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!
No matter how long we’ve been with Rotary, we all benefit from the energy and fresh perspectives of our young leaders. It is my privilege to place this month’s presidential message in the capable hands of one young leader, Vitor Joventino. In his column, Vitor reminds us how teamwork and inclusivity can spark transformative change. As you read his message, I encourage you to reflect on its insights, share in his excitement, and embrace new opportunities to learn. — Stephanie Urchick
To read the article, click here.
- The Water Wheel at the SLO Children's Museum
- The Bandstand at Mitchell Park (2000)
- The Community Garden at Meadow Park (2010)
- The Landscaping Projects at the SLO Botanical Garden (2013) and SLO County YMCA (2012)
- The Exercise Course at Laguna Lake Park (2013)
- The "Make Change Count" donation meters (2014)
- The Viewing Platform at the SLO Regional Airport (2015)
- The Amphitheater at the County Office of Education's Rancho El Chorro site (2017)
- The Playground at 40 Prado Homeless Services Center (2018)
- The Courtyard at the Octagon Barn (2019)
- The Commemorative Green Benches at the Rotary Community Garden (in memory of Rotarian Brian Conroy, 2019) and Laguna Lake Golf Course (SLO Daybreak, 2023)
- The Disc Golf Course at Sinsheimer Park (2021)
- The Mural at Restorative Partners' Bridge Cafe (2023)
- The Neighborhood Pantry on Ferrini Road, hosted by Honorary Rotarian, Nancy Beighley (2023)
- The Born Learning Trail at De Vaul Park (2023)
- Coming soon, Pergolas at Woods Humane Society (2025)
RYLA aims to:
- Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders;
- Encourage leadership of youth by youth;
- Encourage youth to make a difference in their communities through volunteer work and social responsibility; and
- Demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth.
Teacher Grants:
- Beatriz Huizer, Hawthorne Elementary School - Wordless book for developing reading skills
- Sally Lamas, Sinsheimer Elementry School - Supplies for an entry mural to be created by students
- Christine Lintner, Bishop's Peak Elementary School - Special needs equipment for students
- Dana McClish, Pacific Beach High School - Tools and supplies for the construction class
- Robin Minkel, C.L. Smith Elementary School - Phonics based reading books
- Daniela Rothberg, Bishop's Peak Elementary School - Special needs equipment
- Central Coast Junior Golf Inc.
- French Hospital Medical Center Foundation
- San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
- SLO Food Bank
- Is your personal/professional member profile up to date at SLODaybreak.org? Click here. Why? Your fellow members and committee chairs want to be able to contact you, your Club President wants to celebrate milestones with you and your family and your Board of Directors needs your information to be correct for quarterly reporting to our District and Rotary International.
- Are you following SLO Daybreak on Instagram? Click here. Why? See what we are up to with events, speakers and community service projects.
- Have you "liked" SLO Daybreak's Facebook page? Click here. Why? See what our club and other clubs in SLO and in our District are achieving and make new friends with other Rotarians.
- Have you "liked" the District 5240 Facebook page? Click here. Why? Rotary is a local, regional and international service organization and our connectivity with our District leadership and the oversight of its 68 clubs brings us together with 1.4 million members in over 47,000 clubs all over the world.
- Have you created a My Rotary account at Rotary.org? Click here. Why? My Rotary is where you can see your history in Rotary, your status in overall contributions to the Rotary International Foundation and how your impact is changing the world.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
United States of America