Welcome to the 2020 Youth Exchange Officers Postconvention!
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Youth Exchange Officers Postconvention
27-28 June, 2020
Join leaders in Rotary Youth Exchange for the first ever Youth Exchange Officers Postconvention virtual event on 27-28 June. Learn more about Rotary Youth Exchange, best practices for participating in the program, and hear inspiring messages from 2019-20 Rotary International President Mark Maloney, 2020-21 Rotary International President Holger Knaack, and alumni of Rotary Youth Exchange.
This is a free event, there is no sign-up required, and everyone interested in learning more about Rotary Youth Exchange is welcome to view the content when it is posted on this website. Please note this is an English-only virtual event.
27 June
Day 1 | Starts at 08:00 CDT (UTC -5)
Opening General Session
• Mark Daniel Maloney, 2019-20 Rotary International President
• Dr. Elaine Hernandez, 2020 Rotary Alumni Global Service Award recipient
• Jamie Mick, Master of Ceremonies
Breakout Sessions
• LIVE at 09:00 CDT (UTC -5) Youth Protection | Strengthening your volunteer screening and selection process
• Virtual Exchanges through Rotary Youth Exchange
• Social Media & Rotary Youth Exchange: Pre-, Mid-, and Post-Pandemic
• Peacebuilding through Rotary Youth Exchange
28 June
Day 2 | Starts at 08:00 CDT (UTC -5)
Closing General Session
• Holger Knaack, 2020-21 Rotary International President
• Clara Marian, Rotary Youth Exchange alumna (2018-19)
• Jamie Mick, Master of Ceremonies
Breakout Sessions
• LIVE at 15:00 CDT (UTC -5) Youth Protection | Responding to concerns: from warning signs to allegations, and everything in between
• Moving from Diversity to Inclusive Actions
• Keep Rotary Youth Exchange Alumni engaged with Rotary
• How to engage district officers and clubs in Rotary Youth Exchange
• Inbound service projects: Inspiring the next generation
Welcome to the 2020 Youth Exchange Officers Postconvention
Technical issues? Email us at youthexchange@rotary.org.
Opening General Session
Featuring:
• Mark Maloney, 2019-20 Rotary International President
• Dr. Elaine Hernandez, 2020 Rotary Alumni Global Service Award recipient
• Maria Letícia Ferreira, Youth Exchange Committee Chair
• Jamie Mick, Master of Ceremonies
Welcome to the opening general session for the 2020 Youth Exchange Officers Postconvention. This session is lead by Master of Ceremonies Jamie Mick, Past District Governor and current Youth Exchange Chair for District 6950. In this session you'll hear a keynote speech by Dr. Elaine Hernandez, who is the recipient of the 2020 Rotary Alumni Global Service Award. You will also hear a message about the impact of Rotary Youth Exchange in the past year from the 2019-20 Rotary International President, Mark Maloney and a thank you from the RI Youth Exchange Committee Chair, Maria Letícia Ferreira.
Breakout Sessions
Youth Protection | Strengthening your volunteer screening and selection process
Erica Smith, Praesidium
Join us at 09:00 CDT (UTC -5) as Erica Smith (Praesidium) talks with us about best practices in volunteer screening that are designed to help keep our students, volunteers, and programs as safe as possible. There will also be time for her to answer any questions that you may have about the screening and selection process.
Rotary International staff: Carissa Coons, Jessie Dunbar-Bickmore, Logan Johnson
Virtual Exchanges through Rotary Youth Exchange
John Koetz
Rotary Youth Exchange is going to look much different in the 2019-20 year than any other year in the program’s history. The current pandemic has driven everyone to innovate in incredible ways, and Rotary Youth Exchange is no different. View this session to learn how virtual exchanges are an alternative that can still provide students many of the same benefits of a traditional exchange experience.
Social Media & Rotary Youth Exchange: Pre-, Mid-, and Post-Pandemic
Alexander Falk
Using social media as a tool to promote Rotary Youth Exchange is important, and it is also important to know how to use it effectively and responsibly. In the midst of the current pandemic, several Youth Exchange students will want to reconnect with local Rotary clubs and districts, so this session will also cover how to best connect with them.
Peacebuilding through Rotary Youth Exchange
Lorelei Higgins
In this session, learn how Rotary Youth Exchange is an instrumental component of Rotary’s peacebuilding toolkit from a former Rotary Youth Exchange participant turned Rotary Peace Fellow. Increase your knowledge about peacebuilding and Rotary’s global leadership in peacebuilding.
