The month of May is designated as “Youth Services Month.” Our work in Rotary Clubs throughout District 5050 have provided significant guidance and leadership skills for youth. In this day and age, our work with youth is vital for positive mental health and growth.
Our District is blessed to have a number of programs helping youth. I had the privilege in March to serve as a presenter for YAIL (Youth Adventures in Leadership). YAIL is a program for high school age youth (15-17). I have been invited to be a presenter for RYLA, Rotary Youth Leaders Awards, for young adults ages 18-30. In my visits to these programs over the past few years, I have witnessed lives that gained confidence, leadership skills and hope for the future. I am proud to say that these programs are well supported by Clubs in our District, with exceptional leadership supplied by exceptional adults of all ages.
The Rotary Youth Exchange is a valuable program for high school youth, in offering them an opportunity to encounter another culture, learn another language and gain life-long lessons. It has been a pleasure to meet incoming students from different parts of the world supported by our local Rotary Clubs, and work with outbound students going to different countries that support the Youth Exchange. The program provides opportunities for the development of peacemaking and leadership skills. I know that COVID closed this program down for several years, and I hope more Rotary Clubs in our District will get involved with the Rotary Youth Exchange.
Interact Clubs are another component of our Rotary Youth Programs. These are youth (ages 12-18) Rotary Clubs held in high schools. These Clubs require a Rotary Club to sponsor, and a high school counselor or teacher to lead the program. COVID shut down a lot of Interact Clubs, but I am pleased to see a number of Interact Clubs starting up again.
There are many other youth programs within the Rotary world, such Rotary Community Corps that helps youth find solutions to community programs, and New Generations Service Exchange that is a short-term, customizable program for university students and young professionals up to age 30. While not an official program of Rotary International, there are Rotary Clubs in the United States that sponsor youth programs such as the Boy Scouts of America. I am aware of Washington State Rotary Clubs that sponsor BSA Scout Packs for boys & girls ages 5 through 10, BSA Scout Troops for boys ages 11 through 17 or girls ages 11 through 17 as well as BSA Scout Venturing Crews for boys & girls ages 14 through 20. And I have emphasized Rotaract during my year as District Governor because I believe it is a significant program for young adults 18 and older that provide leadership and service skills.
I hope my article helps you better understand the multitude of youth programs in Rotary, and that you will help build, develop and strengthen these programs in the years ahead.
This year’s Rotary District Conference upon us! It is a one day event at Mount Vernon (WA) High School on Saturday, 4 May 2024. This conference is for all ages. The theme of the conference is “We Are Family,” as we explore the attributes that make for healthy families. Here is a schedule for the weekend.
Friday, May 3
5:00 pm Bowling at Riverside Lanes in Mount Vernon (225 Riverside Lane, Mount Vernon, WA). This is intended an enjoyable time for people of all ages, regardless of any bowling experience. Cost for bowling, bowling shoes and buffet dinner is $35.00.
8:00 pm Meet and Greet at Max Dale’s Steak and Chop House (2030 Riverside Dr, Mount Vernon, WA). People will gather for appetizers and fellowship, with the opportunity to meet old friends and establish new ones. Cost for the food is $20 with beverages to be purchased separately.
Saturday, May 4
8:00 am Mount Vernon High School will be open for conference attendees. Participants will park in the north parking lot of the high school. Signs will direct drivers to this parking lot, and enter the high school on the north entrance of the New Main Building. As participants enter the building, they will find the House of Friendship, with booths that will inspire Rotarians. Coffee will be available, and, beginning at 11:00 AM an espresso stand will open.
9:00 am Conference will begin in the auditorium of Mount Vernon High School.
The Conference will have three outstanding speakers. They are:
Kelly C. Atkinson is a Past District Governor from Utah. He has been a Rotarian since 1986, is a charter member of the West Jordan, Utah, Rotary Club, and has been a legislator in the Utah House of Representatives. He will address the power of the Rotary family, and the important qualities of healthy family life.
Dr. Shirley-Pat Gale is the current Rotary District 5040 Governor. She is a very passionate and enthusiastic speaker, who is a powerful presenter and in high demand throughout the Rotary world. Shirley-Pat earned a Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh as she explored the role of civil society organizations in indigenous social citizenship in Canada. She will help us broaden our understanding of family, and share some of the qualities that make families healthier and stronger.
Dr. Katie Eastmanis a grief therapist and coach from Anacortes, Washington. She attended Boston University School of Theology and The University of Houston School of Social Work and acquired a Doctorate in Child Psychology. As a licensed psychotherapist, licensed social worker and life coach specializing in loss and transition, Katie supports individuals and communities before, during and after serious loss. Katie will talk about how grief and loss affects family life.
