Yume Rudzinski (yume@a226.com) coordinates our District's Short-Term Exchange Program.

Congratulations on your decision to pursue the experience of a lifetime as a Rotary International Short-Term Youth Exchange during during the coming summer. Your  student  application and Host Family application forms are due by DECEMBER 15 to your local Rotary Club for exchanges the following summer. However, it's always best to come forward early to have a better chance of getting your first-choice country. Please select three countries that you are interested in, ordered by preference. You should research all your listed countries a bit before making a decision, just in case we have to go to choice B or C.

The Short Term Outbound Student and Host Family application forms are VERY important. First, read the instructions on the student application form carefully. The host countries often expect the forms to be filled out completely and neatly typed, using good English. Failure to be neat and comprehensive may cause it to be returned to us and you may loose your position in line. All spaces must be filled in and box selections must be checked appropriately. Please use the current version of the interactive form linked from the application page.  If you don't have an email address, arrange to receive and send email through a reliable person with email which you frequent contact. This will be a big help when communicating with Rotarians and hosts in your destination country. Dates must be entered like day/month/year 15/Jan/2008 as instructed on the student form. We recommend you fill out the applications as you would a job application. Remember, this will be your first impression with the Rotary Youth Exchange Officer (YEO) at your destination, and we all know how important that is. Please use pictures, as requested in the student application, which are nicely done.

When you are finished with the applications and you and your parents are satisfied with them, please submit four copies, each with original photo prints, and a short letter stating your preferred countries. These originals, plus any photocopies requested, go to the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Committee and President at a Rotary Club near you. Your applications must be submitted to them prior to DECEMBER 15 to your local Rotary Club, but doing so much earlier is recommended for a better choice of countries. If necessary, the District 6110 Short Term Leader can help put you in contact with that club. When you send your applications to your local Rotary club, also inform the Short Term Leader (Yume Rudzinski) so Rotary District 6110 knows you have begun the process. The committee will review your applications for completeness, and consider your ability to serve as that Rotary Club's Youth Ambassador and host a Rotary Youth Ambassador from another country. This will include an interview by the RYE committee and/or club president with you and your family.

If you are accepted by the local RYE committee and club president as their Ambassador, get appropriate signatures (all except District YE Leader) on ALL copies of your application. in blue ink and include original photographs (that's right, 4 prints of each photo) on each application. These are for:

Three of these copies will be sent to Rotary District 6110 Short Term Exchange Coordinator, Yume Rudzinski, and your local Rotary Club will keep one. When you send in your applications to the district, you must include a $50 non-refundable application fee and a copy of your short letter stating preferred countries . The fee will be used to finance the Short-Term Outbound Orientation at a central location in District 6110. At this point in time, you will be in line for an exchange to your preferred country, or one of your alternate choices if necessary. The District 6110 RYE Team will then review your applications and your ability to serve as Youth Ambassador for our district. This will include another interview with you and your family by a district RYE committee representative. After that process is completed successfully, your applications will be sent to the destination Rotary YEO for review and acceptance. They will then match you up with a reciprocal Exchangee of the same gender and Rotary Club in their district. You should be having communications during this entire process, and are welcome to ask any questions about the process or its status. Shortly before your departure, you will be required to participate in an orientation program to prepare you for your exchange.

This seems like a lot of effort, but this is one of the reasons why Rotary International has the best youth exchange program on earth. It is truly an honor to be accepted as a Rotary Youth Exchange Ambassador, representing your local Rotary Club, Rotary District 6110, your Cultural Heritage, and the United States in another country. We wish you well in your quest to go on this adventure of a lifetime as a short-term Rotary International Youth Ambassador. It will be a pleasure to work with you as we go through this process and the experience that we all hope will follow.

Yume Rudzinski
Rotary District 6110
Short Term Exchange Coordinator
Email: yume@a226.com

If you have any questions, please e-mail Yume Rudzinski at yume@a226.com

 Your Short Term Outbound Student and Host Family application forms are due by DECEMBER 15  to your local Rotary Club for exchanges the following summer. However, it's always best to come forward early to have a better chance of getting your first-choice country.