Category Archives: New Generations

Advanced Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (ARYLA) wraps up in Norwalk today

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Chair Justin Phillips and his team of 10 concluded their 2nd annual successful ARYLA in Norwalk Connecticut today. The 4 day program had 30 participants which engaged in rigorous team & skill building activities and a business plan competition.

ARYLA takes a fresh and inspiring approach to leadership for young professionals between the ages of 19 to 29. ARYLA was designed to enhance and test their leadership skills in a changing world. At the overnight conference, attendees will be able to network and collaborate with peers to discover different approaches to leadership, critical thinking, brainstorming and decision-making. Advanced RYLA takes a personal and professional approach to leadership. Business executives, small business owners and non-profit organizations will all benefit from ARYLA!

Passion Purpose and Action is their motto. 

 Advanced Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (ARYLA), Rotary’s Premier Leadership Conference for ages 19-29 years, featured Jason Roberts on opening night as the keynote speaker on the evening of July 24th, 7pm @ Dolce Norwalk.  Jason has been recognized for a large federal grant supporting his project ‘Build a Better Block’.  This organization has significantly grown bringing a number of volunteers, companies and resources to the table, all to improve our communities.  His approach is both unique and effective.

Here is a link to an interview with ARYLA Chair Justin Phillips that describes the program in more detail.

Send Justin a congratulatory email message.

Justin Phillips to become D7980 Youth Services Chair on July 1st

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Justin Phillips 2013-16 Youth Services Chair

Justin Phillips 2013-16 Youth Services Chair

Justin Phillips from the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club will assume full Chair responsibilities for Youth Services (formerly known as New Generations) beginning July 1st. He steps in the shoes of outgoing New Generation Chair Julie Reppenhagen and outgoing Youth Exchange Chair Alan Hurst as he consolidates and focuses this newer avenue of service even more.

Justin has been instrumental in launching the Advanced RYLA program for the district and has been woking tirelessly with Youth since joining Rotary. He was a Rotary Exchange Student 1991-1992 in Sao Paulo Brazil.

Justin is a Pilot for United Airlines and earned his Bachelor of Science (University of Oregon) and his Commercial Flight & Ground Instructor (Flight Safety Academy).

Youth Services is the 5th Avenue in Service in Rotary and was known as New Generations until it was recently renamed by the Council of Legislation. Given their important role, youth and young adults are a critical focus for Rotary clubs — a means of fulfilling the Object of Rotary and truly fostering the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise in young individuals the world over. Whether it’s through Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Exchange, or Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Rotary’s youth programs provide young people an opportunity to develop their character and embrace new experiences while exposing them to the organization’s values of service, high ethical standards, and peace.

D7980 Youth Service Officers

D7980 Youth Service Officers

Justin has assembled an excellent team to provide the best experiences possible for the young people in our district. The YS team has already been working hard side-by-side with the Youth Leaders in planning for the upcoming year.

We thank PDG Julie Reppenhagen and PDG Alan Hurst for their dedicated service over the past several years and welcome Justin to the helm as leader of Youth Services beginning July 1st.

Send Justin a congratulatory email message.

District 7980 2013-14 Youth Services Conference

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Incoming Chair Justin Phillips leads the adviser meeting

A group of district leaders and youth representatives from Rotaract, Interact, RYLA and Youth Exchange got together at Justin Phillip’s house today to discuss plans for the upcoming year.

Many exciting changes were talked about for the upcoming year. The energy level was high.

Thanks to: Justin Phillips (Westport Sunrise), Dave Ullman (North Haven), Jennifer Merrill (Naugatuck), Guy Casella (North Haven), Bernadette Casella (North Haven), Sue Horton (Trumbull), Ron Webb (Tri-bury), Dave Moore (Madison), Alan Hurst (East Hampton) and Glenn Pearson (Orange) for taking active leadership roles.

Rotary D7980 Youth Exchange Banquet

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The D7980 Youth Exchange (YE) Banquet was held at the Graduate Club in New Haven this evening to recognize the 7 current 2012-13 inbound YE students that will return to their countries in July and the 10 2013-14 outbound YE students which will be sent from our district in August.

Delores Morgano, East Hampton, introduced the Inbounds and PAG Susan Horton, Trumbull, introduced the Outbounds with their family members.

DG Brian Amey provided some inspirational words while simultaneously inquiring about the status of the England/Brazil soccer match.  PDG Alan Hurst was recognized by the  YE students for his service. Glenn Pearson thanked his host family.

A very nice event for the YE participants, their families and the clubs that sponsor them.

Jennifer Merrill – D7980 Youth Exchange Chair

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Jennifer Merrill - D7980 Youth Exchange Chair

Jennifer Merrill – D7980 Youth Exchange Chair

Jennifer Merrill, past president of the Naugatuck Rotary Club, will be the Chair of the District’s Youth Exchange (YE) program beginning July 1, 2013. She currently is a member of the YE committee and has served as host for inbound exchange students to Naugatuck as well as being the mother of a 2009 – 2010 exchange student (Anna) to Switzerland. Her knowledge of YE both sides puts her in an ideal position to be a great leader.

Jennifer will be assisted by Inbound Chair Glenn Pearson of Orange and Outbound Chair Sue Horton of Trumbull as well as a number of former exchange students (ROTEXes) and Rotarian committee members.

When Jennifer isn’t busy with Rotary she is has a very active career as an award winning Real Estate Agent in Naugatuck, she also serves on the Naugatuck Finance Committee, works with the Naugatuck Teen Center as well as being a mentor to middle school children.

Please reach out to Jennifer and offer her congratulations on her new role as YE Chair.