Meeting Notes from September 8, 2022
President Ryan opened the meeting at 7 pm by leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Bob Mange gave the Invocation.
Secretary Jim Padgett introduced guests and visiting Rotarians. As it was a spouses night, members introduced their guests.
Justin Raithel talked about the Community Service Project that will be at Twin Lakes Food Bank on Saturday, September 17. The project is to replace the roof and gutters. Straight Line Construction will work with us on the project. Funding for the project will be $7,000 from our club, $5,000 from Community Service Day, and $11,000 from Straight Line Construction.
President Ryan thanked everyone who attended the First Responders Appreciation Luncheon. He specifically thanked Rosario Rodriguez for the food and Paul Bonaventure for leading the event.
As a reminder, the Rotary Foundation Dinner is on Saturday, September 17. The club has two tables reserved and there is still room if you want to attend. If you do want to attend, contact President Ryan.
Scott Moore levied fines. Scott is now chair of the Renaissance Fair Beer Sales and the fair will be on September 24 and 25. A sign-up sheet was passed around at the meeting. Dan Nitz built a new beer booth.
Assistant Governor Sherie Tobin introduced District Governor Karen Cendro.
DG Karen and President Ryan inducted into the club new members Mike Adams and John Baciocco. John was a member of the club years ago and it is great to have him back.
DG Karen talked about her theme, "Serve It Up". Her theme concerns food insecurity and what we can all do as Rotary Clubs.
To go along with her theme, she awarded Top Chef to Paul Bonaventure for all he does for the club. Paul was also awarded a Paul Harris +6 pin from Chuck Thurman for taking over the chairing of the Fireworks Booth.
DG Karen talked about the District 5180 Conference that will be held May 6 and 7, 2023 in Folsom at the Community Center. This is a great opportunity to attend a conference in our own back yard, no travel or hotel costs.
DG Karen's Top Chef went to Rich Rider for all he does with Rotary Youth Exchange at the District level.
Our Exchange Student from Belgium, Axelle, attended the meeting. DG Karen asked everyone to sigh a huge banner that will be at the conference. Karen said there probably will be a second banner to get all the signatures on it. Here is Axelle signing the banner.
Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Program
by Rich Rider
District Governor Karen Cendro, RYE student Axelle from Belgium, President Ryan Jantzen
Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) is a fantastic opportunity for a Folsom High School student to have an adventure of a lifetime as he/she explores a new country, learns or furthers his/her ability to speak a different language, increases his/her intercultural awareness and sensitivity, and meet new people who often become lifelong friends. Participating students spend one academic year (2023-24) in another country where they live with one or more host families and study at a local high school. The Rotary Youth Exchange program is very affordable since nobody associated with the program, including the host families, receives any compensation for their participation. In short, all persons involved with RYE do it because they care and want to provide a wonderful opportunity to participating students.
Folsom families can also participate by being a host family to a foreign RYE student studying at Folsom High School regardless if they have a child who studies overseas as part of the RYE program. Hosting an exchange student enriches the entire family as friendships are developed, ideas are exchanged, and experiences are shared. It is common for exchange students to see their host families as real family members. Families who have their Folsom High student studying overseas as part of RYE are especially encouraged to host the incoming foreign exchange student studying at Folsom High School since it will help them understand what their child is experiencing oversees, and since space is generally available in the household since their child is concurrently studying in another country.
Past participating students regularly say their RYE year was the highlight of their life, including those students who participated in the program many years ago. They recognize how much they grew and matured as an individual during their year overseas. They also value the close friendships they developed with persons in their host country as well as other RYE students from around the world.
It is fantastic seeing how the participating students grow and mature during their RYE year. Many blossom in their ability to speak another language, increase their interpersonal communication and public speaking skills, and develop close friendships with a wide variety of people from around the world.
The deadline for the initial application is Thursday, October 20, so do not procrastinate! Students must be between 15-1/2 years and 18-1/2 years of age at the time of departure for the RYE academic year (approximately August, 2023). For more information, check the local RYE website at www.rye5180.org. Applications can be submitted via a link at that website. Interested persons can contact Rich Rider via the contact information listed above for questions or additional information. In addition, there will be an online information session for interested students and parents on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 7:00pm. Obtain further information and a link to attend the free informational session at the www.rye5180.org website.
The RYE program is not a year in a lifetime, but rather a lifetime in a year!
RYE students living in District 5180 this school year. District Governor Karen Cendro is second from left in the first row.
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