A quarterly regional magazine is being planned for 2003-04. It is a joint initiative of three districts, namely District 3300, 3400 and 3310.

The cost of publication will in due time be fully funded by advertisements. RI will monitor the proposed magazine for twelve months and if it meets with the quality standard Rotarians in the three districts will be able to subscribe to the Regional Magazine in lieu of the Rotarian.

Representing our District is PDG Etican Ramasamy and the District Governor.

The Family of Rotary Committee will provide information and support for Rotary clubs in efforts to pursue their first Object of Rotary and that is "to encourage and foster the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service". Friendship was the foundation, the rock on which Rotary service was built. The Family of Rotary Committee will encourage clubs to care for Rotarians and members of Rotary's extended family (spouses and children) and remember spouses of deceased Rotarians.

The objective is to create a family atmosphere to enhance personal relationships between members of the club. A closely knit club is more likely to be an effective club.

The Family of Rotary concept also extends to our partners in service, namely the Interact Clubs, the Rotaract Clubs and Rotary Community Corps.

Bowling and golf are two of the sports that have captured the interest of many Rotarians in our District.

The purpose of the District Sports and Games Committee is simply to provide a structure to those individuals in our District who are bowling and golf enthusiasts and who use the sports to foster fellowship among Rotarians. The Group went even further by enlarging the fellowship to include businessmen and professionals who are not Rotarians, not yet anyway.

The District Sports & Games Committee are working on projects of raising funds for charities through bowling and golf fellowships.

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

For each team member, The Rotary Foundation provides the most economical round- trip air ticket between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

All Rotary districts in good standing are entitled to participate in this program at no cost every other year (expenses are paid through the World Fund). A World Fund award is for a period of two consecutive years, with one tea traveling in the first year and the second team traveling the following year. Partnering district governors must work together to determine the years of travel. However, districts may allocate DDF funds to conduct an exchange in the same year. 

The Rotary Foundation is little understood by Rotarians, even senior ones. In 2003-04 the Rotary Foundation has emphasized educating Rotarians about the programs of the Rotary Foundation and need to increase Annual Giving and the fund-raising programs.

Working with the Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator serving our region, the Foundation Information and Promotion Committee has the responsibility to educate Rotarians about the Rotary Foundation through conducting district seminars and the promotion of annual giving to achieve a district target of USD100.00 per capita.

There are much resources available from the RI website. These include the District Rotary Foundation Committee Manual and the District Rotary Foundation Seminar Manual.

Currently, three types of scholarships are offered:

Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide funding for one academic year of study in another country. This award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and some educational supplies up to US$25,000 or its equivalent. Academic-Year Scholarships are the most common type of scholarship offered; nearly 1,000 were awarded for study in 2001-02.

Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either two or three years of degree-oriented study in another country. A flat grant of US$12,500 or its equivalent is provided per year to be applied toward the costs of a degree program. Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are offered mainly by Rotary districts in Japan and Korea; over 100 were awarded for study in 2001-02.

Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country and provide funds to cover round-trip transportation, language training expenses, and homestay living arrangements up to US$12,000 and US$19,000 respectively. Applications are considered for candidates interested in studying Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili and Swedish.

Some Rotary districts may only offer one type of scholarship (or none at all); applicants must check with the local club regarding availability.

WORLD COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Scholarship Fund Pool for Low-Income Countries is a way districts can provide needed study opportunities to scholars from low-income districts. Increasing the educational opportunities for scholars from low-income countries remains a challenge because many low-income districts are unable to allocate sufficient funds to sponsor scholars. Of the 100 scholarships awarded to scholars from developing countries, 70 were made possible through donations.

The Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution will provide opportunities for scholars to focus on dealing effectively with the obstacles that currently impede international cooperation and peace. Through partnerships with outstanding universities throughout the world, the Rotary Centers will advance knowledge on issues of peace and conflict resolution among the next generation of community and world leaders.

Since 1985, the Rotary Community Corps program has been spurring economic development and self-sufficiency in communities around the world. Corps can be rural or urban and may comprise an entire village or community or a smaller group within the community. Geographic location has no bearing on the feasibility of an RCC - they are appropriate anywhere Rotarians and non-Rotarians want to work together.

All RCCs share four major goals:

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To encourage individuals to take responsibility for the improvement of their community, village, or neighborhood. To recognize the dignity and value of all useful occupations. To mobilize self-help activities and collective work to improve the quality of life. To encourage the development of human potential to its fullest, within the context of the local culture and community.

