FALL ORIENTATION
SEPTEMBER 24-26, 2010
Wyoming Wilderness Camp
Esterbrook, Wyoming
2010 FALL INBOUND ORIENTATION
Rotary International District 5440
HR Camp, Esterbrook, Wyoming
September 24-26, 2010
Friday, September 24
10:00 – 2:00 P.M. Training Session for Club YEO’s at Christ Episcopal Church - Douglas
4:00-5:00 PM Arrival and Registration HR Camp / Check Visa, Airline Tickets, Passports, Insurance, and Collect Visa Application fee; individual pictures
6:00 PM Dinner: Dinner: Welcome and Introductions of Committee and Students; Goals of IB Orientation; and Camp Rules
Evening activities Mix-and-mingle games, team-building, etc.
Saturday, September 24
8:00 AM Breakfast
8:45 AM Overview of Youth Exchange Program
9:00 AM Orientation Stations: Students move through five stations and learn about:
Station 1:“The Rules”
Station 2: “American Culture”
Station 3: “The Exchange Year: Schedules and Mandatory Events
10:30 AM Break: Group Photograph
Station 4: “Being a Good Global Student”
Station 5: “Travel Questions”
12:30 PM Lunch with Country Representatives
1:00-5:00 PM Ropes Course
5:00 PM Dinner followed by Skit Presentation – “Chain of Command”, Pitfalls and Problem Solving, and Campfire.
Sunday, September 26
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Personal Concerns/Boy-Girl Sessions – Youth Protection Policy 10:00 AM Group Activity
10:30 AM Love In Any Language
11:30 AM Questions/Concerns
Noon Lunch and end of Orientation
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT 5440 YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM
INBOUND STUDENT GUIDELINES
PREFACE
The District Youth Exchange Committee welcomes you to Cowboy Country Youth Exchange (CCYE) - the Rotary District 5440 Youth Exchange Program.
In order for the program to be successful, it is necessary that the expectations and obligations of both students and CCYE be set forth. These policies and procedures are for the health and safety of the participants and it is important that all who are associated with the program have a good working knowledge of them. Most of the rules are outlined in this booklet.
We think we have the best exchange program in the world. We think that those of you who participate or those of you who have sons or daughters participating will agree.
-The CCYE Committee
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program seeks to fulfill the following objectives:
1. To further international goodwill and understanding by enabling students to study at first-hand some of the challenges and accomplishments of people in lands other than their own.
2. To enable students to advance their education by studying for one year in an environment entirely different than their own and undertake courses of study and subjects not normally available to them in secondary schools in their own country.
3. To broaden your outlook by learning to meet, make friends and live with people of different cultures, creeds and colors by having to cope with day-to-day challenges in an environment completely different from the one you have experienced at home.
4. To act as ambassadors for your own country by addressing Rotary Clubs, community organizations and youth groups in you host country and by sharing as much knowledge as you can of your own country, its culture, and its people - with the people you meet while in our District.
5. To study and observe all facets of life and culture in our Country so that on your return to your home country, they can share the knowledge you have gained by addressing Rotary Clubs and other organizations.
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DISTRICT 5440
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
INBOUND STUDENT
The following rules and conditions apply to all inbound students to District 5440. Please read this document, sign where indicated and return or bring with you to the USA.
Be First
I am a person of action!
Be Curious
I seek to understand!
Be on Purpose
I am certain of my outcome and move steadily toward it!
Be Grateful
I focus on things I can be thankful for!
Be of Service
I give of myself!
Be Here Now
I live in the moment!
RULES AND CONDITIONS OF EXCHANGE
As a Youth Exchange Student, you must agree with the following rules and conditions.
Strict Rules and Conditions - Violations will result in student’s immediate return to home country.
1) Obey Laws of the host country - If found guilty of violation of any law (shoplifting, drug or alcohol possession, theft, etc.), student will be returned home as soon as authorities release him/her. This applies regardless of whether criminal charges are filed.
2) No Drugs - Student may not possess or use illegal drugs. Medicine prescribed by a physician is allowed.
4) No Driving - The student and parents have signed the guarantee form which makes up part of the application form. In this all agree that student WILL NOT under any circumstances drive a motorized vehicle of any kind which requires a federal/state/license (automobile, all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile, motorcycle, boat) during the period of the exchange. The student is also not authorized to participate in a driver education program. Insurance exemptions prohibit driving.
5) Drinking - The drinking of alcoholic beverages in public places is illegal for anyone under the age of 21. If the host family offers a student an alcoholic drink, it is permissible to accept it under their supervision in their home provided the student does not leave the home after drinking and provided the student’s own parents approve.
5) Delinquency - The student’s most important duty is to attend school regularly. He/she must make an honest attempt to succeed and must maintain a “C” average. All absences from school must be approved IN ADVANCE by the host family and the Rotary Club Counselor. Credits for course work taken in the host country cannot be guaranteed. This is between the student’s home school and the host school. Because the student is here on a J-1 visa, the Immigration and Naturalization Service may revoke the visa if the student is delinquent in school attendance and participation.
6) Downloading – Excessive or inappropriate use of the internet. Students are prohibited from accessing any pornographic internet sites.
7) Travel - Travel is permitted with host parents, on school-sponsored trips or on Rotary authorized functions with proper adult chaperones. Students may not travel alone or accompanied only by other students. Other travel must be approved by the host District Chairman upon submission of the following:
a) Written detailed description of the trip, reason for trip, and schedule of travel. This should include airline itinerary and airport transfer arrangements. (Students are allowed to fly in a private plane provided the pilot is FAA licensee and parental releases are obtained).
b) Written approval of host family and Rotary Club Youth Exchange Chairman.
c) Written release from student’s own parents exempting Rotary of responsibility and liability.
