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HOST FAMILY RECRUITMENT
Lloyd Morris, D-5010, Anchorage Alaska
The successful recruitment of qualified host families is a
constant, ongoing process. It is not a once or twice a year effort. The
clubs that have had the most success in this phase of the Youth Exchange
Program have recognized this fact and have defined their goals, developed
methods, and committed the necessary resources and time to meet the goals.
The suggestions detailed herein are by no means all inclusive of what works.
They can be modified to reflect what works for your club. BUT THEY ARE TIME
PROVEN TECHNIQUES THAT DO WORK IF USED!
1. ROTARY CLUB COUNSELORS: As is typical for most successful programs
in Rotary, the YE Program needs the commitment of the Club President, the
Board of Directors and the Chairman of the International Service Lane, the
YE Officer and his or her committee and particularly the club members. This
commitment begins with a thorough understanding of the program by the club
members and, their spouses. This understanding is most effectively gained
through involvement of your student with the activities of the club and its
members.
2. CLUB YE PROGRAM ORGANIZATION: Clubs need to commit the resources
necessary to effectively get the job done. This means budget, people and
time. Budget has not been a substantial problem. However, the job of the YE
Program has at times fallen to one person, which can result in problems in
the lack of people and time categories. We recommend you spread the load by
having a multi member committee in which one member of the committee is
designated as the host family coordinator. He or she must agree to do the
jobs and commit the time and effort necessary to do so.
3. INBOUND STUDENT APPLICATION: Inbound student applications should
be carefully reviewed to see if the student's background and or interests
would suggest a potential host family. For example, a Swedish student noted
his hobby is competing in athletic events. He was placed with a family who
participated in this type of competition. A Japanese student who was an
accomplished pianist fit in perfectly with a family active in the local
symphony.
4. NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION: The YE Committee should schedule a
representative to conduct orientations for new members of their club. The YE
Program should be explained with particular emphasis on how each new member
can involve our inbound students with family activities and the requirements
of a host family. Each new member should be asked if he or she would like to
have the program explained to their family at a date in the near future and
then follow up by setting up an appointment to do so. After meeting with the
family, take the opportunity to ask if they might know of another family,
perhaps a relative or neighbor, that would like to hear about the program.
Get their names, have the host family help you make an appointment, and
repeat the process.
5. INVOLVING STUDENTS WITH CLUB MEMBERS: The more your membership
knows about our students the better the chances of their being interested to
be host families.
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Have your student attend club meetings on a regular
basis. Make sure they meet different members each time and play an active
role in the meeting, such as greeting members at the door or assisting the
Sergeant of Arms.
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Have your student give a short (3-5 minute) presentation
early on in their exchange (within the first two months). Don't be
concerned if their English is limited; just have them write their talk
down and practice with you several times before the presentation. It
should focus on their background, interests, hobbies and skills. Follow up
with a single sheet biography on your student including how he or she can
be contacted and pass this out to the membership.
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Involve the student with club projects and activities.
Make them a member of the Adopt-a-Highway team or the Christmas bell
ringing or gift-wrapping committee, etc. This will require some
coordination with the various club committees, but it gets the student
involved with members and will lead to host families.
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Have a fireside each year that is devoted to the YE
Program. Make sure all members of your committee and as many inbound,
outbound and rebound students as possible attend. Suggest that members
bring their spouses and any family members that may be interested. Have
information on the program available and include the students in the
night's formal program.
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Have the Program Committee set aside one meeting per year
when the students can give their "formal" presentation to the club. Think
beyond the standard slide presentation for ways to make this most
interesting. For example, we have all known students with special talents.
Encourage them to use these talents at this meeting.
6. HOST FAMILIES: Approach current and past host
families and ask them if they can recommend potential host families to you.
Ask them to help you set up a time and place to explain the program.
7. INBOUND STUDENT CONTACTS: The inbound students
often have made friendships that lead to host families. Particular care
should be taken to qualify potential families, with emphasis on a clear
understanding of the relationship between the family and the student.
8. OUTBOUND STUDENT ORIENTATION: The host family program should be
covered in some detail at the outbound student orientation nights. Follow
through by offering to set up meetings with interested families to explain
the program further. The observation is that families may decide that the
outbound program isn't for them at that time but they may agree to host in
inbound student later.
9. OUTBOUND STUDENT'S FAMILIES: Families of the students selected for
the outbound program should be required to host a student if asked. Note:
this does not mean that the family will qualify as a host family; they must
be interviewed in advance of placing a student with them. A variation of
this requirement is to have the family agree to recruit host families for
interviews. This was the case for one Rotarian family that could not host be
did find three qualified families.
10. INFORMATIONAL EVENTS: Host family information should be available
at all events where the Youth Exchange Program is promoted. Examples are
College Fairs, community celebrations and events such as the Palmer Fair,
Fur Rendezvous, etc. (These events could be used to promote the exchange for
potential outbound students as well as for host families.
11. HIGH SCHOOL CONTACTS: High school guidance counselors and foreign
language teachers have been a source of recommendations for several clubs.
The suggested procedure is to request names and ask assistance of the
teacher making the recommendation to set up an appointment to present the
program to potential families.
12: ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF ROTARY: Investigate for potential
families:
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Church. Talk to the priest/minister/rabbi and ask for
their help in identifying potential families.
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Fraternal Organizations: Elks, Moose, Lions have active
community minded memberships. Ask to address their club and explain the
program.
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Athletic Clubs. Junior Hockey, Baseball, are great sources
for families.
13: ADVERTISE THE PROGRAM IN THE NEWSPAPER AND ON RADIO
AND TV: Radio and television stations will schedule public service
announcements free of charge for non-profit organizations.
Good luck in your renewed efforts. Hope to get your input to add to the list
of ideas.
Lloyd
NOTE: District 5070, the Alaska District
has a great record of supporting the
Youth Exchange Program. The 30 clubs in Alaska and 2 clubs in the Yukon, and
all
sponsor or host Exchangees. The Nome and Barrow clubs host in the summer
only.
5070 extends into Russia east of the Urals and has six clubs in Russia who
have
provided 10 outbounds and hosted one inbound each of the past two years.
(August
1, 1995)
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