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Featured Speakers
Mark Daniel Maloney
2019-20 Rotary International President
Holger Knaack
2020-21 Rotary International President
Dr. Elaine Hernandez
Dr. Elaine Hernandez is a public health professional with experience in emergency medical planning, infectious disease control, maternal and child health promotion, and food security. She is the recipient of the Rotary Alumni Global Service Award for 2019-2020, and serves as Club President of the Rotary Club of Mission, Texas, District 5930 International Service Chair, District Peace Fellows Chair, and a member of the RI CADRE of Technical Advisors.
Clara Marian Simões
Rotary Youth Exchange alumna 2019-2020
Sponsor District: District 4770, Brazil
Host District: District 2430 - Turkey
Interact District 4770 Representative 2018-2019
Catalão Interact Club Founding President 2015-2017
Jamie Mick
Past District Governor Jamie Mick is the current District 6950 Youth Exchange Chair. Jamie developed and hosted the My Rotary Show from 2016 to 2018, and is a roving Rotary Speaker in her District and Zone. She has served at many District and Zone positions, and a Discussion Leader at All Florida PETS and Rotary Leadership Institute. As the 2018 Convention Moderator for President Elect training, and multiple other speaking engagements – her love to spread the message of Rotary is clear.
Maria Letícia Ferreira
Maria Letícia Ferreira is the 2019-20 Rotary International Youth Exchange Committee Chair. She is a former GSE (Group Study Exchange) member to Sweden - April-May 2000 - joined Rotary after returning from her exchange in July, 2000. She became the first woman president in her GSE sponsor Rotary Cub. At the district level, she served as Youth Exchange Chair for Rotary District 4770 - 2003-10 and was ABIJ President 2017-2019.
Erica Smith
Erica Smith works closely with Praesidium’s youth development organizations, social service agencies, youth sports organizations, and resorts. In collaboration with the Praesidium team, Smith trains employees and volunteers, conducts risk assessments, and performs accreditation visits to ensure the protection of youth and vulnerable adults from abuse. She has advanced expertise in abuse prevention and risk management, organizational development, and culture change. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Westminster College in Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh.
Breakout Session Speakers
Alexander Falk
Alexander Falk joined the Rotary Club of Marblehead in 2009, became Youth Exchange Officer the following year as he restarted the Rotary Youth Exchange program in Marblehead, most recently served as President of the Marblehead Rotary Club in 2018-19, and currently serves as District Governor Nominee Designate (DG 2022-23), District Youth Exchange Chair, Major Donor Chair, and Assistant Governor for Rotary District 7930. He and his wife Nora are both Paul Harris Fellows, members of the Rotary Bequest Society, and the Arch Klumph Society.
Jess Gutzwiler
Jess Gutzwiler is a 9-year Rotarian from District 5010 in the Anchorage South Rotary Club. During her Rotary career Jess has been Community Service Chair, Vice President, and served as President 2016-17 of her club. At the District level Jess has taught at PNW PETS 2017-2020 and has served on the Polio Plus committee along with being the Conference Sponsorship Chair in 2018-19. Jess joined the ShelterBox USA family in October of 2019 and hit the ground running with several fundraisers. She hopes to become a Response Team Member in the near future.
Lorelei Higgins
Lorelei Higgins is a Métis Canadian Cultural Mediator, Rotary Positive Peace Activator and a Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Program alumna. Lorelei is passionate about creating bold, open spaces for building peace through cross-cultural learning and helping to establish and nurture positive relationships. Lorelei attributes her global outlook, love of travel and curiosity for cultural exploration to her experience as a Rotary Exchange student in South Africa. Lorelei was selected as a 2019 Rotary Peace Fellow and recently graduated from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Dr. Todd Jenkins
Dr. "Bowtie" Todd Jenkins is an Global Inclusion Leader, Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Youth Exchange Officer. He lives by his personal mission to create spaces fo all humans to belong and thrive, one "Bowtie Conversation" at a time.
John Koetz
John W. Koetz has been a Rotarian since 1998 and has been a part of Youth Exchange his entire Rotary career. He has served on his Club Youth Exchange Committee, (Columbus, Ohio) served on his District YEP Committee (D6690) including District STEP Chair. He currently serves as the Ohio-Eerie (O-E) Multi-District Chair of their STEP program and serves on O-E Multi-District executive committee. John is the coordinator of the new V-STEP program which is the O-E Multi-district’s response to the COVID19 pandemic cancelling all travel for the Rotary Short term program in 2020. John is an Insurance Agent and works with O-E and NAYEN on their insurance programs.
Hans Lee
Hans was a RYE student to Germany. He is the current youth service chair of Rotary Club Berlin Platz der Republik and President elect for 2020-2021. Hans served as co-president on the Rotex International Board 2016-2019.
