April 13, 2011

 

Draft of Young RYLA vision/governance document.

 

This draft is still incomplete. The RMRYLA Visioning Committee would like the Board to comment on the general format and scope. Similar documents will be prepared for RYLA and for the RMRYLA Board.

 

1.    RYLA vision statement

 

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a life-changing leadership training program in Rotary Districts 5440 and 5450 for young men and women that emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to demonstrate:

1.    Rotary's respect and concern for youth

2.    Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders

3.    Encourage leadership of youth by youth

4.    Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities

5.     

2.    Young RYLA history

 

In 2001, following 15 years of strong success with the RYLA program in the Rocky Mountain RYLA, DG Diane Kessel (District 5450) wanted to explore the concept of a Young RYLA program for inclusion in the program of Rocky Mountain RYLA.  In her concept, Young RYLA would be an action-packed program of activities that help build confidence and leadership skills (problem solving games, challenge course, zip line, skits, group discussions and team building activities) for youth between their 7th & 8th grade summers.

She, along with Kevin Farrell and Doug Armbrust, went to look at the Young RYLA program in Canada.  Armed with their experience and background, the group proceeded to find individuals with specific experience in teaching the younger individual within the RYLA context.  Jim Hoops and Junior Weed-Ziegler were engaged in the task of formatting YRYLA to be appropriate for youth between the 7th and 8th grades.

 

(A more detailed and accurate history is in the works.)

 

3.    Organizational structure

 

Young RYLA is managed by the Board of Directors of Rocky Mountain RYLA, a nonprofit organization incorporated on January 10, 2003, in Colorado and representing Rotary International Districts 5440 and 5450.  It is one of the few RYLA organizations in the world that includes by RYLA and Young RYLA.  RM RYLA staff and board are volunteer Rotarians from both districts.

 

The operation of the corporation is funded through monies from clubs to support their student scholarships for both Young RYLA and RYLA candidates.    The per-student cost is $400.

 

What type of evaluation is required by the “parent organization”? 

 

(Organizational chart goes here)

 

4.    Young RYLA Chair 

 

YRYLA Chair selection criteria

 

YRYLA Chair selection process

 

YRYLA Chair job description

 

-   The YRYLA Chair is responsible for selecting the head counselor(s), developing/implementing a selection process for junior counselors/senior counselors and counselor staff, refinement/confirmation of the camp program and speakers, and planning/scheduling the camp program and activities.

-   Support staff in any way possible

-   Edit and revise program with Head JCs

-   Prepare training with Head JCs

-   Select and train staff for program activities

-   Chair selects Rotarian staff

-   Select counselor staff with Head JCs

-   Support Head JCs as they manage, organize, and direct camp activities

-   Pair teams of Rotarians and Counselors with Head JCs

-   Inventory check

-    

What process is there to solicit interested parties?   

 

What process is in place to evaluate candidates? 

 

Is there a reason for continuing/not continuing a Chair from year to year? 

 

Is the level of success of a chair evaluated each year?  If so, how and to what end?  If not, why not and to what end? 

 

Are there any records that carry over from Chair to Chair?  If so, where are they kept?  If not, how is each year’s Chair’s experience evaluated?

 

 

Is there some level of succession plan for successful chairs such as movement into other Rotary programs?

 

Is there a support structure for the Young RYLA Chair?  If so, what does it look like?

 

 

 

5.    Head Junior Counselor(s) 

 

Head JC selection criteria

 

Head JC selection process 

 

Head JC job description

 

-   The role of the Head JC is to lead a team of 12 Junior Counselors through a successful week-long camp of experiences.

-   Support staff in any way possible

-   Edit and revise program with Chair

-   Prepare training with Chair

-   Select and train staff for program activities

-   Chair selects Rotarian staff

-   Head Counselors select counselor staff with Chair

-   Manage, organize, and direct camp activities

-   Pair teams of Rotarians and Counselors with Chair

-   Inventory check

 

Head JC performance evaluation

 

For successful Head JC’s, is there a plan to encourage successful Head JC’s to move into other Rotary programs?