There will be opportunities to discuss the content from our presenters during the Conference.
This year’s Conference will have a program for children, ages 5 -14. The program will be in a classroom across the hall from the auditorium. Children will have a break-out session led by Kate Anderson, Executive Director of the Skagit Children’s Museum, as she brings the Children’s Museum to Mount Vernon High School
The closing program by Anmoldeep Singh, an outstanding magician and illusionist from Vancouver. The Conference will conclude at 8:00 pm. For those who would like an after-Conference drink, there will be several locations in downtown Mount Vernon for beverages and conversations.
Sunday, May 5
8:30 am A light breakfast at Camp Korey (24880 Brotherhood Road, Mount Vernon)
9:00 am a “Day of Service” at Camp Korey, a camp located southeast of Mount Vernon with adaptive year-round programs for children and their families living with life-altering medical conditions. There will be projects for all ages, and will conclude with lunch. Cost for the light breakfast and lunch is $10.00.
Online registration is now closed. We'll see you this weekend!
What exactly does it mean to “process your feelings?” It is certainly very common advice, and generally we tend to believe this to be true - identifying our emotions and expressing them in healthy ways is an important part of healthy human emotional development. But what exactly does this entail? How do we avoid simply stewing unproductively, getting stuck in painful feelings, or avoiding them altogether?
While no single approach will work for everyone, therapists have been processing the issue of how to help others process for as long as the profession has existed. Dr. Les Greenberg, co-creator of Emotion-Focused Therapy and previous director of the Emotion-Focused Therapy Clinic at York University, is a leader in the study of emotions and their value in therapy. In his book “Changing Emotion with Emotion” he provides an overview of the seven ingredients research tells us are needed for emotional processing to be productive, allowing us to gain something valuable from those painful feelings. Here are some tips!
Attend to the feeling. This is about becoming more aware of the emotion through the precious resource of attention. Pay attention to the feeling. What do you notice about it? What sensations, thoughts, images, or words come to mind?
Symbolize the feeling. Most commonly this is done with words, and why I and many other therapists constantly recommend journaling. But many find that forms of creative expression such as art, music, or movement work better for them. This can add valuable meaning to the feeling.
Be congruent. Now is not the time for sarcasm or nervous laughter. Try to match your mannerisms and non-verbal communication to the feeling you’re having. If you are sad, try to keep a sad face and voice. If you are angry, put some assertive energy into your voice and posture. This helps you stay with the feeling long enough for it to be productive.
Accept the feeling. Acceptance is a very big and complex topic. But the old rhyme “you can’t grieve what you can’t believe” stands true. Painful emotions are difficult to accept, but try to assume the feeling is there to tell you something important.
Stay regulated. You need to maintain some distance from the feeling itself in order to process it effectively. Being overwhelmed is not productive, after all. Think of emotions as information, like a warning light on your car’s dashboard turning on. You are not your emotions – you are the space and place where they happen.
Be an active agent. While you may not have chosen this feeling, you don’t have to be a passive victim to it. Take responsibility for your feeling, and look at it as a personal experience, rather than something caused by external circumstance. Taking ownership of your feelings helps you to challenge the belief that you can be “taken over” by them.
Encourage differentiation over time. Emotions are highly fluid and frequently changing inner experiences. Try not to become “stuck” in one part of the emotional experience. Rather, be curious about how the feeling shifts and new aspects emerge as you explore it. You may be pleasantly surprised!
All of the above assumes that your feelings are what therapists call “primary adaptive emotions” – that is, that they make sense given the situation you are in. Sometimes, this is really difficult to tell! So don’t beat yourself up if these don’t work out for you every time. In the end, you may not come to a grand insight or major sense of relief from following these steps, but this is a skill that can be practiced and refined. And if you or someone you care about could use some help with that skill – well, I may know a therapist or two who could help with that….
Reference: Greenberg, L., (2021). Changing Emotion With Emotion: A Practitioner’s Guide. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000248-000
The YAIL & RYLA committees need your help! We are looking for dedicated Rotarians with a passion for youth programs and the growth of Rotary in our district.
YAIL (Youth Adventures In Leadership) is a youth leadership program for ages 15-17. RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a leadership program for young adults aged 18-30. Both of these programs have been successfully running in our District for over a decade.