Maya Povhe
Maya Povhe went on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Stans, Switzerland in 2016 and has been an active alumnus of the program ever since. She is the current treasurer and secretary of the Rotex club in district 5360 and a member of the Rotex International charity committee. Her experience witnessing and leading inbound service projects has made her confident that every exchange student has the potential to create lasting change, both in their host communities and around the world.
Emil Schenkyr
Emil was a Rotary Youth Exchange student to Malaysia. He is a charter member of Rotary Satellite e-Club Bavaria International and is the current co-president of Rotex International Board 2019-2021.
Sofia Sotomayor
Joined the Rotary Club of Tijuana Oeste, D-4100, Mexico. On January 2006. She has served her club in several positions including the presidency two times. At the district level she served as Chair of the GSE from 2008 to 2011, when se became Chair of the RYE from 2011 to 2016. She NAYEN Director from 2015 to 2018 and served on the RI, Youth Exchange Committee from 2016 to 2018.
Lyn Stroshin
Lyn was a RYE student to Argentina. She later joined the Rotary International Youth Exchange committee and before she knew it, she was the District 5040 RYE Chair from 2003 to 2006. Lyn was District Governor for Rotary District 5040 in 2016-2017.
Alex Youlten
Alex Youlten has been with ShelterBox since 2014. After studying European Business Studies at University she joined the British Army. Now she is the Rotary Partnership Manager at ShelterBox, lives in Falmouth (Cornwall, England) and enjoys coastal walks and sea swimming in her spare time. Alex is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Cober Valley, Helston.
Rotary International Staff
Carissa Coons
Supervisor | Youth Exchange and Youth Protection
Jessie Dunbar-Bickmore
Manager | Programs for Young Leaders and Alumni Relations
Logan Johnson
Engagement Specialist | Youth Exchange and Youth Protection
Welcome to the 2020 Youth Exchange Officers Postconvention
Technical issues? Email us at youthexchange@rotary.org.
Closing General Session
Featuring:
• Holger Knaack, 2020-21 Rotary International President
• Clara Marian Aragão Simões, 2019-20 RYE participant
• Jamie Mick, Master of Ceremonies
Welcome to the closing general session for the 2020 Youth Exchange Officers Postconvention. This session is led once again by Master of Ceremonies Jamie Mick, Past District Governor and current Youth Exchange Chair for District 6950. In this session you'll hear a keynote speech by Clara, who is a recent alumnus of the Rotary Youth Exchange program. You will also hear a message from the 2020-21 Rotary International President, Holger Knaack about the future of Rotary Youth Exchange in 2020-21 and beyond.
Breakout Sessions
Youth Protection | Responding to concerns: from warning signs to allegations, and everything in between
Erica Smith, Praesidium
In this live session, Erica Smith (Praesidium) will share with us ways to recognize and respond to inappropriate behavior so that we can help prevent abuse occurring in our programs, as well as how to best address it when it happens. This session will not only focus on responding to incidents of adult-to-youth misconduct, but inappropriate or abusive behavior between youth as well. There will also be dedicated time to answer any questions you may have about responding to concerns.
Rotary International staff: Carissa Coons, Jessie Dunbar-Bickmore, Logan Johnson
Moving from Diversity to Inclusive Actions
Dr. Todd Jenkins
In our current climate, diversity and inclusion matters the most. We are in a situation where our program, students, and communities must remain connected. Covid-19 has bought many challenges but also tremendous opportunities to grow better and stronger together. This session will be practical and action-packed.
Keep Rotary Youth Exchange Alumni engaged with Rotary
Hans Lee, Emil Schenkyr, Lyn Stroshin
Three Rotary Youth Exchange alumni in different stages of their Rotary careers tackling the problem of retaining alumni. Rotary prides itself on creating young leaders, however most of the students vanish after their exchange. Where are they now? What are they doing now? What are the best practice that works to help engage RYE students after their exchange? Let’s encourage Rotarians to use the opportunities during COVID-19 pandemic to regain our lost RYE students.
How to engage district officers and clubs in Rotary Youth Exchange
Sofia Sotomayor
It’s important to recognize that our relationship with every Rotarian, every club and every District Governor is going to be different. Therefore, it’s vital for the health of your Rotary Youth Exchange program to strive to make your colleagues feel included to keep the program fresh and current.
Inbound service projects: Inspiring the next generation
Alex Youlten, Jess Gutzwiler, Maya Povhe
Let’s talk about inbound service projects and how to inspire and be inspired by the next generation as they take action to support communities around the world. We can harness the Rotary Youth Exchange program to connect the world, open opportunities, and take action.