 

 

6.    Junior Counselors (JCs)

 

JC selection criteria

 

JC selection process

 

JC job description    

 

-        lead a team of 10 YRYLArians through YRYLA program

-        know the program almost by heart and be trained in facilitating all of the activities

-        be able to occupy the YRYLArians in a productive manner (even if it is just getting to know everyone better)

-        if you are ahead of schedule Debrief activities so the YRYLArians learn the life lessons from them

-        be able to decipher team dynamics and lead discussions so that for those whom leading is easy, they will be in a position to bring out the leader in those who may not be as outspoken

-        challenge YRYLArians to break barriers, be bold and creative, and to be an initiator

-        prepare a Word of Focus

-         

JC performance evaluation

 

Is there a plan to encourage successful JC’s to move into other Rotary programs?

 

 

7.    Counselor Staff

 

Counselor Staff selection criteria

 

Counselor Staff selection process

 

Counselor Staff job description

-   Behind the scenes phantom team in support of the Head JC.

-    Fill in for a counselor if something happens to them or they are needed elsewhere or are giving a presentation in the matrix

-   Make sure daily and activity supplies are where they need to be for the day Distribute team supplies to the teams

-   Play YRYLA music before teams enter

-   Run tasks for Chair and Head Counselors

-   Prepare a Word of Focus

-   Run snacks during Twilight Time to all the teams

-   Watch the dorms when Rotarians and Counselors have end of the day meeting at night. When the YRYLArians are asleep, make sure the lights are off and they are in bed.

 

How are the Counselor Staff evaluated?  If the staff members are successful, how are they informed and how are they identified and moved into other positions within YRYLA and Rotary in general?

 

8.    Senior Counselors (SCs)

 

     SC selection criteria

 

SC selection process

An on-line application is available for interested Rotarians, requesting basic personal information and their involvement with various Rotary activities at all levels of the organization.  Also, each applicant is required to fill out and submit to a full background check in compliance with the District Abuse and Harassment Policy.

 

The YRYLA Chair makes the selection of all Senior Counselors.

 

SC job description

-        Support JC to aid them in any way they need and go with them to all of the activities

-        Provide supplies if they are missing, go back with a YRYLArian if they forgot something in their room, or any other task that needs to be fulfilled that requires leaving the area the team needs to be

-        Share relevant wisdom or life stories from your extensive bank of experiences to support and encourage points that counselors may be trying to make

-        Discipline YRYLArians that are not paying attention, not following instructions, or not following rules

-         

How long can an individual SC serve?  There are currently no limitations on how long an individual Rotarian can serve.

Who notifies all applicants of a selection/non-selection? 

How are records maintained?  No records are maintained.  Each interested Rotarian is asked to reapply every year.

How are high-potential individuals identified for movement into other Rotary programs/functions? 

How are records maintained from year-to-year or do you create new each year?  (e.g., all background checks, “applications”, etc.)  Applicants for Senior Counselor positions are asked to re-apply each year for consideration.

 

 

9.    Training

10.  

How is each group trained? 

 

How is the team developed?

 

11. Annual Evaluation

 

How is each annual conference evaluated? 

There are two-levels of evaluation.  First, an immediate discussion among all levels of the YRYLA staff and then a day-long debrief and discussion is held by the YRYLA and RYLA staff.

 

How are lessons learned incorporated into future YRYLA sessions?

The feedback from both the immediate and day-long discussion is captured  is designed to be incorporated by the incoming Chair YRYLA.

 

12. Future issues/needs

 

During the annual evaluation, how are issues/needs identified, developed, and responded to? Who is responsible for this?

 

13. Coordination/integration with RYLA

 

How are the lessons learned from an annual evaluation coordinated between YRYLA and RYLA? 

 

How are the programs coordinated so that each works off of the other? 

 

Is there an assumption that all YRYLA graduates will be accepted for RYLA? 

 

What are the program expectations of each?