Joe Ramirez has been involved for several years and does a whole lot of work to manage the Rotary Youth Exchange. Rotary International does more than 7,000 youth exchanges each year. We have 3 exchange programs: Long-term, Short-term and Summer Camp. Rotary District 5340 is part or a multi-district organization in S. California, Arizona and Nevada; we collectively do 50-60 exchanges each year. This year, District 5340 did 5 student exchanges: 5 in and 5 out.
Joe stated that Host Families are the backbone of a successful youth exchange program. Joe recognized these Carlsbad Rotary members:
- Dave & Amy Saviage: They have hosted 4 students, for 3 years in a row.
- Eliot and Alexa Weitz had 3 families this year; they were the middle-inning stretch for Pippi.
- Rita Famulare provided Pippi with comfort and fun and a spectacular beach location.
- Kevin Clark - for the third year in a row, he was the counselor, following up with the student and host families.
- Frank Silva was like an uncle to Pippi; he drove her to school, treated her to tacos and gelato, and more.
Next year, Carlsbad Rotary will be hosting Arthur Vieillevoye, a young man from Belgium. When he arrives, he will attend his first Rotary meeting.
Exchanges are a 2-way experience, so we are also sponsoring a student to go abroad. Joe introduced Dalton Maggs, a junior at Carlsbad High School – his parents, Tricia and Todd Maggs, were with Dalton at the meeting. He will be going to France.
Dalton Maggs received a Carlsbad Rotary pin and made an excellent speech: I’ll be representing Rotary of Carlsbad and am grateful for the wonderful opportunity to go to the City of Hem, in the North of France, population 70,000 – less than my hometown of S. Bend, Indiana. With this opportunity, I’d like to show the Rotary values. Through this connection I hope to expand the French knowledge of the American culture, and expand my own knowledge of the French culture and language.
Joe Ramirez then introduced Margherita Pippi Nasi- Rotary exchange student from Italy. Pippi has a wonderful attitude and she made an excellent Powerpoint presentation, showing entertaining photos of various highlights of her year in Carlsbad, especially her experience at RYLA and the Model UN. She exclaimed that this was the best year in my life!