RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is an iconic flagship project for Rotary International and a very significant part of the Youth and Community thrust in our own District 9920. Whilst it is a District wide project each year there is a "Host Club" that takes on the task of staging and managing this amazing course and this year was The Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay. RYLA is an intensive leadership experience organised by Rotary clubs and districts which is designed for young adults, all clear leaders in their chosen field, to further develop leadership skills while having fun and making connections. One RYLA alumni reflected on his involvement as follows; "That one week at RYLA shaped me in ways that are hard to describe, across all aspects of my personal and professional life. But most of all, I left with a raging desire to become a better leader and even move active and involved in my community"
With the experienced and dynamic District 9920 team, the members of Half Moon Bay had a wonderful week providing support, management, logistics and mentoring to the 120 young leaders attending. Their experience covered; presentations and workshops facilitated by community and business leaders particularly focusing on leadership development, opportunities for the exchange of ideas, opinions and experiences in discussion groups etc, open sessions, sport and keep fit exercises, the opportunity to experience and practice leadership skills in action and finally involvement in Half Moon Bay community projects with our members. Every aspect hit the spot, from the outstanding Kiwi speakers, all local and global leaders in their field and enormously motivating, to the team exercises and community projects that set the week into context. This was a celebration of all that is Rotary. Personal development, fun and networking.