News and notes in RYE 6690

2010-2011 Notebook

What's Happen In

Rotary Youth Exchange 6690

Rotary News and Events During 2010-2011 Exchange Year. Email Webmaster to add information.

Greg Miller Wins Top Award From Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise

Greg Miller, who just returned from his exchange year in Blagoveshchensk, Russia was presented the Service Above Self Award by Walter Lundstrom, out-going president of the Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise at the Installation Banquet. This is the first time the award has ever been given to an exchange student. During his year in Siberia, Greg made a huge impact in his Russian Rotary Club, and throughout that part of Russia. He started both an Interact Club at his secondary school and Rotaract Club at the local University and served as the first president of the Interact Club. There is a great deal of tuberculosis in this area and Greg spawned an effort to raise money to purchase equipment to detect that disease. The effort Greg started eventually raised $9000 through grants and matching grants. $1000 of that was given by Westerville Sunrise. Greg has been the talk of Russian Rotary and his efforts have gained attention throughout Rotary. Greg is the Son of Dr. and Mrs. Ken Miller or Westerville. This fall he is attending Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Greg's brother Luke was a short term exchange student to Argentina last year and is attending Marietta College this fall.

Rotex/Rebound weekend in Coshocton July 17-18.

The hardest time for an exchange student isn't when he gets to his new country, it's when they come home from a year of successful exchange. The students had a long period of adjustment to get back into normal routines after an endlessly exciting year overseas. To ease this the RYE 6690 adult team put together a debrief for the returning students at the home of Sandy Pyle, Inbound Chair, so they have a chance to renew old friendships and share their adventures and their concerns. It was an amazing experience for all involves. The stories were amazing and there were tears, endless laughter and a great experience for everyone who participated.

Walter Lundstrom led a discussion with the students while explaining some studies which have been done on returning exchange students. The

Charts and explanation of what is happening to them got rapt attention from a very interested audience of exchange students.

Smores, marshmallows, and talk were burning during the fire in the evening.

Left to right, Greg Baumgartner (2009-2010 Argentina), Florence Warner (2006-07 Turkey), Kat Martin (2008-09 Slovakia), Tatiana Lundstrom (2009-2010 Taiwan) compare notes while filling a questionnaire.

Volunteer Jackie Favret and Kat Martin were the nightingales of the Karaoke during the evening. Roger Viers looks on in the background.

Sara Mauer (2009-2010 Chile), Sarah Smith (2009-2010 Ecuador), Alex Simari (2008-2009 Brazil) and Sandy Pyles poor cat are about to pull a dirty trick on Greg Miller (2009-2010 Russia) at 4:30 am in the morning.

No one wanted to go to bed. A middle of the night movie night provided by Jenny Pyle (2006-2007 ST Australia) had everyone laughing.

Chaperones on the Western Trip in their official uniforms.

Clockwise from top left Bill McMurray, Liz McMurray, Dave Saho, Jackie Favret, Christine O'Donnell, Samantha Sellinger, Lexi McMurray-Powers. The group actually posed for this photo in Virginia City, NV during one of their stops with 73 YEP Students on the 14-Day Western Adventure the inbound students enjoy at the end of their year. Most of the Ohio-Erie Chaperones come from District 6690.

Walter and Sandy run a orientation for the kids.

ROTEX has their first official meeting. ROTEX is for Long Term rebounds

A new twist on Rotary Weekends, A RYE Service project. We helped Mary Orton clean their main building.

Rotary Team, Chair Judy Root, Outbound Chair Walter Lundstrom, Inbound Chair Sandy Pyle.

The kids clean up as part of the service project.

Getting to know each other

Alison, a rebound Short Termer laps up her weekend.

Mount Vernon's Emily Miglin, a new outbound (2nd in her family) starts her adventure.

Sons of the Pampas, Pablo and Marcos from Argentina.

