Submitted by: Rozanne Casey, Youth Services Chair
May is Youth Service Month. What does that mean in District 5580? Here is a quick update:
4 Way Test Essay Contest
The 4 Way Test has been a guiding principle of Rotary since the 1940’s and an introduction to Rotary for many youth for nearly as many years. This year, 18 Rotary clubs from across the district submitted winning essays which were judged by a four person committee. The five regional winners are: Jacob Scheresky (Minot High School, Minot Sunrise Club), Rebecca Olson, (Fosston High School, Fosston Rotary Club), Emma Stertz (Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids Rotary), Jacob Wagner (Crookston High School, Crookston Rotary Club) and Elizabeth Jarocki (Marshall High School, Duluth Club 25). Congratulations to Jacob Scheresky from Minot for being the District 5580 essay contest winner! If your club would like to participate in the 2019 essay contest, or if you would like to serve on the committee, please contact Rozanne Casey (rozannecasey@ymail.com)
Rotary Youth Exchange
Youth Exchange is a well know program in District 5580. Throughout the years, many clubs have hosted an inbound student or sent an outbound student on the adventure of a lifetime. This year, 14 students from Austria, Brazil, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Peru, Poland, Switzerland and Thailand will become part of the District 5580 family and five of our students will experience life in other countries. All of the students – as well as the host families and clubs – will be forever changed by the exchange experience. If your club is interested in participating in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program by hosting a student, sending a student or being on the committee, please contact Blake Carlson (blakeski@msn.com).
Camp RYLA – July 8 - 14 2018 – University of Minnesota Crookston
Campers are registered, plans are being made and the excitement is building! Camp RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) is a chance for 150 campers and a dedicated group of facilitators to explore Youth Leadership in new ways. Campers are placed into groups – Families – for the weeklong sessions but the friendships formed last a lifetime. Visit the website (http://district5580ryla.org/) for more information.
Interact
There are a small group of Rotary Clubs that have sponsored an Interact Club in District 5580. Interacters, as club members are known, are 12-18 year old students working with a sponsoring Rotary Club doing fundraising and services projects in their community. These activities introduce Rotary principles to students wanting to make the world a better place. This year, clubs are planning a fall gathering as well as a trip to the 2019 District Conference in Minot. These meetings allow Interacters from various clubs to exchange ideas and get to know each other better. Contact Rozanne Casey rozannecasey@ymail.com to learn about starting an Interact Club in your community.
Rotaract
Rotaract Clubs are service-minded people aged 18-30 active in their communities throughout the world. District 5580 has active clubs in the Duluth-Superior area, Crookston and 
Thunder Bay Ontario. Rotaracters participate in fundraising and community service projects for local activities and world community service projects. Some highlights include the Twin Ports Rotaract (Duluth-Superior area) members participating in the Polar Plunge (jumping into Lake Superior in February) to raise &1,500 for Special Olympics and the Thunder Bay Rotaract Club packing shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child for children in need. They made 50 shoeboxes!
Thunder Bay Ontario. Rotaracters participate in fundraising and community service projects for local activities and world community service projects. Some highlights include the Twin Ports Rotaract (Duluth-Superior area) members participating in the Polar Plunge (jumping into Lake Superior in February) to raise &1,500 for Special Olympics and the Thunder Bay Rotaract Club packing shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child for children in need. They made 50 shoeboxes! For more information about joining or starting a Rotaract Club, contact Mackenzie McFarlane (mabelmac.24@gmail.com)