I was at our Sister District 4140 district conference in beautiful Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo this past weekend. I delivered a personal congratulatory message on behalf of our district in Spanish that was graciously received and accepted. It’s the beauty of being part of our global Rotary family. We meet, interact and connect.

May is Rotary’s Youth Service month.  At our Sister District 4140 district conference, I witnessed 50 Youth Exchange students participating and helping recipients into their brand new wheelchairs; offering them the gift of mobility. While the wheelchairs were granted by our Sister District 4140, involving and engaging the Youth Exchange students was an impactful experience: both on the beneficiaries and the students. It’s a moving sight that brought tears to my eyes when I saw the joy and gratitude on the beneficiaries’ faces. Their eyes spoke volumes and my heart swelled. I am sure the youths and all in attendance felt the same. It was the Magic of Rotary at work.

I also had the privilege of serving as a counselor at this year’s RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) held from May 1-4 in Ojai. About 220 high schoolers including inbound youth exchange students participated. There’s a synergy of curiosity, exuberance, excitement and possibility when you’re among youths. 

It was also my first time at RYLA and the experience had been nothing short of incredible. Even though I slept without a pillow for 3 nights, and remembering the decibels of the kids’ screams on talent night, that weekend had been one of the most rewarding times of my life. Many students came out of their shells, allowed their creative juices to flow and expressed themselves beautifully. At team building, I saw first-hand how each team communicated with encouragement and smiles, and how many times, the words, “I got your back” were repeated. Many showed their vulnerability when they bared their hearts and revealed their inner selves. Many stories were heart-wrenching. At the end of the training, almost all students exhibited confidence and made connections. Most importantly, I saw smiles instead of quietness. I have been told that RYLA transforms lives. I am transformed. I could see that the students are transformed too. 

As Rotarians, we are purposeful. RYLA was born because we saw the potential in young leaders and decided to invest in this purpose. RYLA is not just as a fun camp or weekend getaway. It’s also a dynamic platform to mold young minds. RYLA is here to stay because we believe in the youths. Our beliefs and actions will go far. So a big shout out to RYLA Chair Darin Arrasmith and his team for another successful year.

It’s just about 42 days to closing out 2024-2025 Rotary year. The world’s children are our children. In this globalized society, we need to rise to the calls - the needs wherever they are. The returns may not be direct $$$ to our clubs or district, but our hearts will be enriched because by addressing one or more needs, we would have impacted lives across the globe. So let’s join hands within and across borders, through RYLA, youth exchanges, and any other service projects; with sister clubs or districts, and/or global partners, to achieve quicker, wider and more impactful results. 

Rotary Is Love + Service = Magic of Rotary!