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Club Updates
Robert Ortman is looking for people to portray Wizard of Oz characters on our Rotary Float for Tulip Time. Contact him if you are interested. We are also hoping that many Rotarians will be walking in the Children's Parade where we are the Grand Marshals. The float and Rotarians will be at the head of that Parade. And in other Tulip Time news, Tom and Heather Gough are still looking for Grandstand Greeters.
District 6290 Life Leadership Conference
John Noling from the Muskegon Rotary Club and the District chair for the conference told us about this annual event. This leadership program for high school students started in 1949. It brings students from throughout the district along with inbound and outbound exchange students. It is probably the longest-running youth leadership program in Rotary. Worldwide Rotary now has RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) which was founded in 1971. Our district conference is affiliated with RYLA.
The program started in Muskegon when the superintendent of schools and the city recreation director started talking about leadership for high school boys. They were both Rotarians and the Muskegon club had property on Big Blue Lake that could be used. Since 1949 there have been 6900 high schoolers who have been through the program. Girls were invited to the program for the first time in 1989 and now the program better reflects the cultural diversity of our region. There are a number of top-notch speakers, exercises, and time to meet other students. The students are divided into family groups with an adult leader that lets them debrief on what they have learned. Visitors are welcome at the conference. The new home is Ferris State University. Contact Carol Swart, our club representative, if you would like to attend.
The Staff and Board of the Life Leadership Conference consists of graduates of the program, Rotarians, Rotoractors, and Interactors. 