Rotary West Vancouver Sunrise

New Generations 2013 Annual Report

 

This has been another full and fun year for our New Generations programs.

 

INTERACT

 

We continue to actively support The Interact Club of Rockridge School by attending their weekly executive meetings. Their executive consists of about 10 students from Grades 9-12.

 

They are a wonderful group of approximately 90 members involved in a service or fundraising project almost every month. They try to follow the RI monthly themes whenever possible e.g. collecting Pennies for Polio in November. The Park Royal Xmas gift wrapping project raised a lot and funds were given to Shelter Box, Free the Children and a school project in Kenya. The Interactors had a team in our Rotary Ride for Rescue and held a special fundraiser to raise pledges for their riders.

 

This June they decided to present a $100 cheque to an Interactor as their Service Above Self Award. Rockridge Interact was awarded a Presidential Citation at the 2014 District conference. The club is very supported by the teachers at the school.

 

Suggested Goal for 2013-14: establish a vibrant Interact club at West Vancouver Secondary School. Chris Loat has made repeated attempts to do this but the school does not respond.

 

ETHICS & VALUES

 

I am sad to report that the Ethics & Values program that has been running in all 3 West Vancouver schools will not continue in its present form. Despite endorsement from the school superintendent, the school leaders do not feel they have space for it in their school curriculum.

 

We do own a DVD on ethics and I think we could offer it to the schools. I would like to find a way to educate our Interactors on the 4 Way test. This was done at an Interact/Rotaract conference last year organized by Chris Loat.

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

 

This year we gave 3 - $1000 scholarships to graduating Rockridge students and 2 - $500 scholarships to graduating West Vancouver Secondary students. We decided to no longer present the Mike Jeffries Art award and trophy. We advised the schools that volunteerism was our top selection criteria for these scholarships.

 

In addition, we sent a Rockridge student and a North Vancouver student to Adventures in Citizenship and 1 girl to RYLA South.

 

Goal for 2013-14: Send a least one candidate to each of the 3 RYLAs.

 

EXCHANGE STUDENT

 

We did not host an exchange student this year but we could explore the possibility of hosting one in the future.

 

STEP (Short Term Exchange Program)

 

We tried to arrange a STEP program for Jason Bowman’s daughter this summer but the timing didn’t work out. She is still going to be hosted by a family though in an unofficial STEP. I recommend we promote this program more as no costs are involved for the club and it is easy to arrange.

OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITIES

 

Ambleside Youth Centre – We supported students to participate in their work experience program.

 

West Vancouver Library Summer Reading Program

 

Would suggest we continue supporting these programs.

 

 

Goal not completed—establish a North Shore Rotaract club.

 

Goal for next year—work on this

 

This is my last year as the New Generations chair, a role I am reluctantly giving up. I have really enjoyed working with young people and will miss my weekly meetings with them. I will be available to assist the new chair of this committee in making the transition.

 

Respectfully submitted by:

 

 

Karen Harrison

June 18th, 2013