SPINNINGS - Week of June 20, 2023
 

San Mateo Rotarians hosted TJ Chartrand on June 12th. He provided an engaging and helpful introduction to RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly).  District 5150 sponsors a RYLA Camp every year to introduce high school students to Rotary and to help them learn valuable leadership & facilitation skills.  Fun is also part of the RYLA equation!  This year's RYLA Camp will be held at Redwood Glen in Scotts Valley between July 30th and August 6th.  

One of the important parts of RYLA is the participation of District 5150 Rotarians who attend as group facilitators.  All attendees are divided into groups of 8 to 10 students and 2 facilitators. Facilitators help their groups move through camp activities. Rotarians who have had the RYLA experience heartily recommend it.  It's a great way to introduce students to Rotary. If you're interested, here's a link to learn more:
Over 200 students (a record number!) are signed up for this year's RYLA Camp. They come from high schools from all over District 5150. One of the highlights of attending RYLA is the chance to meet new friends.
TJ, sporting a RYLA hat and jacket, shared his personal RYLA journey. He first attended RYLA while a junior at Riordan & as an adult continues to help at RYLA. TJ heartily recommends RYLA as a life-changing experience, one where you realize you're the hero of your life journey.
RYLA focuses on helping attendees develop leader-ship skills. Students also have lots of fun - ropes course anyone? Nightly campfires, discussions about solving world problems, and great food round out RYLA Camp.
Another bottle of President Dick's Signature Red changes hands!

President Dick Expresses a Word of Thanks....

President Dick gave a shout-out and a bottle of vino to Martin Harband to thank him for all his work intrepidly leading the Program Committee through another year of securing great speakers for our weekly meetings.  Not to be outdone, Martin asked to have the message below included in this week's Spinnings:

 
"While I appreciate Pres Dick calling me to the podium last Tuesday to praise the quality of the programs over RY 2022-23, I wish to share the accolades (but not the wine) with the Program Committee.  These are the Rotarians who labor in the vineyards on Zoom at 7:30 am on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month:  
 
       Jerry Hill, Bruce Bean, Anne Campbell, John de Russy,
       Arlene Kace, Bill Kenney, Walt McCullough, Mike
       Peterson, John Root, and Brian Sullivan.  
 
In addition, I wish to express my appreciation to the following Rotarians who proposed and hosted programs during the past year:
 
       Laura Porter, Anthony Tanismore, President Dick,
       Tom Huening, Rod Linhares, Melissa Platt, Angel
       Riley, Claudia Ferguson, Ed Barberini, Jonathan
       King, and Dennis Thomas
 
I encourage every Rotarian to join us on the Zoom-call on any 2nd and/or 4th Fridays of the month for the discussion and fun.  There is no dress-code, but we do require at least a bathrobe.  You don't have to be a committee member to drop in and say hello!
 
Thanks,
 
Martin
 
More RYLA Info