December Bulletin

Got a great Photo? Then email it us please.

Fellow Rotarians

Thank you all for supporting RYLA and booking places on the District 1040 RYLA Courses this Summer, 2008.

Just a brief update for you all as to the current position and to keep you all in 'the loop'.

The closing date for Clubs to book places was 1st December. I am very pleased to say that 51 Clubs have booked to take part this Summer, quite a considerable increase on last and previous years and it is great to see the popularity of RYLA spreading through District. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, every Club will want to take part!

Such popularity though can bring it's own problems with it, not least because of the limited availability of places. (2 Courses of 32 = 64 places).

As a RYLA Committee we were determined this year to give every Club that applied before the closing date the opportunity of taking part, and we have achieved that. We have had to restrict the maximum number of places per Club to two this year, and also ask a couple of Clubs to reduce from two to one place. I know that has disappointed a few Clubs, but what it has done is to allow Clubs that have never participated before to take part, and those Clubs who have been restricted and reduced their numbers accordingly have accepted the situation whole-heartedly. Thanks you to them for their understanding and co-operation.

We have also made the brave step of increasing the course numbers by four on each course, to 36. This will mean we operate on the Courses in groups of 9, instead of 8. It carries with it some complications, not least in accommodating the extra 4 when we feed them and bed them, extra pressures on the professional instructors and the Rotary Mentors, extra time needed in the various exercises and more administration in managing the Courses. But if it means we can give as many as possible the opportunity to develop their leadership, then it will be worth it! Let's hope it works.

I have been holding onto your cheques until now whilst we finalised the numbers, but have now paid them in, in case your Treasurers were wondering what had happened to them. Those Clubs who paid for more places than they actually have received will receive a refund on the places as soon as I can get them to you.

Hebden Hey was booked ages ago, as were the 'Waveriders', our professional instructors who have worked with us for well over a decade now, the catering in the form of Paula our 'chef' and various other bits and pieces essential for the courses to run. There's still a massive amount of work to do though to ensure that we, as a District, deliver the best RYLA Course in RI....which again we will....no worries!

The next step for yourselves is perhaps the most important. That of selecting the 'right' candidates. It's imperative that we get on the courses those that can gain the most benefit from it and I know you won't let us down in that respect. I havn't got a magic formula for selection that I can give you, but if you need any guidance or advice, by all means get back to me and I'll put you in touch with Clubs that do seem to have!

You will have all received the information that I sent out when I confirmed your bookings. Please dust that off if necessary and have a read through it before selecting, and also make the most use you can of our website at www.ryla.org and encourage any prospective or chosen awardees to do likewise.

One small point which is based on last years experiences, please be careful in selecting anyone who isn't fully fit enough, whether through injury or otherwise. It is a very demanding course, physically, mentally and emotionally. To send someone who, for whatever unfortunate reason, is unable to take part fully in the activities means they miss out on so much. They don't need to be fitness-fanatics, far from it, but need to be able to give their best without being restricted by a sports injury etc.

I'll be staying in touch with you every month now until, and after, the RYLA Courses, but if there is anything you need to know in the meantime and that isn't contained in the email and documents I sent you or on the website at www.ryla.org, then please feel free to get back to me or any of the other RYLA Committee, namely:

Rtn.Gillian Poole - RC of Mirfield - Awardee Support

Rtn.Babs Hendry - RC of Leeds White Rose - Sponsorship

Rtn. Adele Long - RC of York Ainstey - Rotarian Mentor Recruitment, Selection & Training

Rtn. Judith Poole - RC of Brighouse - International RYLA Co-ordinator

Rtn. Tony Jordan - RC of Thirsk - District Youth Opportunities Chairman

Rtn. Keith Pogson - RC of York Ainstey - RYLA Treasurer

Rtn. Trevor Woodward - RC of York Vikings - RYLA Chairman

Rachel Spink - Past Awardee (2006) - Advisor to the RYLA Committee

Rtn. Ken Robertshaw - RC of Halifax - RYLA Course Director

Rtn. Tim Dale - RC of Brighouse - RYLA Secretary

Thanks again for your overwhelming support to District 1040's RYLA in 2008 and between us we can be proud that it is recognised as one of the finest programmes Rotary offer to youth, not only in this District but world-wide.

