home (no sibling rivalry...)
There are other ways a Club can be involved:
- Host an activity for Exchange Students
- Contribute financially to a small club that is willing to host
- Help other clubs find host families
- Potentially provide a student mentor for another club
- Consider volunteering to be a chaperone/helper on the NW Safari
- Offer any specific skills you have which may be useful to the Committee
- Promote the program
The RYE is a wonderful way to contribute to international goodwill and understanding. Jill related a story of a man from the USA who returned to visit after being an Exchange Student sixty years ago. A family from Jill’s Rotary Club is about to host their 13th student. Another member and his (late) wife had hosted 20 different students. They have had many overseas visits and attended 8-9 weddings.
The cycle goes around – Jill’s son went on exchange to Arkansas USA, married a local he met in his time there and his son is now enrolled at Murdoch University.
Jill thanked the Club for inviting her to speak on RYE.
Her presentation can be viewed at:
millpointrotaryclub.org.au>members only (password)> this link>Guest Speaker Presentations>HANNA Jill – Rotary Youth Exchange
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
- David: There is a Rotary Charity Trust meeting following breakfast.
- Rick: Has been asked by the WA Arts Society Annual Exhibition to sit for his portrait on Saturday 11.00am - 2.00pm - go along and support him.
- Scott: The Centurion program is coming to an end with close to 50% take up. We only need 5 more members to reach our goal for this year so please consider signing up.
- Gerry: ISS still has many items of linen to be distributed to worthy causes. 4,500 items have already been spoken for so if you know of any organisation, charity etc, who would benefit please give Gerry a call.
Fines - The Procurator of Pennies (Joy)
- Footy season - Pay up all Dockers and Eagles fans
- Brian J and Warren McC who are moving up in the habitual world, namely the 12 and 19 floors respectively.
- St Patrick Day revellers - Guiness Gobblers and those of Irish descent.
- Petrol heads - Ross S and any other Melbourne Grand Prix fans.
- Alison - For mixing up her months and having MIA President Kelly return to Perth before he left!
- Striped shirts AND checked shirts - always worth a bob or two.
- Lorrie - Back in purple T-Shirt uniform.
- Veronica - Proud mother of the bride.
- Kim P - Give us a twirl and pay up for being so stylish.
- Gorby - Migrated to the top table (Brown-nosing?)
Winner of Heads and Tails
A Head and a Tail; 2 Tails, another Head and Tail but guest speaker Jill Hanna took the bottle of grog with 2 Heads!
Attendance
39 attendees in all, including guest speaker Jill Hannah (Chair RYE), and visitors Loveness Matemera, Bassem Hellou and Sherrylin Shaw.
