Building community and developing leaders at a unique changeover event

By Rotary International

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards participants take part in an outdoor challenge course designed to teach leadership and problem-solving. Photo courtesy District 7780

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards participants take part in an outdoor challenge course designed to teach leadership and problem-solving. Photo courtesy District 7780

By Sheila Rollins, governor of District 7780, parts of Maine and New Hampshire, USA

Changeover ceremonies, in which Rotary leaders transition to their new positions, are often formal events. I knew I wanted our district’s ceremony to be different. I wanted an event that would positively reflect the ideals of Rotary, that would be family-oriented and cost-conscious, and that would not take place in a hotel ballroom. I considered combining the district changeover with a service project, but I decided to create something even more unique: I planned the changeover to coincide with our annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).

Our RYLA takes place each June at Camp Hinds, a Boy Scout camp on a lake in southern Maine, which has a full Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience (COPE) course. The course activities —including group initiative games, trust events, and low-ropes and high-ropes courses — are designed to teach participants leadership and problem-solving skills.

I also thought combining the changeover with RYLA would encourage more Rotary members to visit this amazing youth leadership program we run. Before long, a Changeover at Camp, complete …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

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