APR 29, 2014 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Camp RYLA Students conducted the meeting
The April 28 Rotary meeting at the Crown Plaza was overflowing with youthful energy and vigor as we hosted the 2014 Camp RYLA campers as they closed out their five day leadership experience. President Jim Kosmo opened the meeting welcoming campers, counselors, parents, volunteers and Rotarians.
Bob Jones provided opening music and accompanied Tia Marie Hernandez as she led the National Anthem. RYLA camper Caleb Speltz provided the invocation.
Jim reminded members and guests that next week is Education Day and we will have 120 middle school students and superintendent Valeria Silva and the Rotary Teacher of the Year.
In two weeks Rotary will be hosting Values Day at the Prom Center with keynotes from Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Stanley Hubbard. Please invite colleagues, coworkers and friends. Register online or with Sherry. All are welcome for the 1/2 day event and lunch. Registration is required. Special price is available for students.
RYLA's Dianna Gadea Rodriguez introduced and welcomed parent, guests and visiting Rotarians.
Student emcees Savannah Buck and Conrad Holzemer introduced RYLA's color teams to share their teams name and inspiration.
Grey - Jay Timm
Red - Osa Chautla Suastegui and Becca Robbins
Yellow - Anika Schenkel and jJhn Xiong
Blue - Preston Follestad
Green - Andres Valencia
Orange - Emily Grossman
RYLA's Luke Holzerland spoke about his experience joining a group he had no connection with for activities he had no familiarity with and seeing the transformation in himself and others over the 5 days.
The Green Team - The Teenage Mutent Ninga Turtles - shared their cheer representing the creativity of all. RYLA members shared experiences including Leaderless Activities (egg drop), RYLA Action (ending discrimination), RLYA High (turning around a failing school), RYLA Olympics, Ropes Course, team projects, challenges, group discussions, the morning of volunteering for the FMSC pack and RYLA songs.
RYLA emcees thanked Rotarians and Club 10 members for supporting the "spirit of youth" and their RYLA experience.
Doug Hartford and Clyde Nelson unveiled the inspiring results of the 2014 Feed My Starving Children packing event - 585 volunteers packed 185,760 meals during six shifts. This is equivalent to feeding 509 kids for a year
Results for the five years of the Rotarian Centennial Project for FMSC
737793 meals have been packed which is equivalent to feeding 2000 kids for a year! Thank you Rotarians and Volunteers!
RYLA campers shared a slide show highlighting their experiences from from the week. Slide show with highlights from the week and shared important themes: "trust, relay on others, build from each other and we all become leaders." Youth in action - nothing better.
2014 Camp directors Steve Gerber and Kathryn Wyatt were introduced and received a warm round of appreciation and a Happy Birthday song for Steve. Steve congratulated and thanked the 2014 Camp RYLA youth, Rotarians, counselors and volunteers. He encouraged all to stay connected and share their experiences.
President Jim called the meeting to adjournment thanking our youth emcees for not only a great program but getting it all into the hour time frame.
Trixie Golberg
Scribe