1 Orientation for Host Families Rotary District 5170

District 5170 Host Family Orientation2 Introduction l Welcome l Our goal – Making World A Better Place l Thank you for your participation !!!

District 5170 Host Family Orientation3 What You Will Learn Today l Closeness of new friends (family of Rotary) l Rotary expectations l Helpful ideas for you l Calendar of activities

District 5170 Host Family Orientation4 CHALLENGES FOR THE ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT ARE MANY Host Rotary Club Host Families Exchange Student / Rotary Counselor Your Community School Friends in High School Host Rotary District

District 5170 Host Family Orientation5 Rotary Support Structure l Rotary Club l Rotary Youth Exchange Committee l Rotary Counselor

District 5170 Host Family Orientation6 Counselor Responsibilities l Maintain contact with student and family –Show continued interest & support –Resolve problems before problems get big l Assist in registering student at school l Ensure that student receives monthly allowance l Keep club YE committee informed l Get Rotary club membership involved

District 5170 Host Family Orientation7 Items Rotary Counselor Must Hold for Student l Prepaid return airline ticket l Emergency fund (~$350) deposited in a bank l Passport and DS-2019

District 5170 Host Family Orientation8 Student Challenges 1. Adapting to host families and new culture 2. Doing well in school 3. Homesickness & making close friends 4. Speaking English 5. Following the rules of Rotary 6. Getting involved with Rotary and community

District 5170 Host Family Orientation9 What we expect from Host Families l Treat student as member of the family l Delegate daily responsibilities for the home l Assist student in finding right friends l Be prepared to say “No” when appropriate l Ensure students dress & present themselves appropriately

District 5170 Host Family Orientation10 Sample Family Rules l Be on time l Curfew l Do school homework l No telephone usage after certain hour l Help with chores (cleaning dishes, mowing lawn, etc.) See list of questions to ask on yeoresources.org

District 5170 Host Family Orientation11 Use of Telephone l Explain how it works: Set rules for use l Limit calls to country (family, friends) –Helps them to overcome homesickness l Ensure no phone bills ($100, $500, $1,000) l Telephone calling card for student calling home –buy at Wal-Mart (ATT International Card)

District 5170 Host Family Orientation12 Use of Family Computer l Do not let student spend too much time on computer l Limit or prohibit downloading information l Explain no visits to pornography sites, etc. l Limit the use of AOL Instant Messenger, MSN, Facebook or other IM/social networking programs l Ensure not too many s to family and friends back home –Makes adapting to our culture more difficult

District 5170 Host Family Orientation13 Expectations at School l Ensure clear understanding of school credits while they are here (often the answer is “None”) l Usually “not allowed to graduate” l Remind them to say thank you to school teachers l Write letter introducing themselves & RYE to teachers l Ensure regular class attendance and proper attention to work l Assure school missed work will be completed –Rotary will take students out of school at times –They are expected to make up work

District 5170 Host Family Orientation14 Varsity Sports at School l Students who have already graduated cannot play on Varsity team –May be able play on Junior Varsity (JV) l Participation in Varsity athletics requires approval from state (and may cost $$) –School will have the required paperwork –Student is expected to pay own costs for sports

District 5170 Host Family Orientation15 Making Close Friends l A major challenge to YE students l Help in finding clubs for student to join –Interact (in many of the schools) –Sports –Theater –Band, orchestra l Active participation is good cure for homesickness

District 5170 Host Family Orientation16 Limit Visits with Other Exchange Students l Rotary provides many opportunities for exchange students to get together l Their goal: To make American friends l Limit birthday party invitations to American students and exchange students close by –Transportation can be difficult –Can cause family frustration

District 5170 Host Family Orientation17 Speaking English l Sometimes students speak native language –Considered quite rude –Forces others away from you l This can be major problem l Ensure students actively work to improve –Good computer programs available –Don’t be afraid to correct student’s English

District 5170 Host Family Orientation18 Serious Rules of Rotary l No drinking l No driving motor vehicles of any kind –including no drivers’ education class l No serious dating l Obeying the law –No smoking –No drugs –No shoplifting, etc.

District 5170 Host Family Orientation19 Problem Solving l Some problems will occur l Student should ask for help, in this order –Host family –Club counselor –Club youth exchange officer –District Youth exchange committee l Host families must not let small problems become big problems. Ask for help. –Club counselor –Club Youth Exchange officer –District Youth Exchange Committee

District 5170 Host Family Orientation20 Student Protection Guidelines l What to do if your exchange student tells you of Harassment and/or Abuse –Listen attentively & let him/her know it was right to tell you –Assure him/her that they are not to blame –Remain calm and make sure student feels safe –Encourage student to share with you what happened and who was involved –Make detailed notes including date & time –Don’t promise to keep secrets & explain the necessity of informing the District Abuse Prevention Coordinator (DAPC)

District 5170 Host Family Orientation21 Student Protection Guidelines l Keep communications open –Assure student that you can jointly address his/her concerns/problem l Report the case to the DAPC Immediately l Don’t investigate –Leave this to the proper authorities l Support the student emotionally

District 5170 Host Family Orientation22 Student Getting Involved l Active involvement in Rotary and community are essential –Rotary meetings –Orientations for American students –Programs to Rotary clubs –Programs to schools and clubs l Help student to say “yes” and to be proud to be ambassador for their country and Rotary

District 5170 Host Family Orientation23 Activities l Sharing family activities (even if not favorite thing to do) l Rotary Club –Meetings and socials –Fund Raisers –Other activities l District (see follow-up slides)

District 5170 Host Family Orientation24 Rotary District Activities l YE Orientation (mandatory)August l Santa Cruz Beach BoardwalkSeptember/October l Day on the BayOctober l Holiday PartyDecember l WESSEX Hawaiian AdventureMarch l Ski TripFebruary/March l Yosemite1st WkEnd May l District Conference (mandatory)1st WkEnd June l WESSEX Western SafariJune/July

District 5170 Host Family Orientation25 Student’s Role as Ambassador l Students portray their whole country –By their attitude –By their decisions –By their appearance –By their willingness to do for others l Students make a difference; so much depends on their desire to be ambassador l Reminders from counselor and host family needed

District 5170 Host Family Orientation26 One Last Request l Student’s Name, Address &Telephone # must be kept current in US SEVIS database l Please inform Mark Junod when student moves families and provide the needed information including host family

District 5170 Host Family Orientation27 Summary l THANK YOU !!!!!!!! –We have a great year planned –Program will not work without dedicated counselors and host families –We are more than eager to help

District 5170 Host Family Orientation28 Where to get more information l District committee – District Chairs:Evonne Hopkins l Phone:(925) l – Inbound Chair:Mark Junod l Phone: l –DAPC:Ron Hyde l Phone: l l District website – l WESSEX website –