Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership program coordinated by Rotary Clubs across the globe. Each year, thousands of young people participate in this program. Young people ages 14–30 are sponsored by Rotary Clubs to attend the event run by the club's district committee.

In District 7090 (our district) it was identified about 8 or 9 years ago that due to the span of ages it was a challenge to have a meaningful program for all attendees so the age groups were divided into 2 groups….high school (the first group) and university/college/work (the second group).

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.

Every RYLA program covers the following core topics:

• Fundamentals of leadership

• Ethics of positive leadership

• Importance of communication skills in effective leadership

• Problem-solving and conflict management

• Rotary's purpose and service to the community

• Building self-confidence and self-esteem

• Elements of community and global citizenship

Our very own Margaret Andrewes is the District 7090 Chair for the high school group called SLAPSHOT (Student Leadership Award Program for Students High on Training), which is open to 100 registrants from across District 7090 for students ages 15 to 17. Margaret was instrumental from the start in developing what has become a very successful weekend.
 

Programs like RYLA, SLAPSHOT and our very own STAND BY ME make me proud to be a Rotarian.

Registrar Mike Jenken recorded 15 Rotarians including Terry Kotwa who was in charge of the meeting this morning.

On Thursday, April 14, 2011, Lincoln Rotarians attended a presentation of Rotary's Who Is NOBODY? kit to Beamsville District Secondary School.

Thursday's arrival of NOBODY met with great enthusiasm by the youngsters and was presented with its first attachment; a mustache ... or was that really a pair of wings?