We are looking for Rotarians to help our committees continue to develop these programs into the best they can be. RYLA and YAIL are two programs that foster and develop the relationship with Rotary for many young people. Facilitators and even some committee members for both of these programs are often alumni. They see the impact these programs have on youth and young people in our communities and come back each year to help us make it even better.
If you would like to be a part of either of these committees please reach out. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have as well.
Save the Date for the 2025 Rotary International Convention - 21 - 25 June 2025, Calgary, Alberta!
DISTRICT 5050 CLUBS
MissionJessica McKay
Our Club was honoured at a recent City of Mission Community Service Awards event. Louise LaCerte and Elspeth Bowers received Lifetime Achievement Awards, Janet Chalmers and Roger Dowker were recogonized as Citizens of the Year, our Starfish Backpack Program received a Special Recognition Award and our Interact Club received the Community Service Award. Congratulations to our Club!
Bellingham, Bellingham Bay, Bellingham Sunrise & Mt BakerDoug Cole
Presidents from four Whatcom County Rotary Clubs and Assistant District Governor Mike Bates at the Whatcom Community College (WCC) Food Pantry Food Drive on 29 March. The combined donation was 361 lbs. of food and $4,557. The the Squalicum High School Interact Club also participated. The Orca Pantry serves WCC students facing food insecurity.
Pictured are Club Presidents Mark Corkill (Mt. Baker), Mike Bates (Area G Assistant Governor), Doug Cole (Bellingham), Tim Krell (Bellingham Bay), Jennifer Slattery (Bellingham Sunrise)
White RockDon Jones
We are thrilled to announce the outstanding success of our recent Charity Book Sale held early last month. This event, which has become a beloved tradition in the community, saw a remarkable turnout of book enthusiasts and families alike, resulting in a total of 4,500 satisfied customers.
Over 200 book lovers and bargain hunters eagerly waited for the doors to open on the first day, setting the stage for a week filled with literary exploration and community spirit. With the dedication of our enthusiastic volunteers, we were able to offer an impressive selection of 50,000 quality books for attendees to peruse. The culmination of our efforts was reflected in the final sales and donations tally, which reached an impressive $68,000 – a testament to the generosity and support of our community members. Notably, this figure represents a $10,000 increase from the previous year, underscoring the growing success and impact of our annual event.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the avid readers and families who joined us, filling their baskets with books to enjoy during the upcoming summer months. Your enthusiasm and patronage are truly appreciated and contribute directly to the success of our fundraising efforts.
At the conclusion of the sale, we were pleased to donate 60 boxes of books to Sources, local teachers, and an orphanage in Zimbabwe, further extending the reach and impact of our collective efforts.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that we will be accepting book donations at the Rotary Fieldhouse in preparation for our next sale, scheduled for August 23rd - 27th. We invite everyone to contribute to this worthy cause and help make a difference in our community.
From the Editor's Desk
The 2024 District Conference is upon us. See the article above for a complete schedule. Online registration is closed. We are looking forward to seeing you this coming weekend in Mt Vernon! Don't forget that there are fun activities Friday evening and the Service Project Sunday at Camp Korey.
During the Conference we will get an introduction to the 2025 District Conference that will be held in early May next year. You will even have an opportunity to register for it before the offer disappears.
The following weekend is this year's RYLA at Camp Squeah located near Hope, BC. We're planning to have a recap of the weekend with photographs in next month's issue.
We included another article this month about Mental Health. It includes tips to help process emotions that we experience at varying degrees. Read through the article above. We thank PDG Denis Boyd for providing the information. I hope you find it useful.
If you want your Club's program, initiative, fundraiser and success story to be seen by the entire District (and our friends outside of the District), send us the information! With graphics or photos. And please make sure you identify everyone in the photos. Remember, the deadline is the 23rd of the month before publication. Thank you to those that are sending material. Best to use the Story Submittal forms available at the District website and photos should be separate in jpeg format with everyone identified. Make sure any graphics or images you use in your submissions are original, perhaps even created by your own members and not taken off of the internet unless you have received copyright permission.
Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment,
This monthly publication is a service to District Members and Friends. It is intended as a source of news and opinion from throughout the District.
The mission of the Peace Arch Journal is to promote communication, understanding, fellowship and fun beyond club meetings, in a manner complementary to shared efforts at placing Service Above Self.
Please send articles and news with or without pictures attached to emails. Photographs are always a plus! Note that the editor appreciates conservation of space in order to meet the sender’s needs and the editor’s time.
The deadline is the 23rd of the month.
Address any and all information to the Peace Arch Journal Editor.
David Lindskoog, M.A.