Rotary International encourages women Rotarians to network with other women Rotary Club members at the community, district and international levels to foster fellowship, share experiences, encourage more women's involvement in Rotary and generate additional projects that address women's needs.

Function

Improving the environment has been central to Rotary service from the organization's earliest days. Spurred by the example of Rotary founder Paul Harris, who stopped to plant many a tree during his world travels, Rotarians have planted millions of trees, created parks large and small, and carried out recycling activities in communities all over the globe. In 1990, Rotary International endorsed a focus on Preserve Planet Earth as a way to promote awareness among Rotarians and increase the number of Rotary environmental service projects.

Reports from United Nations agencies and the World Bank underscore the urgency of preserving our planet:

PROJECT IDEAS
Through hands-on activities, educational programs and innovative projects to reverse environmental deterioration, Rotary clubs and districts continue to make preserving the environment a service opportunity.

Below you'll find several ideas for community and international projects your club may want to consider:

A world Community Service project is born when Rotary clubs from two or more countries join together to accomplish a community service project. The WCS program links Rotary clubs needing extra help with clubs in other countries that are willing to provide funds, materials, and technical and professional assistance.

The World Community Service program was officially launched in 1967. Since then, thousands of WCS projects involving Rotarians around the world haven been completed. Each year, Rotary clubs provide an estimated US$26 million in funds and supplies.

World Community Service projects have three criteria
   *   The project must be humanitarian in nature
   *   Rotarians in two or more Rotary countries must be involved
   *   One of the participating countries must contain the site of the project

Eligible World Community Service projects include international projects that are:

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Listed in the WCS Projects Exchange Database; Formed through networking at international conventions or other meetings; Identified by Group Study Exchange teams; Completed with pooled funds, shared donated goods, or volunteers assistance; or Recipients of grants from The Rotary Foundation.

Interact Clubs are organized for the purpose of providing an opportunity for young people to work together in a world fellowship dedicated to service and international understanding.

Students at the secondary school or pre-university level or young people aged from 14 to 18 are eligible for Interact Club membership.

An interact club is organized, sponsored and supervised by a Rotary Club or Clubs and is established following the endorsement of the governor upon certification or recognition by RI; it can be created or sustained in no other ways, and its continued existence depends upon the continued sponsorship of its sponsoring Rotary Club and continued recognition by RI. Within the framework established by RI, the sponsoring Rotary Club is responsible for organizing the Interact Club and for providing it with guidance and counsel thereafter and has complete control and supervision over all activities, policies and programs of the Interact Club.

Where the Interact Club is school-related (all clubs in District 3310 are in this category), the control and supervision of the sponsoring Rotary Club shall exercised in full cooperation with the school authorities. Such clubs are subject to the same regulations and policies established by the school authorities for all student organizations and extra-curricular activities of the school.

The purpose of Rotaract is to provide an opportunity for young men and women to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development to address the physical and social needs of their communities and to promote better relationships between all people worldwide through a framework of friendship and service.

Rotaract Clubs comprise young adults between the ages of 18 and 30, who reside, work or study within the vicinity of the sponsoring Rotary Club.

Each Rotaract Club should strongly be encouraged to mention after its name sponsored by the Rotary Club of (name). Each Rotaract Club shall also include in all its stationery the name of its sponsoring Rotary Club. 

Rotaract Clubs are not considered part of or a legal affiliate of the sponsoring Rotary Club or of RI.

A Rotaract Club is organized, sponsored and counseled by a Rotary Club or Clubs and is established following the endorsement of the governor upon certification and recognition by RI; it can be created and sustained in no other way, and its continued existence depends upon the continued sponsorship of its sponsoring Rotary Club and continual recognition by RI.

A Rotary District with at least two Rotaract Clubs shall elect a District Rotaract Representative. The District Rotaract Representative shall be guided and counseled by the Governor, the District Rotaract Committee or other appropriate district committees.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a program for young people usually aged 14 through 18 and 19 through 30, age groupings which are meant to address varying needs and maturity levels that was officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971. Conducted at the club or district level, RYLA is intended to develop qualities of leadership, good citizenship and personal development among the young people of their communities. RYLA programs most often occur either in a seminar or leadership camp format.

The objectives of RYLA
The objectives of a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program are:

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To further demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth; To encourage and assist selected youth leaders and potential leaders in methods of responsible and effective voluntary youth leadership by providing them with a training experience; To encourage continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth; To publicly recognize the qualities of many young people who are rendering service to their communities as youth leaders.