8) No Employment - The student may not work for wages or salary while in this program. The student’s visa does not allow for gainful employment under U.S. Immigration and Naturalization regulations.
9) Health Insurance - All students must carry a U.S. sickness, accident, life and personal liability policy through CISI/ Bolduc Insurance. Premium cost is the student’s responsibility. EXCEPTION: Programs that meet the requirements of Rotary International and have a U.S. telephone number for claims information.
10) Immunization - The student must have proof of proper immunization, including:
· MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) – 2 vaccines required
· Hepatitis B – 2 shot or 3-shot series
· Polio – one dose on or after the 4th birthday
· Td (tetanus and diphtheria) – within the past 10 years
· Colorado schools also require the varicella vaccine (chicken pox)
COMMON SENSE RULES AND GUIDELINES
Violations will result in a district review and restrictions. Severe/consistent disregard for these rules will result in being returned home.
1) Club Counselor - The student will be assigned a club counselor who is able to provide advice and guidance to the student. The student should maintain frequent contact with the Counselor and discuss any problems with him/her.
2) Smoking is discouraged. If you state in your application that you do not smoke, you will be held to that position throughout your year. Your acceptance and host family placement is based on your signed statement. If student is under 18 years of age, purchase and possession of tobacco products is illegal in the United States.
3) Emergency Fund - Students are required to have a $300 emergency contingency fund when they arrive. This fund should be turned over to the club counselor or placed in a checking account upon the student’s arrival and is not meant to cover day-to-day expenses. This fund must be replenished by the student’s parents as it is depleted. Unused funds are returned to the student at the end of the exchange.
4) Financial Responsibility - Any costs relative to the student’s early return or any other unusual costs (language tutoring, tours, etc.), shall be the responsibility of the student and/or his/her own parents.
5) Host Family - The host family is responsible for the student’s well-being. The student should respect their wishes and requests. The student should become an integral part of the Host Family, assuming traditional duties and responsibilities as a son or daughter in the family (making bed, cleaning room, dishes, etc.). The student is not to consider himself/herself as a guest in the host family with special privileges or treatment.
6) Discipline - The student should respect the discipline in the family, obey host parents, keep host parents informed as to plans and activities (who, what, where, when and how), and follow the house rules set by the family.
7) Disfigurement – New tattoos and body piercing are prohibited during the student’s exchange.
8) Devotion to One - The student should avoid serious romantic activity which would cause him/her to center all of his/her interest on one person to the exclusion of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Abstain from sexual activity and promiscuity. This can lead to serious problems including sexually transmitted disease or unwanted pregnancy.
9) Language - If student has language difficulties, he/she should ask club counselor to assist him in enrolling in special language classes.
10) Rotary Priority - Attendance of the student will be required at some Rotary-sponsored events. Such events take priority over all other events. Mandatory Rotary Youth Exchange events have priority over all other activities (graduation, prom, host family trips). These mandatory events include a September orientation, a January orientation/ski week-end and the Rotary District Conference in May or June. Other youth exchange events are encouraged but are optional. Students are expected to remain until the completion of their academic school year and the conclusion of District Conference.
11) Public Speaking - The student may be asked to talk to various groups such as other Rotary clubs, schools and other organizations. The student should accept these invitations once they have been cleared through the club counselor. The student should be prepared for these public speaking opportunities.
12) Friends - The student should ask for and heed the advice of host families, counselors and school personnel in choosing friends.
13) Telephone and Email- The student is expected to pay any bills incurred promptly. Permission to use the family telephone must be asked for, and reimbursement made to host family each month for long distance calls. Excessive use of cell phones and email or chat rooms more than 1-2 hours per day is discouraged.
14) Borrowing money – Do not borrow money. Pay any bills you incur promptly.
15) Church - If the student wishes to attend the church of his/her faith, he should discuss this with the Rotary Counselor and the host family. If possible, this should be arranged. Host families should not attempt to “convert” student to any one religion or force student to attend church against their will.
16) Visits by parents – Visits by your parents, guardians, siblings and/or friends during the first three quarters of your exchange are strongly discouraged. Such visits may only take place with the host club and host district’s consent and only within the last quarter of the exchange or during school breaks. Visits are not allowed during major holidays, even if occurring during school breaks. No boyfriend or girlfriend visits are allowed.
17) Going Home - Students must return home by a route mutually agreeable to the host district and the student’s parents. Stopovers with friends or relatives in other states en route home are allowed, provided travel authorization and releases are obtained from the host district chairman.
18) Authority - Students are under the Hosting District’s authority while participating in the exchange. If the student has relatives in the United States, they will have no authority over the student while the student is in the program.
19) The student certifies that he/she has no dietary or physical restriction other than as shown on the student’s application.
20) Crisis Management Plan – District 5440 has adopted a Crisis Management Plan and Youth Protection Policy in the event of an individual emergency involving the student or a country crisis. It is critical that parents adhere to the protocols established in resolving any problem involving the student. The chain of command for dealing with problems is the Host family, Club Counselor, Youth Exchange Chairman, Club President, District Country Representative, District Youth Exchange Chairman. The Student is encouraged to utilize this chain-of-command unless the situation involves abuse or harassment in which case the student may seek out any of the above-listed persons he/she feels comfortable with. CCYE has an independent Youth Exchange Counselor who is available to the student.
HOST CLUB SIGNATURE CERTIFICATION
Return signature block to address at bottom
We have read and understand these rules and guidelines for Rotary Youth Exchange and each agree to abide by them. We further agree that the host Rotary club and host Rotary district shall have final authority in enforcing these rules and conditions and any other rules and conditions which may be imposed with due notice.