The Rotary Club of Livingston learned about Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where young people nominated by Rotary Clubs can develop leadership skills while having fun and making connections, during its noon meeting Thursday.
RYLA District Chair Michael Perez of Beaumont talked about the event which is open to high school juniors and held annually at Pineywoods Baptist Encampment in Woodlake. Rotarians connect with the youth through experiential learning activities, inspire them to accomplish goals through teamwork and help transform youth perspectives through exposure to the 4-Way Test and ethical standards promoted by Rotarians.
“We try and stress to them how they can get involved with Rotary further. We try to develop them and their leadership ability. There is an impact on the students, but also on the district,” Perez said.
Approximately 100 volunteers help put on the event and approximately two dozen students return the following year to serve as squad leaders.
“There are lots of activities and you see a lot of growth in their confidence and leadership ability,” Perez said, adding that 256 students participated in the most recent one.
“It’s a fairly large operation that costs $70,000 to put on. We’re blessed by the clubs in the district because three meals are put on by clubs and each of those meals represents $3,000 we’re saving. Thank you to your club for your support and the students you send. I’m the ring master but there are a lot of people in the district that play significant roles,” Perez said.
He added that there is a lot more diversity than you would expect, as both rural and urban clubs are represented and there are lots of ethnicities.
“It’s a real invigorating experience for the students and this experience for them is made possible through the world of Rotary. We can make the impact on the world we want to make if we work together. Our future is in good hands,” Perez said.
Mike Hayes of Conroe agreed.
“Nobody teaches better leadership than Rotary. This is our future, and we know that at least 200+ got it right,” Hayes said.
