Host Family Training – District and Club Information Session
Background
- Rotary about 33,000 clubs, 531 districts in 171 countries
- 8000 youth exchange students worldwide each year.
- Our district 5100 has one of larger programs – 80 students inbound and outbound.
- Describe YE committee structure – Chairman, Country Officers, Inbound/Outbound Coordinators, STEP
- Describe club structure – President, YE Chair, Counselor
- What is inbound/outbound/rebound student
Inbound Student Schedules 2023-24
- All inbound student district events are mandatory and funded by the hosting club except the optional bus tour.
- First inbound event is Inbound Orientation at Rockaway September 14-17
- OPTIONAL California/Oregon bus trip October 15-23
- January new Outbound Orientation – Country fair – your student may be asked to participate to represent their country January 6, 2024
- Eastern Oregon Excursion La Grande, February 1 – 4, both inbound and outbound
- District Conference in Salem, April 24-27, both inbound and outbound
- Final inbound retreat in June location TBD (no overnight)
- Students should attend as many weekly Rotary meetings as their school schedules allow.
- Schedule priority is District/Family/Club/School (friends not listed!)
- Clubs should provide transportation to scheduled district events.
- Special events (not required) – country fair, starlight parade, and country dinners.
District YE Rules
- All inbound students and their parents have signed a document that they understand the rules and will follow them.
- Discuss 6 D’s: Drugs/Driving/Dating/Drinking/Disfigurement/Disrespect
- No Smoking
- Must change HF when scheduled. HF needs to “let go”.
- 90 – day communication rule (just mention it and its importance – communication module will fully discuss with host families).
- Speak English
- Independent travel (don’t go into a lot of detail – just what it is and what isn’t independent travel and that a considerable amount of paperwork is required for exceptions.) This is covered in detail in the host family and student binders.
Natural family visitations
- Parental visitations are discouraged as can be very disruptive to exchange. Check with student on how they feel about it.
- District 5100 must give permission for parental visitations – by Chairman and Country Officer.
- Only approved during the latter part of the exchange and never during school holidays.
YPP
- As part of receiving your host family background checks, you have read the district YPP documentation or received YPP training
- All host families, counselors, district committee members and club members involved with YE have received these background checks and training.
- Monthly, the club YE chair or another member will contact host families and are required to submit a written report.
- Counselors are required to personally contact inbound students each month (often at club meetings) and submit a written report
- Discuss “gray areas” such as slumber parties, etc. at the homes of non-host families.