Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Seminar

Posted by Lydia Sorflaten 
 
Development of future leaders is more important than ever: As part of Rotary's emphasis on helping youth, the Rotary Club of Truro sponsored a Rotary Youth Leadership Award ( RYLA) Seminar at the AgriTech Park in Bible Hill on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009.

Developing the leaders of tomorrow among our youth is more important now than ever before: As part of the Truro  Rotary Club's efforts to meet this goal,  Truro Rotary sponsored a Rotary Youth Leadership Award ( RYLA) Seminar at the AgriTech Park in Bible Hill on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009. 

For the past 10 years, the Rotary Club of Truro has sponsored this  opportunity for exceptional youth from our community and area to help shape their future lives. Truro Rotarian Garth Coffin, helped to organize early RYLA seminars ten/eleven years ago and has continued to be involved. 

Schools in our region were contacted and asked to choose Grade 11 level students to participate in RYLA.  Grade 11 students are chosen as the Truro target group.  Continuing one more year in their High School, they will be able to implement their new leadership skills, and hopefully pass the benefits on to their fellow students.   

Some 20 participants from Hants East, South Colchester, CEC and North Colchester enthusiastically took part in the day's activities.   Rotarian Steven Gallant organized and conducted Tuesday's  seminar.  A group of NSAC students began the day with interactive small group exercises. 

The many and varied activities allowed participants to learn more about themselves and their abilities to interact as a group.  It was interesting to see strong, effective leadership happening within the groups;   leaders leading leaders.    

These students will return to their schools and put into action skills learned in this workshop.  The program helps Rotary forge bonds with young people.  Adults in our community who participated in previous RYLA seminars still remember this Leadership Seminar as being a special part of their formative years.    

RYLA 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
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