A discussion on ways to engage clubs and Rotarians with Rotary Youth Exchange, both to grow the program and to revitalize Rotary in your area. Luiz Ricardo Begosso

1. Engaging Clubs with Youth ExchangeEngaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
2015 Youth Exchange Officers Preconvention
Moderator: Luiz Ricardo Begosso
District 4510, Brazil

2. Member Engagement | 2
Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
“Your club’s ability to serve the
community is directly related to the
level of enthusiasm and
engagement of your members”

3. Member Engagement | 3
So, what is “Engagement?”
Engagement can mean many things…

4. Member Engagement | 4
What is “Engagement?”
Engagement is Knowing the Members of
your Rotary Club!

5. Member Engagement | 5
Engagement is Knowing the Members of your Club
• But not simply knowing their names!
• Look for common interests, or shared
experiences, professional connections or
other items that link them to YOUTH and
EXCHANGE!

6. Member Engagement | 6
What is “Engagement?”
Engagement is Putting your Club
Members to Work!

7. Member Engagement | 7
Engagement is Putting your Club Members to Work
• One reason people join Rotary is to
perform service in their community;
• Members that feel they are of value to the
club are far less likely to leave and are
more likely to become a spokesperson for
the club and the work it does.

8. Member Engagement | 8
Engagement is Putting your Club Members to Work
So, let’s encourage them to work for
Youth Exchange!

9. Member Engagement | 9
Strong and Effective Rotary Club:
• All of the Club’s Committees need to be
active and interconnected, enhancing
each other’s success;
• It's like a football team, with defenders,
midfielders and forwards, all integrated to
reach the goal.

10. Member Engagement | 10
YE can help leveraging Club’s Committees:
Soon we will see how….
Strong and Effective Rotary Club:

11. Member Engagement | 11
Are you using the Post Exchange Survey?
• It is a significant tool for Continuous
Improvement

12. Member Engagement | 12
Some Data from the Post Exchange Survey
• Rotarian Parents:
• YE is a great tool for membership growth

13. Member Engagement | 13
Some Data from the Post Exchange Survey
• Meetings with Counselor per month:
• 20% of students meet their Counselors
only once a month; 40% less than that.

14. Member Engagement | 14
Some Data from the Post Exchange Survey
• Club Support:

15. Member Engagement | 15
Some Data from the Post Exchange Survey
• Club support has a strong influence on all
aspects of the exchange:
• Only:
 33% felt Included in the Host Club
 37% had regular contact with Rotarians
 33% had support by Counselor
 28% had assistance in improving Language

16. Member Engagement | 16
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Including the student at Host Club:

17. Member Engagement | 17
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Including the student at Host Club:
–Inviting student for club meetings;
–Inviting student for club events;
–Encouraging student to have some
simple role in a club’s project;
–Project “Passport to the Global
Citizenship”

18. Member Engagement | 18
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Increasing contact with Rotarians:

19. Member Engagement | 19
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Increasing contact with Rotarians :
–Dining Project:
• Every week one Rotarian could invite the
student to have dinner at his/her home
–after 48 weeks, the student will have met
most of the Rotarians;

20. Member Engagement | 20
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Increasing contact with Rotarians :
–Appointment Book Project:
• At first meeting of the year: give an empty
Appointment Book to the Inbound
• Inbound brings the Appointment Book to
every meeting and let the Rotarians see it
during the meeting, so they can invite the
inbound to interesting events: parties, trips,
picnics, religious meetings, sporting events,
etc.

21. Member Engagement | 21
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Increasing support by Counselor:

22. Member Engagement | 22
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Increasing support by Counselor:
–Engaging Counselor to meet inbound
students more frequently;
–Encouraging Counselor to be the “big
father” / “big mother” of the student.

23. Member Engagement | 23
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Increasing assistance with language:

24. Member Engagement | 24
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• Increasing assistance with language:
–Encouraging the Inbound student to
learn the host language BEFORE
coming to the exchange:
• Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, 50languages,
Babbel, etc.
–Encouraging host clubs to establish
partnership with language schools for
teaching Inbounds host language.

25. Member Engagement | 25
Why is it Important to Engage Clubs with YE?
Based on students’ answers to the question
“I felt Included by my host club”
Poor (352) Good (1050)

26. Member Engagement | 26
Why is it Important to Engage Clubs with YE?
Club Support
•We see a strong correlation between feeling
included by the host club and the overall
results of the exchange
•Remember, this is based on reports by the
students, not an objective analysis
•But, it appears that when the club includes
the student, the exchange goes better.

27. Member Engagement | 27
Why is it Important to Engage Clubs with YE?
Counselor support
Based on students’ responses to the question
“My relation with my counselor was good”
• Poor (377) Good (1079)

28. Member Engagement | 28
Why is it Important to Engage Clubs with YE?
Club Support
•Again, this is based on the students’ reports
of their relationship with the Counselor, not
an objective analysis
•But it does appear that there is a very strong
correlation between the Counselor’s role and
the outcome of the exchange

29. Member Engagement | 29
Actions for Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
• PETS: ask your DG to propose YE targets
for each Club;
• Ensure that YE Officers and Counselors
attend district training meetings so that
they’re prepared for their responsibilities;
• Involve the Rotarians in carrying out your
Club’s goals.

30. Member Engagement | 30
And….
• Let’s check how the Youth Exchange can
help leveraging Club’s Committees:

31. Member Engagement | 31
YE can help leveraging club’s Committees
• Invite an exchange student to give a
presentation at a club meeting;
• Include articles about YE in your club
newsletter;
• Recognize Rotarians who demonstrate
outstanding commitment to YE.

32. Member Engagement | 32
YE can help leveraging club’s Committees
• Promote the cultural and educational
benefits of Youth Exchange to potential
students and host families;
• Invite parents of Outbound students for
Rotary;
• Invite alumni to visit your club and attend
club and district events.

33. Member Engagement | 33
YE can help leveraging club’s Committees
• Share details about students conducting
projects on your club website and through
social networks;
• Contact local media to cover YE events;
• Arrange for a former or current YE student
to address the local school to personally
recommend the program;

34. Member Engagement | 34
YE can help leveraging club’s Committees
• Place advertisements in local newspapers or
use social networking sites to encourage former
YE participants to reconnect to Rotary through
your club.

35. Member Engagement | 35
YE can help leveraging club’s Committees
• Introduce Interactors to YE;
• Encourage YE students to start an Interact
or Rotaract club when they return home;
• Nominate YE students to attend your
district’s RYLA event;
• Encourage Rotaractors to mentor YE
students.

36. Member Engagement | 36
YE can help leveraging club’s Committees
• Encourage the Inbound/Outbound student
to start a fundraising project for Polio;
• Encourage the Inbound Student to
integrate into a project of the Host Club
and make the link with the Sponsor Club
for planning a Global Grants project.

37. Member Engagement | 37
Finally…
Learn What is Working by asking
Rotarians …

38. Member Engagement | 38
…. and Make Sure They Feel “Heard”

39. Member Engagement | 39
Engaging Clubs with Youth Exchange
“Clubs that build ties with youth in
their communities cultivate future
members and become rejuvenated by
the energy and new perspectives that
young people have to offer”

40. Member Engagement | 40
Q & A Session

41. Member Engagement | 41
Thank you!
Luiz Ricardo Begosso
yep.luizbegosso@gmail.com
District 4510, Brazil