Vicki Dilley Northfield, Minnesota World Citizen

1. The Recruitment Challenge: Engaging and Retaining Clubs in Rotary Youth Exchange Vicki Dilley Northfield, Minnesota World Citizen

2. We’ve all heard the “Goldilocks excuses” : Our club is too big (or too small).  Our club is too old (or too young).  Our club is too rural (or too urban).   How do we let every club know that they are “just right” for youth exchange?   How can we get them excited about and interested in participating?  How do we keep them enthusiastically engaged in the program  long term?

3. Know Why we do this • Tell and Celebrate the story • Visibility • Key Leadership on board and engage the club • Focus on the positive • Nurture and cultivate host Families • Nurture and cultivate the relationship with key school people • Address the myths, encourage a new reality Some Key Factors for a Strong Program

4. Know Why we do this • Ask yourself WHY first and learn to articulate it well • Repeat the stories or short phrases of why it was important in the life of one of our students and our world • How does RYE fit into the bigger Rotary picture?

5. How Have I Changed From My Experience? An Awareness Exercise for Returned Exchange Students (This exercise is adapted and modified from one developed by Neal Grove of the American Field Service) Use these statements to help paint the bigger picture and promote RYE

6. I have more curiosity about and respect for new ideas. I have a clearer notion of what I will do with my life. I am more flexible and able to adjust to changes in others. I am more tolerant of ambiguous situations, that is, of situations that are confusing and open to differing interpretations. I have more ability to see myself objectively, that is, to see my own day-­to‑day problems in a broader, more realistic context. I am more deeply committed to an idea, cause, or goal. I have a greater sense of .responsibility for other people. I have improved my ability to speak a foreign language. I am more able to express deep emotions freely. I am more knowledgeable about another culture and lifestyle. I am more able to ask for and receive help from others. I have a greater ability to empathize with others, that is, to put myself in their place when making judgments. I have greater willingness to take on roles and tasks to which I am unaccustomed. I can accept failures and shortcomings in myself more easily. I have increased my capacity to experiment and take risks. I understand more fully my own strengths and weaknesses.

7. “Rotary isthe best in the world at linking people of goodwill around the globe and then gaining theircooperation and support to make the world a much better place to live and work.” Rotary International President Klinginsmith has on his website:

10. Tell and Celebrate the Story

15. Parties • Graduation • Social events that involve the Youth • Fundraisers • Especially for YE • Presentations • Youth presentations • Any YE Event Bring the Story Boards Out on Special Occasions

16. Newspapers or other publications: find a story to share about your student • Help your student be involved • They are happier • The public knows them more • Introduce the student at every Rotary meeting • Student tells something they have been doing • Have student sit with different Rotarians Visibility

18. Water the garden • You can not say Thank You enough or often enough • Whenever you send a note or email to a family, begin with Thank You • Publicly Thank them…at Rotary meetings, public events, publicity • Teach our students to say Thank you often and show public appreciation • Focus on the positive stories and reinforce those with families • Invite them to all public events: fundraisers, socials, • Help them feel a part of Rotary. • Formally invite them to join Nurture and Cultivate Host Families

19. Share positive stories about the program. • Make the stories fun to share and repeat. • Use positive words: instead of saying “to ease the burden on host families we have more than one”, instead say “to share the opportunity…” • Think carefully how you explain something: will your statement help build up the program? • When there are problems: • Be proactive. • The community notices. All eyes are on us. • Gold stars given when we handle difficult situations well and in collaboration with host families, the school, others involved. • Give support to clubs who are in difficult situations. They are more likely to host/ send next year if they feel supported. Visibility

20. Don’t keep living in the past, learn from and then forget the horror stories • Focus on the positive stories and make sure they are the ones that are repeated • There are more positive stories than negative ones • Help someone see what is a possible negative story as something to grow and learn from Focus on the Positive

21. YE brings vitality to a Club • New and younger membership • Enhances the International aspect of Rotary • The entire club needs to enjoy the fruits of the labor too • Fun for them to hear the stories of how the students are doing, the difference the program is making in their lives. • Create an email list of who wants to hear what is going on in YE • Students get to know Rotary more… students as adults more likely to join in the future. • Attend the weekly meetings • Help with the fundraisers • Students can share a bit of a wish list Engage the Key Leadership and the Club