Manual of Procedure

RYLA Program Content RYLA program should include a core curriculum addressing the following topics: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The fundamentals of leadership. The ethics of positive leadership. The importance of communication skills and effective leadership. Problem-solving and conflict management. What Rotary is and what it does for the community. Building self-confidence and self-esteem. The elements of community and global citizenship, while reflecting issues of local relevance and carried out in a manner appropriate to local customs.

Manual of Procedure

Function *   To assist the sponsoring club organize a successful RYLA Seminar. *   Help publicize and promote attendance at the RYLA Seminar.

Each year, local Rotary districts and clubs worldwide arrange thousands of international Youth Exchanges for high school-aged students. There are two principal types of exchanges:

Long-term exchanges usually last for an academic year. During your stay the student will live with more than one host family - typically three different families for three months each - and attend high school.

Short-term exchanges vary from a few weeks to three months. The student will not attend school on a short-term exchange, by you will most likely live with a host family. Rotary, however, offers a variety of short-term exchanges, including:

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Homestays: On a homestay, the student will live with another family abroad. This type of program can be arranged for individual students or groups of students. A typical homestay may involve the student spending a few weeks living with a family in Australia, while your host "brother" or "sister" lives with your family. Tours: Some short-term exchanges are structured as tours through one or more foreign countries. For example, on a short-term tour, the student travel through France and Germany with teens from all over the United States, or the student could travel through Singapore with a group of students from all over the world. Camps: International youth camps bring students together from several countries to provide leadership training and address international concerns. Or, camps may simply be the means whereby students from different cultures get to know each other. Camps involving both different cultures get to know each other. Camps involving both able-bodied and disabled young people are popular in many countries. New Generations Exchanges: Open to people ages 18-25, this option is ideal for recent high school graduates and college and graduate students. Usually lasting three to six weeks, these exchanges may be for individuals or groups, and can involve homestays, tours or camps.

HOST FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Rotary Youth Exchange host family, it is the host's responsibility to provide room and board for the student. The host is expected to exercise general parental supervision over the exchangee just as you would your own children, and involve him or her daily household chores and activities.

Most host families' involvement, however, with their exchange student does not stop at room and board. They often share their native culture while learning about their visitor's culture at the same time. This does not mean the hosts have to arrange elaborate entertainment, but simply make the student a part of the host's family with the opportunity to share in the same aspects of your family life that most teenage students experience in your culture.

Other suggested host family responsibilities include:

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Meeting your exchange student on arrival in your country and making the student feel at home as part of the family; Helping the student achieve language mastery; Involving the student in obligations similar to those established for your own family members; Seeing that the student meets other young people; and being tolerant of differences and willing to change your own ideas.

ROTARIAN RESPONSIBILITIES
While you will be busy integrating the student into your family life, Rotarians will be working to take care of the logistics of the exchange. As all Youth Exchanges are carried out at the local level, your local Rotary club and district will arrange school enrollment, tuition and other educational matters with the local secondary school (for long-term exchanges). Local Rotarians also will introduce the student to the other club members and organize some social and cultural functions for the student to attend.

For long-term exchanges, the hosing club or district will appoint a Rotarian counselor and arrange a monthly allowance for the student. The Rotarian counselor will maintain contact with your family and your student throughout the exchange.

While Rotary International offers support to local Rotary Youth Exchange programs through publications and suggested guidelines, Rotary districts and clubs run their programs independently on Rotary International. Therefore, each club or district program will have its own specific rules for students to follow.

STUDENTS RESPONSIBILITIES 
All students are required to follow the Youth Exchange program rules, be open to new experiences, and strive to learn the language of the host country. Hosts are encouraged to help their exchangee meet Rotary obligations, which usually include attending Rotary functions, including club and/or district meetings. Fulfilling these obligations contribute to the student's ambassadorial role. As a host family, you will be informed of Rotary obligations and should factor these requirements into the student's overall adjustment process.

Opportunities for volunteer service in your community are boundless. Rotarians around the world generously share their time and expertise to help implement service projects, sponsored by their own Rotary club or district, or by other organizations in their own communities. They also actively participate in individual service activities.

The vocational service or Rotary Volunteers chairs of Rotary clubs and districts often maintain registries of willing volunteers and the skills they offer. They also monitor the need for volunteers in the community. You can check with your club's service chair for volunteer opportunities.

Below you'll find some service projects to implement in your community.

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Read to children at a local school. Mentor an at-risk teen. Provide childcare for parents attending literacy classes. Be a translator for newly arrived immigrants. Teach at a vocational training center. Volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen. Serve as a counselor at a drug rehabilitation or HIV/AIDS center. Participate in a neighborhood clean-up day. Provide transportation for senior citizens. Help establish a micro-credit project.