Shy Yuki from Japan does her Cousin It impression

Jeremy a new outbound from Westerville

Frank the Flying Magic Finn!!!! Frank impressed all with some amazing card tricks. He was a professional magician in his native Finland. Frank is from the Swedish speaking part of Finland to the joy of Outbound Chair Walter Lundstrom, who is a transplanted Swede.

Todd Knott, short term outbound prospect. Todd has been a host brother and he is about start this Rotary Adventure.

Pablo Moya gets ready to zip-line while successful Sana, Yuki, Maggie and Rachna show their excitement. To the left Rachna shows her skills.

Sandy Pyle cheers Orhan (Turkish inbound in Athens) as he takes the leap.

Anticipation.

The end of a very fun weekend

Lancaster

Rotary

Weekend

2010-2011

Thanks Lancaster

The Lancaster Rotary Club did a terrific job hosting the exchange students Sept. 25-26,. Rotarian Police Chief Dave Bailey's amazing police department gave the kids a unique and interesting tour of their state-of-the-art department. The kids also enjoyed Frontier Days in Alley Park and learned about the rich history of Fairfield County. The students' service project was cleaning the trail up to the overlook at Rising Park. Rotary put on a great picnic for the kids after all their labor. Lancaster has a long history of supporting youth exchange and they did it again with style and enthusiasm.

There is a lot of luggage involved in a Rotary Weekend. Loading a truck with sleeping bags, luggage and air mattresses.

Emily Oldenquist looks totally natural in her SWAT outfit, during a great tour of the Lancaster Police Department. The Officers did an amazing fun job explaining what it meant to be a police officer.

Romaine Spitaleri, France, learns what it's like to be handcuffed. He actually slipped the cuffs.

One of the discussions was on how different countries react to their police department. Lancaster PD show how a positive face is the best way to do it.

Right on the target.

The officers demonstrated firing Sub Machine Guns, shotguns and pistols on their police pistol range. Students took shell casings as souvenirs for their Rotary Jackets.

Frontier days at Alley Park provided a glimpse into Lancaster in 1799.

Alley Park actors portray a sutter (salesman) and doctor from 1799. Lancaster is on one of the primary routes pioneers took west.

Top of the hill at Rising Park overlooking Lancaster. The students cleaned trash maintaining the beauty in this lovely place.

Much of the weekends is talking about exchange and learning about each other's cultures and experiences. This was at 1 a.m. and it went on for another hour.

Cambridge and Byesville Rotary Weekend December 4-5 Rotarians Knock It out of the Park with a great weekend for the RYE Exchange students. The Rotary Clubs of Cambridge and Byesville put extra-ordinary effort into a great Rotary Weekend. This weekend we did the district interviews for Long and Short Term out-bounds for 2011-2012. As well as going through the ordeal of the interview the long terms were also asked to do an impromptu speech to the entire group about exchange. This impressive group of students did a great job under great pressure. The inbounds did a service project with the Salvation Army ringing the bell for their annual fund raiser at Dollar General for almost 3 hours in biting cold. Their zeal was evident. later the kids explored the winter wonderland on Cambridge and their Christmas lights. 153 Christmas clad manikins decorate the street along with impressive lighting displays. A large number of Local Rotarians showed up to help make the weekend a great success. Their cheerful demeanor and warm welcome made for a joyous weekend. Sadly this was the last weekend for inbound Pablo Moya who has been here since last January. Pablo returns to Argentina in January. This made for sad goodbyes. The proceedings took place at the excellent YMCA in Cambridge.
Bill McCoach and his gang served a delicious lasagna dinner. They worked so hard to make the weekend a success.

