DAN LEAIRD of the Lafayette Daybreak Rotary Club spoke to us about the Rotary Youth Exchange program, or RYE. 
This program allows students age 15-16 to go to another country for one academic year. Students must have good academic records and show the capability of adapting to another culture. RYE also brings students from other countries to live in the US. Currently our district has ten such students here in Indiana with five scheduled to come next school year. There is a desire to promote this program and encourage more Clubs to host students, which would allow more Indiana students to go abroad. Our district is part of the Central States area that includes 18 districts and about 825 clubs. Within the Central States, the number of outbound students permitted is equal to the number of inbound students hosted.
There are many advantages of the program for the students, the host families and the Rotary Clubs involved. It has been said that if every 17 year old could go on exchange, there would be no more war. This program really promotes peace and cross-cultural understanding.
Our club has helped to send two students abroad in recent years: Tyler Smith and Katey Givan. Next year, the Daybreak Club will be hosting an incoming student and our Club will help to defray some of the costs. We are looking for a host family for this student for part of their school year. A host can be a Rotarian, but does not have to be. If you or someone you know would be interested, please let BOB STOLZ or RENEE FIGUEROA know. If you are aware of a teenager who would appreciate the opportunity to be an RYE student, please let us know that as well. This is a unique and valuable program with benefits for all involved.
VISITING ROTARIANS:
BRYCE ADAM, District Governor Elect and member of Noblesville Midday Rotary. TOM SCHMIDT from Freemont, MI Rotary and past president of our club.
GUESTS:
Rudy Klim, husband of IYA KLIM.