Yours In Rotary Service

Rtn.Tim Dale

The Rotary Club of Brighouse

District 1040 RYLA Secretary

Got a great Photo? Then email it us please.		Fellow Rotarians Thank you all for supporting RYLA and booking places on the District 1040 RYLA Courses this Summer, 2008. Just a brief update for you all as to the current position and to keep you all in 'the loop'. The closing date for Clubs to book places was 1st December. I am very pleased to say that 51 Clubs have booked to take part this Summer, quite a considerable increase on last and previous years and it is great to see the popularity of RYLA spreading through District. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, every Club will want to take part! Such popularity though can bring it's own problems with it, not least because of the limited availability of places. (2 Courses of 32 = 64 places). As a RYLA Committee we were determined this year to give every Club that applied before the closing date the opportunity of taking part, and we have achieved that. We have had to restrict the maximum number of places per Club to two this year, and also ask a couple of Clubs to reduce from two to one place. I know that has disappointed a few Clubs, but what it has done is to allow Clubs that have never participated before to take part, and those Clubs who have been restricted and reduced their numbers accordingly have accepted the situation whole-heartedly. Thanks you to them for their understanding and co-operation. We have also made the brave step of increasing the course numbers by four on each course, to 36. This will mean we operate on the Courses in groups of 9, instead of 8. It carries with it some complications, not least in accommodating the extra 4 when we feed them and bed them, extra pressures on the professional instructors and the Rotary Mentors, extra time needed in the various exercises and more administration in managing the Courses. But if it means we can give as many as possible the opportunity to develop their leadership, then it will be worth it! Let's hope it works. I have been holding onto your cheques until now whilst we finalised the numbers, but have now paid them in, in case your Treasurers were wondering what had happened to them. Those Clubs who paid for more places than they actually have received will receive a refund on the places as soon as I can get them to you. Hebden Hey was booked ages ago, as were the 'Waveriders', our professional instructors who have worked with us for well over a decade now, the catering in the form of Paula our 'chef' and various other bits and pieces essential for the courses to run. There's still a massive amount of work to do though to ensure that we, as a District, deliver the best RYLA Course in RI....which again we will....no worries! The next step for yourselves is perhaps the most important. That of selecting the 'right' candidates. It's imperative that we get on the courses those that can gain the most benefit from it and I know you won't let us down in that respect. I havn't got a magic formula for selection that I can give you, but if you need any guidance or advice, by all means get back to me and I'll put you in touch with Clubs that do seem to have! You will have all received the information that I sent out when I confirmed your bookings. Please dust that off if necessary and have a read through it before selecting, and also make the most use you can of our website at www.ryla.org and encourage any prospective or chosen awardees to do likewise. One small point which is based on last years experiences, please be careful in selecting anyone who isn't fully fit enough, whether through injury or otherwise. It is a very demanding course, physically, mentally and emotionally. To send someone who, for whatever unfortunate reason, is unable to take part fully in the activities means they miss out on so much. They don't need to be fitness-fanatics, far from it, but need to be able to give their best without being restricted by a sports injury etc. I'll be staying in touch with you every month now until, and after, the RYLA Courses, but if there is anything you need to know in the meantime and that isn't contained in the email and documents I sent you or on the website at www.ryla.org, then please feel free to get back to me or any of the other RYLA Committee, namely: Rtn.Gillian Poole - RC of Mirfield - Awardee Support Rtn.Babs Hendry - RC of Leeds White Rose - Sponsorship Rtn. Adele Long - RC of York Ainstey - Rotarian Mentor Recruitment, Selection & Training Rtn. Judith Poole - RC of Brighouse - International RYLA Co-ordinator Rtn. Tony Jordan - RC of Thirsk - District Youth Opportunities Chairman Rtn. Keith Pogson - RC of York Ainstey - RYLA Treasurer Rtn. Trevor Woodward - RC of York Vikings - RYLA Chairman Rachel Spink - Past Awardee (2006) - Advisor to the RYLA Committee Rtn. Ken Robertshaw - RC of Halifax - RYLA Course Director Rtn. Tim Dale - RC of Brighouse - RYLA Secretary Thanks again for your overwhelming support to District 1040's RYLA in 2008 and between us we can be proud that it is recognised as one of the finest programmes Rotary offer to youth, not only in this District but world-wide. Yours In Rotary Service Rtn.Tim Dale The Rotary Club of Brighouse District 1040 RYLA Secretary