Rotary Disney Trip

December 10-17, 2010

The Rotary Club of Dublin-Worthington COSI Fun Weekend

January 15-16, 2011

ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND DUBLIN-WORTHINGTON, THANKS SO MUCH

A great weekend, as always, from the Rotary Club of Dublin-Worthington. Starting with a visit to the Center of Science and Industry, the kids then broke off and had dinner with a large number of the Rotary Club's members. Topping the day off was an overnight at the Powell-Liberty YMCA which started with a Dessert Social and included swimming, a climbing wall and an impromptu dance. A large part of the evening was a training session run by Outbound Chair Walter Lundstrom on how to succeed at exchange. Part of the program was a sample presentation by Leah Schultheis (right). Exchange students will make several presentations

to different groups during their Rotary Year abroad. Especially good was inbound exchange students telling outbounds about what they have encountered. Several rebounds/Rotex (returning exchange students) talked about their successes and their regrets. Erin Wible, Tatiana Lundstrom, Sarah Galbreath and Robin Smith all gave great insights. All had extremely successful exchanges.

February Youth Exchange Weekend

Sponsored by the Olentangy Rotary Club and the Columbus Rotary Club

February 5-6, 2011

THANKS OLENTANGY and COLUMBUS FOR THE GREAT WEEKEND

Wendy's Chili Open Weekend

Olentangy and Columbus Rotary Clubs went together during a very busy time to create a weekend for the RYE students from 6690. The students scheduled for exchange next year (outbounds) and their parents took part in a 4 hour orientation, while Inbounds (students here from other countries), Rotex (Rebounds or students who have successfully completed their exchange) and volunteers worked a 9 hour shift at the Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise's Signature Fund Raiser, the Wendy's Chili Open. Several thousand revelers (who raised over $200,000 for local Children Charities) enjoyed the fruits of the Exchanger's labors. Students were lauded by Committee Chairmen for their efforts as the kids were tireless in their work. The weekend concluded at the Powell Liberty YMCA for the 2nd straight month for swimming, talking and sports. The work didn't end as both Inbound and Outbounds participated in training and trip orientation meetings.

Left-right : volunteer Josh Thimmes, Alberto Perez (Chile), Brock Flint (Rotex 2003-2004 Germany), Sema Akgun Thimmes (Rotex Chair and former inbound from Turkey), Cubby the Wendy's Chili Open Bear, Danielle Fultz (Rotex, Germany 2009=2010), Orhan Mentese (Turkey), Bess Schreiber (Rotex, Poland 2009-2010), Jannelle Castro (Short-term rebound Spain, 2009),RYE Web/Communication Chair Bill McMurray
	Sarah Galbreath and Romain Spitler (France)
	Dustin Chan (Westerville South, Outbound South Korea 2011-2012), Chris Jones (Westerville Central, Outbound Taiwan 2011-2012

RYE kids did 2 hours of work cleaning up the Chili Open in 45 minutes. They were amazing.


Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise Rotarian Bob Freed came by the Powell Liberty YMCA to explain to the kids about the Chili Open, which the kids will all be working in February.	RYE Officers and volunteers look on. In the foreground is Judy Bryant, long time RYE in Dublin Worthington RC.




Chars , an inbound short term student from Buenos Aires, Argentina.	Dancing Feet.
	Frank, Finland, does one of his many magic tricks for RYE Chair Judy Root.
Long time RYE volunteer Jackie Favret spent her Birthday volunteering on the weekend.	Alberto, Chile, enjoys some downtown during the weekend.

April District Assembly Weekend

Sponsored by Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise.

A full fun weekend put together by a great bunch of people

Thanks Westerville Sunrise, Aurora Exhibits, Sunrise Rotarians and President Pat.

Student conduct a flag ceremony for incoming District Governor Brent Rosenthal.

Chloe Caruso's monologue had the audience's attention in a great performance.

Training in Westerville Council Chambers

Julie Friend expertly shows the students how to be hosts at a formal party. Useful info during exchange

Maura Sharkey during Training at the Westerville City Council Chambers.

Matt Koehler of Circleville and Ellie McKinney of Westerville talk to Sunrise President Pat Knott and his wife Caryn. Ellie's Mom who hosted the event, Joan McKinney, listens in.