Wakulla High Students to Attend RYLA Program

The Wakulla High School Rotary Interact Club announced today that tenth graders Randi Ministerio and Josh Love have been selected as the 2008 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) participants. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA participants can be ages 14 - 30, but most clubs and districts choose to focus on a narrower age range, such as 14 - 18 or 19 - 30. Young people chosen for their leadership potential attend an all-expenses-paid seminar, camp, or workshop to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice. The Rotary Club of Wakulla County is sponsoring Ministerio and Love for the 2008 RYLA program.

RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to

Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth
Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders
Encourage leadership of youth by youth
Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities

RYLA was established in 1959, when the state government of Queensland, Australia, invited local Rotarians to help plan a festival celebrating Queensland's upcoming centennial. Learning that Queen Elizabeth II was sending her cousin Princess Alexandra, who was in her early 20s, to the celebration, Rotarians planned activities specifically for the princess's age group.

The gundoo, an aboriginal word meaning "festival" or "fun together," was a rousing success. More than 300 men and women between the ages of 17 and 23 attended. Encouraged by the event's popularity with the young attendees, Rotarians saw potential to create a similar annual youth program. With little hesitation, Art Brand, governor of what was then District 260, approved the project, and on 2 May 1960, RYLA was born.

Australian districts 258 and 260 shared in establishing a committee that developed the official framework of RYLA: to train youth ages 14 - 30 in character, leadership, personal development, and good citizenship. These guidelines helped RYLA expand to all Rotary districts in Australia and led to its approval as an international program by the RI Board at the 1971 RI Convention in Sydney, Australia.

By 1998, RYLA had become an established program in more than half of the 521 Rotary districts worldwide. Also in 1998, then RI President James Lacy, emphasizing his concern for children, appointed an international RYLA committee, dedicated to improving and expanding this special Rotary program throughout the world. Rotarians with different RYLA experiences were invited to RI headquarters to exchange information and ideas; they agreed that the program could be improved through regional training workshops.

After District 5520's first RYLA camp, about 20 years ago, a participant summed up his experience in one word: Camelot. He wrote: "If you know the story of King Arthur, you may recall that as King Arthur was dying in a young man's arms, he turned to the youth and said, 'If you learn of anyone that has not heard of Camelot, tell them loudly and clearly that there really was that one wisp of glory called Camelot.'"

Gundoo or Camelot ? RYLA is both, and aren't we fortunate? Dedication, passion, and love describe the heart of RYLA, a most remarkable investment that assures Rotary's future. Every Rotarian should take the opportunity to enjoy this exciting program and life-changing experience. For additional information, visit the Rotary International website: http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/YouthPrograms/ .

Wakulla High School students are selected for RYLA through teacher nominations and written applications. 2008 RYLA finalists Randi and Josh were asked to define leadership as part of the selection process. Randi, who plays multiple sports for Wakulla High School and has been an active 4-H member, explained that she defines leadership as encompassing many great qualities, “Leaders are able to guide people, have good communication skills, and are skilled problem solvers. Most importantly, leaders show their care for others through their actions.” Randi said she hopes that participating in RYLA will improve her communication and leadership skills.

Josh, who is active in his church and the school drama program, characterized a leader as “Someone who can guide, listen to others, give orders, and communicate his or her point of view while considering the input of others.” Josh said he would like to learn more about leadership during the RYLA program and how to become a more effective leader overall.

The students traveled to Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center in Milton, Florida April 3 - 6 and will attend a Wakulla Rotary Club meeting to discuss their experiences later this spring.

- Submitted by Dr. Rachel Sutz Pienta

This article originally published on April 6, 2008.