Physically challenged teens are often excluded from Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programs, which often can’t provide an adequate environment for them to participate safely. Learn how a project started by the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast, Colorado, USA, reignited the 1900s relationship between Rotarians Paul Harris and Edgar Allen, and now reflects a unique partnership between Districts 5450 and 5440 and Easterseals Colorado. Through this program, teens develop self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills that motivate them to focus on their abilities, not their disabilities. Understand how you could use this model in your region to expand RYLA opportunities to teens of all physical abilities.

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12 June 2017
RYLA plus
Leadership Training for
Physically Challenged Teens
~ Dr. Karen C. Loeb, Rotarian Chair
~ Lynn Robinson, Easterseals CO CEO

2. What is RYLA plus?
Camp to develop leadership,
teamwork, and self-confidence
skills
For teenagers with physical
disabilities
Accessible, safe environment
Focus on one’s abilities, not one’s
disabilities
12 June 2017

3. Re-igniting an Historical
Partnership: RI and ES
12 June 2017
Paul Harris Edgar Allen
Re-igniting an Historical Partnership:
Rotary International and Easterseals

4. Re-igniting an Historical
Partnership: RI and ES
12 June 2017
The New Partnership:
RYLA plus

5. Starting the Current Partnership
Camp cabin renovation at Rocky
Mt. Village in Empire, CO
Kitchen re-design and equipment
updates ($100,000)
Creation and delivery of 6-day
leadership training program (three
years, $50,000)
12 June 2017
How the Partnership Developed

6. Camp Facilities
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Camp Facilities

7. Recreational Facilities
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Recreational Facilities

8. 12 June 2017
Camp Overview
 15 Inspiring Guest Speakers
 10 Team Problem-Solving Activities
 Daily 4-Way Test Explanations
 Daily Words of Focus
 Daily Team De-briefing Sessions

9. Leadership Curriculum
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• True Colors® Personality Assessment
• Each color represents a dominant style
of leading and behaving
• Each color type values certain behaviors
and is stressed by other behaviors
• Everyone has all colors, but the dominant
color reflects who you are
• A good leader knows how to leverage his
own strengths and that of others
• “Brainwise” Emotional Intelligence
• Use of Wizard Brain before Lizard Brain

10. RYLA plus Olympics
12 June 2017
Relays, Climbing Wall, Zipline

11. 12 June 2017
• Development of new
communication skills
• Expect to use skills at home,
in school, and with groups
• Encouraged to try new things
• Increased self-confidence
• Made them feel better about
themselves
• Learned not to judge others by
their appearance
• More aware of listening to and
respecting others’ ideas
Impact on Campers -2016

12. Success Stories…
12 June 2017
-Abby, Jeff, Paul, all former
campers, became Junior
Counselors. Jeff will be Head
Junior Counselor this year!
- Robynne makes National
Sled Hockey team, winning
Gold for USA; also named
Academic All-American

13. …More Success Stories
12 June 2017
Tyler, camper, addresses 300
people at Easter Seals Gala and
continues his Community
College education to become a
social worker to help kids like
himself.
Paul, as captain, leads his sled
hockey team to a national
championship and also achieves
honors playing trumpet in his
high school band.

14. 12 June 2017
Sources of Funding
• Denver Southeast Rotary Club, initiator and sole Rotary
funder and staffing for first 3 years
• Rocky Mt RYLA organization
• Rotary District 5450
• Other local Rotary clubs in Districts 5450/5440
• Easterseals facilities, staff, and funding
• Comcast, local and national support

15. 12 June 2017
Paul Harris Edgar Allen
Founder, in 1919, of National Society
for Crippled Children, later renamed
Easter Seals
Founder, Rotary International, served
as 1st Board Chairman of National
Society for Crippled Children
The Rest of the Story…

16. 12 June 2017
Easterseals Colorado
• Founded in 1926 by 12 well-known civic volunteers
• Mission to provide medical, recreational, and employment
services for people of all ages with all types of disabilities
• Serve over 9,000 people, 500,000 direct service hours, and
reach another 65,000 people through advocacy and education
• Numerous innovative services and community partnerships,
plus about 2000 volunteer hours annually

17. 12 June 2017
Leadership Focus
• Fundamentals of leadership
• Ethics of positive leadership
• Importance of communication
skills in effective leadership
• Conflict management and
problem solving
• Building self-esteem and self
confidence
• Elements of community and
global citizenship

18. 12 June 2017
The ES-RI Opportunity
• Common Perspectives:
• Long-standing organizations
• National (US) and global presence
• Commitment to underserved
populations, regardless of economics
• Engagement with youth and adults
• Helping youth with disabilities succeed
• Focus on sustainable solutions

19. Easterseals in Communities
Indispensable resource for individuals and
families living with disabilities for 100 years
Serves individuals, from infants to seniors,
across a broad spectrum of disabilities
Redefining disabilities for the 21st century
America’s largest health organization
12 June 2017

20. 12 June 2017
The Reach of Easterseals
• 75 Easterseals
affiliates represented
in all 50 United States
• 1.5 million people
and families served
• 43,000 volunteers
• 32,000 employees
• $1.4 billion in total
revenues
• Four international
partners (Easter
Seals Canada, CONFE
in Mexico, Ability First
Australia, Easter Seals
Puerto Rico)

21. Also, over 100 years in service locally and internationally
Over 1.2 million members in 35,000 clubs around the
world committed to betterment of people’s lives
One major area of focus is basic education and literacy
About 81% of Rotary Districts (434 of 537 districts) report
having RYLA chairs and youth leadership activities
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Rotary in Communities

22. Current RI-ES Partnerships
12 June 2017
…Lots of future possibilities!

23. - Increase number of campers and junior counselors
- Increase number of clubs sponsoring campers in
Districts 5450 and 5440
- Seek formal endorsement from RI and ES to promote
partnership endeavors
- Replicate program in other U.S. locations and abroad
where Rotary and Easter Seals already co-exist
Future RYLA plus Opportunities
12 June 2017

24. Acknowledgements
- Lynn Robinson, Easterseals Colorado CEO
- Staff, Rocky Mt. Village Camp, Empire, Colorado
- Comcast, National and Local (Colorado)
- Denver Southeast Rotary Club
- District 5450 Leadership
- Rocky Mt. RYLA Board (Districts 5450 & 5440) & clubs
- Jessie Dunbar-Bickmore, Supervisor, Rotary
International Programs for Young Leaders
12 June 2017

25. Dr. Karen C. Loeb, Ed.D., PMP®
Phone: 1-303.475.5796
Email: RYLAPlus@gmail.com
More info: www.rylaplus.org
12 June 2017
RYLA plus
Questions?

26. RYLA plus VIDEO by COMCAST
12 June 2017
https://comcast.box.com/s/27u8c1cqfx2i2cvk4kofmbapz9i6kcgg