Kevin Crouse, District Governor, September 2013
DG Kevin's September Message
September is Youth Services month
Now that Youth Services has become our fifth avenue of service, we need to make every effort to include our outstanding youth leaders in everything we do as clubs and in the district as well. This year to facilitate our goal of including young people in our family of Rotary, we are featuring them in our upcoming District Conference at the Marriott Gateway on the Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The dates for the conference are October 25-27 and our District Conference Planning Committee has been working diligently to present an innovative, creative experience for all concerned. Two of our committee members, Aad Vermadyn, District Youth Exchange Chair and Jennifer Middleton, Rotaract liaison, have made significant suggestions for integrating our young people into the conference program. They will provide energizing activities and new ideas for engaging Rotarians that will make a difference in club programs and district functions.
To realize our goal of getting 200 young people to the conference, we are asking all clubs to send at least two outstanding young people to the conference. Since they will be housed four to a room, the cost per student for two nights’ accommodation and meals for all three days should come in close to $200. per person. That is the original cost of sending students to the SLAPSHOT program.
SLAPSHOT Leaders - Past and Present - Margaret Andrewes (Lincoln) and DG Kevin Crouse
Register on-line today at rotary7090.org and go to the District conference page for more information on this conference to remember.
Clubs that make a difference to youth in their community
As Rebecca and I travel across the district visiting clubs, we are struck with the variety and extent of club involvement with young people. The Rotary Club of Cheektowaga conducts an annual Christmas Party for area disabled and disadvantaged children at the Cheektowaga Senior Center that includes many Rotarian volunteers. The Orchard Park Rotary Club also provides Christmas gifts for families in need, as well as a $5,000 scholarship to outstanding students every year. The Clarence club provides a Christmas party for families in need as well as a Job Shadowing and mentoring program for students who may need extra support and guidance. Their Breakfast of Champions program honors sixth, sevenths and eighth grade students who have achieved high honor roll distinction for all three quarters.
Buffalo Sunrise supports the Youth Exchange program, Rotaract, SLAPSHOT, and the RYLA programs. The Rotary Club of Williamsville supports the Amherst Youth Foundation, provides scholarships to high school students, Christmas gifts and warm clothing to the area’s needy youth, and books for their literacy program. Lancaster Depew provides two breakfast programs that involve over 1000 students in Middle Schools. Their Breakfast of Champions recognizes academic achievement while the Breakfast of Character recognizes exceptional character development. The club also provides four $1,000 scholarships, $50 food vouchers to families in need and a Hot Dog stand at both JV and Varsity football games. Lakewood Chautauqua sends a boy and girl to summer camp, provides tutoring to students in need, supports a local running club, purchases youth reading materials for local libraries, sponsors a student of the month club, and supports a performing arts group for youth at the annual Lakewood Youth Day. The Rotary Club of Olean sponsors four Interact Clubs under the guidance of long-time youth supporter Tony Evans.
The Rotary Club of Hamilton A.M will conduct an “Evening with Bortz, Amato & Friends to support child abuse and the Children’s hospital and are creating 14 billboards across the city to promote their partnership with Mohawk College. They also sponsor the McMaster Rotaract Club, an Interact Club, and both RYLA and SLAPSHOT programs. The Niagara Falls Rotary Club sponsors the A.N. Myer Interact Club, a school lunch program, Youth Exchange, SLAPSHOT, Student Medalist and Spirit Awards and the Mayor’s Youth Advisory “Battle of the Bands”. The Ancaster A.M. club is involved in Youth Exchange, SLAPSHOT, RYLA and Adventures in Citizenship. The Rotary Club of Hamilton is involved in the Youth Exchange program, Early Act, and the Inner City Youth Initiative Committee. Their Rotary Summer Literacy program services over 3,000 children. They also provide a hot turkey Christmas lunch for over 700 students, a daily nutrition program and are the host club for the Telling Tales Festival – a national one day free festival to promote children’s stories, music and a love of reading. Susan Jasper has involved over 100 Rotarians from 18 Rotary clubs to volunteer for this event.
These clubs are certainly not alone in their support of youth. What they do is replicated again and again by many of our clubs in the District. Hats off to them and their strong support for youth! They are changing many lives with their Rotary engagement efforts.
Yours in Rotary.
Kevin Crouse, District Governor
Best of Friends District 7090