RYLA talk brightens Rotary meeting

FALLBROOK — Elaine Allyn, past president of the Rotary Club of Fallbrook and an administrator at Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, recently brightened everyone’s day with her narrated video presentation on the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). RYLA has its basis in the “Four-Way Test of Rotary” in that it “is the truth,” “is fair to all concerned,” “will build goodwill and better friendship” and “will be beneficial to all concerned.” The program is designed to encourage strong leadership in youth and members are chosen for their leadership potential.

Each April, the San Diego Rotary District 5340 selects 300 juniors in San Diego and Imperial County high schools to receive the RYLA award, which includes an all-expense-paid experience at a camp in Idyllwild, complete with adult Rotarian volunteer mentors and facilitators. While at camp, each volunteer works with between eight and ten students, creating “families.” The groups learn to work together as well as compete with other families in good-natured projects, entertainment and skits. The experience helps students develop and enhance leadership skills through activities conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect.

The San Diego RYLA program has been working with students since 1972, but the idea was actually generated as a result of the success of a two-week festival in Australia in the 1940s to honor the goodwill tour of the daughter of the King of England, Princess Elizabeth.

RYLA is available to all juniors, not just top students. Those interested may apply online at http://www.rylaconference.com and will later be interviewed by local Rotarians as part of the selection process.