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Advanced RYLA – Preparing Today’s Leaders for Tomorrow’s Challenges
By Jason Griffith

Lots of people want to “change the world.”  It’s what gets us out of bed; it’s why we give money to charities; it’s why we join Rotary.  In fact, the investment in making the world better has caught on so much that we have a term for it.  Our lives have been infused with a “change-the-world” mentality.  The Rotary world is especially inspired by this emotion, and from every corner of the world Rotarians are joining together to eliminate malaria, provide drinking water, and deal with hunger.  However, no project of Rotary’s is as meaningful as the investment it makes in youth development.

Interact, Rotaract and RYLA are all based on the belief that harnessing the talent, vision and passion of the “next generation” is the most lasting investment we can make to change the world.  Proudly, Rotary eClub One has taken a lead in this investment by bringing Advanced RYLA to the United States.

Advanced RYLA is a new chapter in the Rotary book.  It started just a few years ago in Australia, and in the fall of 2006, it came to the United States.  As far as we know, the Colorado ARYLA is still the only program like it on the Northern side of the world.  You’d have to go all the way to Australia to find another one.

In 2006, Advanced RYLA welcomed 80 conferees to the Colorado Mills Mall for a 10-hour event.  Featuring Kimra Perkins, Doug Young, and Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Andrew Romanoff, the program was a hit.  However, the largest piece of feedback we received was that there needed to be more time to build the community of support that conferees value so much.  So, we made changes and launched ARYLA II.

Held in January of 2008, ARYLA II was a weekend-long retreat in Estes Park, CO.  Snow flurries couldn’t keep away the committed crew of conferees, staff and speakers who made the trek up the mountain.  The overnight aspect of the conference was well received, and when we combine it with the high-quality program offered in the first year, ARYLA III is destined for greatness.

A particularly unique aspect of ARYLA is that it is for young people by young people.  The staff is all former ARYLA or RYLA conferees, and its members are all under thirty.  They work closely with a Rotary mentor, but they are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the conference.  This is an incredible asset to the ARYLA program because it keeps the conference closely tied to those actually taking part in that program.

In addition to the active involvement of the staff, the conferees dig in.  ARYLA is about further developing the leadership output of 18-30 year old conferees.  These are young, active adults whose lives have been engaged in multiple leadership positions; they have demonstrated excellence in the value of service above self; and they are committed to making the world a better place.  Where they get hung up, however, ARYLA steps in.

We often hear that finding the balance between meeting the needs of the checkbook and meeting the needs of the soul is a difficult task.   Throw a fledgling career and a young family into the mix, and it is no wonder we have conferees knocking on the doors searching for opportunities and the appropriate platform to discuss the issues and address the many challenges facing them.

To try to answer some of these questions, we have put together a program with several key elements:

• Insights from Expert Speakers – drawing on people who have a wealth of lived experience, ARYLA uses speakers to cover broad issues and provide unique information.

• Interactive Activities – these gets conferees up and moving while focusing on leadership lessons through an interactive method.

• Rap Sessions and Community – ARYLA gets feedback every year that one of our strongest qualities is the community we foster; to build on that, we set aside time to talk about challenges, issues and concerns facing our conferees in their lives.

• Courage to Make a Difference – ARYLA uses a 3-part series to inspire participants to take action in their lives and then coach them through the steps to achieve success.  While this program is still being developed, it has the potential to be the strongest component of ARYLA.

ARYLA is designed to be a continuing cornerstone of Rotary’s commitment to youth leadership development.  While we’re still working out the kinks, we have two great years behind us.  Conferees have a lot to say about ARYLA, including:

• RYLA is the best thing in my life that I’ve ever experienced

• [I] realized things about the world I didn’t know and am inspired

• [I] loved the refresh and wish this could be more than annual to keep the spirit of RYLA alive; I loved it!

• [ARYLA] Felt more like an actual leadership conference.

As we move forward to ARYLA 3, things are looking bigger and better than ever.  The plan is to return to Estes Park with more people, better speakers and more a RYLA-tastic weekend than ever before.

Rotary can help – if you know a great speaker, let us know.  Or, just continue to support ARYLA through eClub One – let the board know you think it’s a good program!

In the dozens of Rotary club speeches I’ve given, I always end with the same sentiment, and it seems fitting here: “Of all the things Rotary does in the world, of all the good, your commitment to youth means the most.”