Youth Exchange Students
By: Ellison Clary
    
                          
Students taking advantage of study abroad with Charlotte Rotary help provided a lively look into what international exchanges can mean to young people. They delivered the program for June 8.
 
The main program featured Anna Skalicka of The Czech Republic and Leo Delvinquiere of France, who have spent the last year with Charlotte Rotary families.
 
Anna personifies the Boy Scout values of trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent, said Rotarian Charlie Bones, whose family was one of several that she lived with.
 
In a slide show, 17-year-old Anna compared the center of her hometown of 30,000 to Charlotte’s skyline and her high school of 700 to Myers Park High and its 2,800 students. She said she enjoyed trips, especially to Disney World, to a West Virginia ski resort and to big cities such as New York and Boston.
 
She played softball at Myers Park and sang at Christ Episcopal Church. She learned to be open-minded and to be a responsible teen, she said.
 
Terri DeBoo hosted Leo Delvinquiere of France and spoke of what a pleasure that has been as she introduced him. The 17-year-old who attended Charlotte Country Day School learned what Americans are really like rather than the Hollywood stereotype, Terri said.
 
Leo told the group he thinks of Terri as his mother. Memorable moments for him include visiting Disney World as well as seeing the sights around Charlotte. He recalls making jokes at which no one laughed, probably because of linguistic foul ups. Leo thanked all Rotarians in attendance for making this “the best year of my life.” The biggest thing he learned, he said, is "I’ll be back here."
 
Introduced just before the program were the four students sponsored by Charlotte Rotary who will spend a year abroad. They are:
 
Allie Tabor who will live in Chile; Alexandra French who will visit in Brazil; Teo Constantini will spend the year in Germany. Teo also received a $2,000 scholarship from Kurt Waldthausen’s German Language and Culture Foundation of Charlotte; and Madison Ayers who will travel to France.
 
Charlotte Rotary-sponsored students returning from a year abroad are Mary Catherine Bones coming home from Germany and Hannah Tobin arriving from France.
 
Head Table: Terri DeBoo, Leo Delvinquiere, John Snyder, Matt Joyner, Anna Skalicka, Charlie Bones,Todd Owens; Invocation: Natalie English;
Visitors & Guests: Bill Bradley;
Health & Happiness: Mac McCarley;
Song: Biff Virkler; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

•  Condolences to Byron Bullard and family upon the death of Byron’s wife, Carolyn, on June 4th; Gregg Jones’ 99-year-old father passed away in Albuquerque this week. No additional details at this time; John Johnson continues chemo and radiation treatments and says he is blessed every day. Updated email for John: jjohn60643@aol.com.
     
• Sandra and Luther Moore are seeing the Passion Play in Germany; John Lassiter was appointed to the Wildacres Leadership Initiative Board of Advisors; Communities in Schools (Bill Anderson) dropout prevention programs will benefit from a June 15 Dine Out for Kids campaign. To find one of the 66 participating restaurants, go to www.cischarlotte.org.
  
• President John recognized Karen Steffens for her leadership as District Chair of the Youth Exchange Program. Karen is widely respected throughout the District and puts in endless hours to make this program so successful. Bob Elliott was also thanked for his work with this committee over the last few years. And of course – great job by Charlotte Rotary’s youth leadership team!

• HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! Plans are underway to host exchange students from Thailand (boy) and Germany (girl) this fall. The students will attend Charlotte Country Day and Myers Park and host families are needed. Please contact Matt Joyner for the details.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 6/14/2010.