WEEK 43 FOUNDATION MINUTE
MAY IS YOUTH SERVICE MONTH
May is a time for celebrating the many Youth programs offered by Rotary – whether Rotaract Clubs, Interact Clubs, Early Act Clubs, Rotary Youth Exchange students, Short-term exchange students and the Global Grant and Peace Scholars supported by donations to OUR Rotary Foundation.
Many clubs choose to honor those students in their community who exemplify Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self in their local community service efforts. Using our connections with local junior and high schools, introducing students to Rotary through Interact truly opens opportunities for their futures.
The CoVid-19 Pandemic has curtailed many of our Youth activities in the past year, though some local Interact and Rotaract clubs continued to hold service activities safely. Though Long-Term Youth exchange was paused until 2022, plans are underway to restart as soon as it can be done safely. Similarly, the Short-Term Summer Exchange Program was cancelled this past summer.
Tragically, we lost the founder and champion of our District’s summer exchange program, Ulrich Kuehn, to Covid-19 in February. Rick will be missed but his legacy will live on once a new leader is appointed.
