Brazilian YE Leader Visits Jacksonville

Almost 40 years ago, Ivan Vianna was one of the first Rotary exchange students to come from Brazil to the US, spending the 1967-68 year in Montrose, Pennsylvania. Since then, Ivan has become a successful engineer and businessman, a Rotarian, and a universally recognized leader of Rotary Youth Exchange in Brazil and around the world.

It was our pleasure to have Ivan visit District 6970 on February 3-4. After a chilly tour of downtown Jacksonville and the Jax Beach area, Ivan was the dinner guest of honor at a true Florida landmark, Clark's Fish Camp. The group of 20 on hand included several members of the District 6970 Youth Exchange Committee, three of our current Brazilian inbounds, and Laura Hundersmarck, who will be hosted in District 4760 as part of the newly selected outbound class of 2007-08.

Ivan's district (4760), in and around Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais state, has been an exchange partner of District 6970 for several years. This year, Floridian Alex Copeland from High Springs is being hosted in Patos de Minas, while Brazilian Nathalia Cunha is spending her year in Jacksonville. The two districts enjoy a wonderful friendship, and look forward to its continuation for many years to come.

Ivan Vianna, from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, visits downtown Jacksonville on a chilly February day. (The center span of the Main Street Bridge has been raised to accommodate a sailboat.)

From left: inbound Edgar from São Paulo, Ivan Vianna, new outbound Laura, inbound Nathalia from Belo Horizonte, inbound Elena from Salvador, D6970 YE Chair Al Kalter

From left: D6970 YE Chair Al, YE Committee members Cynde and Barry Covington, Ivan Vianna, D6960 Inbound Vice Chair Lawrene Bishop, YE Committee members Rob Overly and Louise Anderson

District 6970 Outbounds for 2007-08 - Largest Class Ever!

They completed lengthy applications, survived home visits, and made it through a very challenging day of interviews, but the end result was more than worth it for 25 northeast Florida teenagers, who will get to spend the 2007-08 year overseas as Rotary Youth Exchange students.

Never before has District 6970 selected this many outbound students, from as many different schools and communities. They will represent our Rotary clubs in 18 different countries next year, living with host families, attending high schools, learning new languages, and discovering new cultures and new selves as well.

Over the next six months, these students will go through a preparation process involving members of our District Youth Exchange Committee, current inbound and outbound students, and former outbound students (known as "rebounds" or "Rotex"). It will all culminate in departures this summer, for a unique life-changing year of adventure and fun in all corners of the globe.

Who are these young ambassadors-to-be? Click here to meet them!

Comings and Goings - the new Exchange Year Begins

This is an exciting time for Rotary's 2006-07 exchange students. Our outbound students have begun to depart for their destinations overseas, and our new inbounds are arriving in Florida. Host families greet their new sons and daughters, words are tentatively spoken in new languages, and the first incredible experiences occur. Let's share some of these arrivals and departures, shall we?		Members of the Rotary Club of Takaoka West prepare to welcome our outbound student Evan
Our inbound class is now complete, as Mattia from Italy lands in Jacksonville	Ormond Beach Rotarians moved their meeting to the airport to arrange a special welcome for Hélène	Hélène looks somewhat shocked - is it the crowd and the signs for her, or just the whole experience?
First ambassador from a new exchange partner, Olof from Sweden finds a warm welcome in Florida	Smiles and hugs make Nathalia from Brazil feel right at home as she arrives in Florida	It was late at night, but that didn't stop Cee and her hosts from smiling upon her arrival from Thailand
Edgar from Brazil arrives in Jacksonville, warmly welcomed by host parents and friends	Edgar was happy to receive an "official" St. Augustine T-shirt and hat, much more comfortable!	Lucile from France was welcomed by hosts and counselors at the Jacksonville airport
Roman arrived from Germany, and was warmly greeted by host parents current and future	Traveling with Roman from Germany, Victoria was greeted in print by her host family and host club	Nobody leaves the airport until the paperwork is done! Here's Rob checking Victoria in.
Our trio of outbounds heading for Brazil: Chris, Alexis, and Alex are looking good for their long trip	Akemi from Japan was welcomed by rebound Dominique, new outbound Hannah, host family, and friends.	Here's Emeline from France, being welcomed to Jacksonville by her host family and host club president

Third Annual Welcome Home Dinner Scheduled for July 22

For the story and pictures on the event, click here.

District 6970's third annual Youth Exchange Welcome Home Dinner will take place on Saturday night, July 22, 2006, at the studios of WJCT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida. This special event will feature speeches by our 2005-06 outbound students, who will have just recently returned from their year-long exchanges, and is guaranteed to inspire, entertain, and amaze all who attend.

After outgrowing the previous location, this year's dinner is being moved to a new site, with more room and better sound. WJCT studios are located at 100 Festival Park Avenue, between Alltel Stadium and the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. There is plenty of free parking available.

Last year's Welcome Home Dinner was a sell-out, so we encourage you to get your tickets early. The price for dinner, dessert, and program is $25 per person. For tickets, send a check, payable to "Rotary D6970 Youth Exchange," to Rotary Youth Exchange, 141 Elmwood Dr., Jacksonville FL 32259.

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