RYLA Report
RYLA and Aspiring Letters Report
Rotarian Tony Blackler, Lotitia Hay, and Josh Blackmore gave us an extremely thorough presentation on RYLA “Rotary Youth Leadership Awards”.
Traditionally, speakers led the attendees with inspiring talks of varying quality. Now there is a change to “Day Themes” which leads to greater student participation and consequently improved "growth."
An important part of RYLA is that it is a full residential week where attendees make new acquaintances and help each other in such activities as team-building. This year there was a return to a refurbished College House at the University of Canterbury.
Papanui Rotary established the Groynes recreation area years ago and this is now the venue for the ‘ropes course’ for RYLA. This helps young people face fear of heights and encourages them to achieve what they think is beyond their capabilities. Entries for RYLA close on 20th October. Go to www.ryla9970.org.nz $920 pp
Our club sponsored Josh Blackmore to the Aspiring Leadership Forum at the ‘Beehive”. Attended by 100 young people they learnt about the conflict of personal life and parliamentary life facing members of parliament. Josh was impressed with the openness of the speakers.
A single person can change the world. Be imaginative, be curious, be unreasonable, be respectful, be persistent, be honest.
Josh is also involved in the “Student Army’. This organisation is 2300 strong and gets university students involved in valuable community assistance with such activities as gardening, firewood, and waste disposal. Josh‘s presentation, in particular, was outstanding.