Lynwood Rotary Meeting Update 10.13.2016

As included in the weekly meeting updates, Chris Reyes stated in his email bio info:  “My name is Christopher Reyes.  I'm a 3^rd year UCLA Psychology student.  I will be presenting briefly about what career I have chosen and why, my position/ role as a RYLA Counselor, my past as an Interactor and current duties as a Rotaractor.” 

[Daniel notes the Rotary terms are:  RYLA -- Rotary Youth Leadership Association; Interactor – Rotary Youth groups for High School students; Rotaractor – Rotary Youth groups for college students. ]

 Chris explained his background.  He is a graduate of St. Bernard HS (LA Archdioceses School) in Playa Del Rey.  He has been a member of the Westchester Rotary Club for five years and also for five years he has been the RYLA Counselor for District 5280. 

Chris explained that his personal life experiences, led him to pursue psychology study and also to accept the responsibility to be the RYLA Counselor.  He noted that he has had a personal problem of self-image and depression and that both his study of psychology and of youth leadership responsibilities in RYLA have helped himself, as well as enable him to help others.  Understanding himself better, he notes, has enabled him to help others.  He mentors students but he states that they have mentored him at the same time. He notes that the medical field is a great way to carry out the Rotary principle of Service above Self.

One of his responsibilities is to encourage Rotary clubs to send students to RYLA.  Also he has a responsibility to help communications and joint activities between Interactor and Rotaractor and Rotary groups and also with helping to coordinate with Rotary Young Professionals

The purpose of RYLA is to facilitate fun activities that are associated with leadership messages and skills. 

In the coming weekend, he noted, there will be a District 5280 youth conference at a middle school in Hawthorne.  He stated he expected there will be several hundred Interactors at this annual conference.

Also noted in his presentation is a nonprofit website that helps participants to push yourself.  And an interesting motto of this organization for personal motivation is the reason to do something:  “Because I said I would.”

Following a discussion, President Ramon acted to order flowers for the memorial events for Lucy.

Also discussed was a request from the City of Lynwood for the Club to fund Thanksgiving turkeys. There was mention of what the club has donated for Thanksgiving events in recent years.

After the speaker's presentation, Club member Ruben Cervantes talked about the results of the Oct 1 Fitness Fair that he organized.  He noted that the event was well-attended, but next year, the events should be located closer to each other, to contribute to a better sense of everyone being together.  It was noted that next year, Rotary could participate with a table, and information about Rotary, as a way of supporting the event and publicizing Lynwood Rotary activities.