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WHAT IS RYLA?

RYLA is a program for youth leaders. It is about recognizing excellence in youth leadership. Recognition is given to young men and women, high school juniors, who have demonstrated leadership ideals and example, in their schools and or communities. Excellence in academics or sports is not a requirement. RYLA stands for the ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS CONFERENCE.

The "Award" is an all-expense paid participation at a weekend conference usually held in an outdoors setting, away from the pressures and distractions of daily of life. The conference consists of motivational speakers, group discussions, workshops and hands-on activities designed to develop leadership skills.

RYLA provides an atmosphere fostering personal and interpersonal development. It gives opportunities for a meaningful exchange of ideas between peers and between generations. It offers an incentive to improve leadership abilities in order to build better schools, communities, country and a better tomorrow. It emphasizes the positive contribution of youth involvement and service in the community and world.

RYLA is an activity of Rotary International and fulfills the slogan adopted in 1949, "Every Rotarian an Example to Youth". According to RI, RYLA aims to:

* Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth;
* Provide an effective training experience for selected youth leaders and potential leaders;
* Encourage leadership of youth by youth;
* Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities.

Participants will be divided into discussion groups to provide a more intimate learning and sharing experience. Groups will interact with a variety of outstanding individuals, who are leaders and motivators in such fields as civics, sports and business, and conduct activities designed to develop leadership skills and personal development. Participants are also exposed to the other youth programs Rotary has to offer, such as Interact, Rotaract, Youth Exchange and Ambassadorial Scholarships.

RYLA is different from most leadership camps, such as Boys and Girl State, Camp Enterprise and HOBY (Hugh O'Brien Youth), in that it is designed to teach and promote individual leadership values and issues, rather than specialize in a peculiar form of leadership (such as a republican form of government - Boys State and the free enterprise system -Camp Enterprise) or promote personal development. It does not replace them, it enhances their principles. In addition, participants have commented favorably on our use of discussion groups and the fact that students themselves (Senior Alumni) conduct the conference.

It began as a program of recognition for outstanding young people in Australia and New Zealand in 1959, later adopted worldwide as an official program of Rotary in 1971. Rotary International reported that in 1999-2000 there were a total of 188 RYLA's held throughout the world, 48 in the United States and Canada. The average RYLA lasted 3.1 days and consisted of 81 participants. As a result, it is one of the largest youth leadership programs in the world.

Inbound International Youth Exchange students will be invited to attend and as well as Ambassadorial Scholars. Rotaractors will be asked to assist with some of the workshop activities and we will encourage clubs to look to their Interact Clubs for potential participants, thereby incorporating in our RYLA program every aspect of youth service that Rotary has to offer.

We expect that our RYLA program will set a high standard of excellence, as many RYLA programs before it have done.

As Rotarians, we apply the principle of the 4-Way Test in our everyday lives. Through RYLA we seek to instill those same principles:

IS IT THE TRUTH?
IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED?
WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED?

in the lives of ALL the participants who attend RYLA. Come share the RYLA experience!