22. Show the families there is support • When there is a problem they know who to go to • Have someone like the Club Counselor do the tedious stuff, leave the fun stuff for the family • Binder given to family with information for contact, meeting times, events, what is Rotary • Help them see the big picture…why do we do this. • What is in it for their family • What is in it for the community, the hosted student, the world Nurture and Cultivate Host Families

26. Get to personally know the key school people • Superintendent, Principals, School Counselors, attendance person, secretaries • Make sure they know how to get ahold of you and for what reasons • Club Counselors should develop these relationships too • Invite them to the fun events • Presentations • Fundraisers • Celebrations Nurture and cultivate the relationship with key school people

27. Coffee hour, one of my most favorite things to do in the year. • Early in the year, coffee and donuts • Tell people at school thank you for hosting last years students and who the new students are • Tell a few stories about last years outbounds • Tell where this years inbounds are and how they are doing • Remind them why we do this and thank them for the collaborative work…teaming together to create a better world. • Give them a binder with your contact information • Colorful Binder (blue and yellow for Rotary) content: your contact information, Club Counselor contact information, short profile of current inbounds, list of this years outbounds and where they are, maybe their blog sites, invitation to attend the Rotary meetings. Nurture and cultivate the relationship with key school people

28. Rotary Youth Exchange needs to grow: our world will be a better place because of RYE. (we have met our max) • Help correct any negative images and help people understand why this program is so important. (“I remember this kid ten years ago that…”) • There are MANY students who would love a program like this and are very qualified. (there are no students interested in this) • Set the course for the future, we are the leaders and we need people to follow in the right direction. (we can’t make a difference, this is just a nice trip for a bunch of kids) • What a great bargain this program is! (RYE is expensive) • Continue to help RYE integrate into the mainstream of Rotary. (RYE is a little side thing of RI, no big deal) Myth Busting: Our mission

29. YEAR Event (Youth Exchange Adventure and Reflection) • Fundraiser: To Brasil (India, France, etc.) and Back • Website: Fun, inviting, informative • http://northstaryouthexchange.com/ • http://northfieldrotary.org/ • Informational meeting at the High Schools • Radio program • Strengthen the role of the Counselor • One Club Mentor another Club Other ideas to enhance your program

32. How Have I Changed From My Experience? An Awareness Exercise for Returned Exchange Students Directions: Listed below are statements describing many of the changes that have been experienced by returning exchange students during the past three decades. Some of these may be changes that you, too, have felt. If you haven’t thought very carefully about how you have changed, this list may be especially helpful in making you more fully aware of what has happened to you. Read through the list and place a check mark by each change that you believe has occurred in you. I have increased my perseverance and self‑discipline. I am more willing to strive and sacrifice in order to do well in my studies at school or in independent learning projects. ­ I am more confident and positive when meeting new people. I am more confident and assertive when facing new situations. I have a greater capacity to accept differences in others. I am more able to share my thoughts and feelings with others, and to be open when others wish to share theirs with me.

33. I am more able to accept as valid other values and lifestyles. I have a deeper understanding of (if not necessarily commitment to) the values and lifestyle of my native community. I am more aware of the opportunities in life that are open to me. I feel greater respect and appreciation for my natural family. I am more independent in my relations with family and friends. I feel that I need fewer friends, but have deeper (more intimate and more close two or three trusting) friendships. I am more aware of the way I use and structure time. I have a greater capacity to profit from my mistakes. I am more interested in and capable of making long‑range plans. I am more determined to fully develop my skills and talents. I feel a greater need to have diverse experiences and friends. I am more balanced in my judgments; that is, less likely to judge things as "good" or "bad," "right" or "wrong”. I am more likely to do things spontaneously, that is, to do things with­out undue concern about possible consequences.

34. I am more capable of solving life's day‑to‑day problems. I think more critically; I am more discriminating and skeptical. I have improved observation skills. I need more time to be alone. I am more confident about the decisions I make. I feel more surely that common bonds unite all human beings. I have a deeper understanding of the problems and issues that confront all human beings on this planet. I have greater awareness of political, economic, and social events occur­ring around the world. I am more comfortable being alone, enjoying my own company. (This exercise is adapted and modified from one developed by Neal Grove of the American Field Service)