RI President to attend RYLA
Posted by Rusty Pile on Oct 30, 2014
Rotary International President Gary C. K. Huang and his wife Corinna will attend our District RYLA Camp in January. This is a great honor for our District and a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to the most senior leadership in Rotary the power of our youth programs.
President Huang's office notified RYLA Chairman Jon Bauman that the invitation, first extended at PETS, had been accepted. Following President-Elect Huang's luncheon speech he walked around looking at the exhibits in the hallway. When he approached the Youth Services exhibit Jon pointed out our RYLA theme "Ignite Your Light" and teasingly accused President Huang of stealing our theme. He invited him to join us in Prescott in January. "Light Up Rotary" was too close to be a coincidence.
Jon said they realized it was a real reach to expect the invitation would be accepted but hoped President Huang might agree to tape a video that could be shown at every RYLA welcoming the Delegates and challenging them to engage.
We sent an email offering to assist with the video, repeated the invitation to attend, and hoped something might come from it. RI Headquarters responded with a request for more information about our RYLA. After trading information we received notice that President Huang had accepted the invitation to attend. OMG!
RYLA is January 16 -19, 2015. President Huang will arrive Friday the 16th and speak to our Delegates that evening. He plans to spend some time Saturday morning observing the programs we offer before he has to depart.
What an honor. We are excited!