Orientation for Host Families

Orientation for Host Families District 7670

Introduction • Welcome • Our goal – Making World A Better Place • Thank you for your participation !!! District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Hosting Rotary Clubs District 7670 Host Family Orientation

What You Will Learn Today • Closeness of new friends (family of Rotary) • Rotary expectations • Helpful ideas for you • Calendar of activities District 7670 Host Family Orientation

CHALLENGES FOR THE ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT ARE MANY Your Community Host Families School Exchange Student / Rotary Counselor Host Rotary Club Friends in High School Host Rotary District District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Rotary Support Structure • Rotary Club • Rotary Youth Exchange Committee • Rotary Counselor • District Inbound Chair – Tom Rightmyer • District Chair – Bill Biggers • Country Contact US • Country Contact home country District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Counselor Responsibilities • Maintain contact with student and family–log contacts • Show continued interest & support • Resolve problems before problems get big • Register student at school – consult with host family • Ensure that student receives monthly allowance • Keep club YE committee informed • get Rotary club membership involved District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Items Rotary Counselor Must Hold for Student • Paid for return airline ticket • Emergency fund ($350) deposited in a bank • Passport and DS-2019 District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Student Challenges • Adapting to host families and new culture • Doing well in school • Homesickness & making close friends • Speaking English • Following the rules of Rotary • Getting involved in Rotary club and community District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Host Family Expectations • Treat student as member of the family • Delegate daily responsibilities for the home • Assist student in finding right friends • Be prepared to say “No” when appropriate • Ensure students dress & present themselves appropriately • Secure permission from Bill Biggers to travel outside district or overnight or drive out of town with other than host family, club counsellor, Rotary Youth Exchange district committee members. District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Sample Family Rules • Be on time • Curfew • Do school homework • No telephone after certain hour • Help with chores (cleaning dishes, mowing lawn, etc.) See list of questions to ask on yeoresources.org District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Use of Telephone • Explain how it works; set rules for use • Limit calls to country (family, friends) • Helps them to overcome homesickness • Ensure no phone bills ($100, $500, $1,000) • Telephone calling card for student calling home • buy at Wal-Mart (ATT International Card) District xxxx Host Family Orientation

Use of Family Computer • Do not let student spend too much time on computer • Limit or prohibit downloading information • Explain no visits to pornography sites, etc. • Limit the use of AOL Instant Messenger or MSN or other IM programs - Skype • Ensure not too many e-mails to family and friends back home as it makes adapting to our culture more difficult District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Expectations at School • Ensure clear understanding of school credits while they are here (often answer is “None”) • Usually “not allowed to graduate” • Remind them to say thank you to school teachers Consult with club counsellor about schedule • Ensure regular class attendance and proper attention to school work • Assure school missed work will be completed • Rotary will take students out of school at times • They are expected to make up work District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Varsity Sports at School • Check with student for interest and experience • Check with school for requirements and paperwork. • Participation in sports really helps students make friends. Boy from Oldenburg made varsity tennis team. Girl from Lyon made varsity girls’ soccer team. Both played in NC state championship contests. District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Making Close Friends • A major challenge to YE students • Help in finding clubs for student to join • Interact (in many of the schools) • Sports • Theater • Band, orchestra • Active participation is good cure for homesickness District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Limit Visits with Other Exchange Students • Rotary provides many opportunities for exchange students to get together • Their initiative -- to make American friends • Limit birthday party invitations to American students and exchange students close by • Transportation can be difficult • Can cause family frustration District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Speaking English • Sometimes students speak own language • Considered quite rude • Forces others away from you • This can be major problem • Ensure students actively work to improve • Good computer programs available • Don’t be afraid to correct student’s English District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Serious Rules of Rotary • No drinking outside home – family rules apply • No drugs • No driving - including no drivers’ education class • No serious (exclusive) dating – “1in,1out” • Obey the law: No smoking, shoplifting, etc. • Don’t do anything dumb your mother wouldn’t approve of. • No independent travel out of town District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Problem Solving • Some problems will occur • Student should ask for help, in this order • Host family • Club counselor • Club youth exchange officer • District Youth exchange committee • Host families must not let small problems become big problems. Ask for help. • Club counselor • Club Youth Exchange officer • District Youth Exchange Committee District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Student Protection Guidelines • What to do if your exchange student tells you of Harassment and/or Abuse • Listen attentively. Let him/her know it was right to tell you • Assure him/her that they are not to blame • Remain calm and make sure student feels safe • Encourage student to share with you what happened and who was involved • Make detailed notes including date & time • Don’t promise to keep secrets & explain the necessity of informing the District Chair – DO SO IMMEDIATELY District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Student Protection Guidelines • Keep Communications Open • Assure student that you can jointly address his/her concerns/problem • Report to the District Chair and the Club Counselor Immediately • Don’t Investigate • Leave this to the proper authorities • Support the Student Emotionally District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Student Protection Guidelines Contact Inbound Chair Thomas Rightmyer 828-225-0515 home 828-280-3008 cell trightmy@juno.com Contact District Chair Bill Biggers 828-258-0576 work 828-645-9560 cell wbiggers@biggersassociates.com District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Student Getting Involved • Active involvement in Rotary and community essential to be good ambassador • Rotary meetings • Orientations for American students • Programs to Rotary clubs – typically in spring • Programs to schools and clubs as asked • Help student to say “yes” and to be proud to be ambassador for their country and Rotary District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Activities • Sharing family activities (even if these are not the student’s favorite thing to do) • Rotary Club • Meetings and socials • Fund Raisers • Other activities including service projects • District (see follow-up slides) District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Rotary District Activities • YE Orientation (mandatory) August 22-24 Black Mountain YMCA center • Other social events with Charlotte area students as planned by Fred Reidinger – ski trip etc. • District Conference (expected) spring 2015 • Bill Biggers’ permission 828-645-9560 is required for student is to go out of our Rotary district or ride or overnight out of town with anyone he has not done background check on. No permission needed for rides with host family, counsellor, or 7670 committee members in district. District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Student’s Role as Ambassador • Students portray their whole country • By their attitude • By their decisions • By their appearance • By their willingness to do for others • Students make a difference; so much depends on their desire to be ambassador • Reminders from counselor and host family needed District 7670 Host Family Orientation

One Last Request • Student’s Name, Address &Telephone # must be kept current in US SEVIS (State Dept.) database • Please inform Tom Rightmyer 828-225-0515 trightmy@juno.com when student moves families and provide the needed information including host family e-mail and phones. District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Summary • THANK YOU !!!!!!!! • We have a great year planned • Program will not work without dedicated counselors and host families • We are more than eager to help District 7670 Host Family Orientation

Orientation for Host Families