Focus on Youth: Morrisons Cove Rotary Supports Students

Youth Exchange Program
Dictionary Program
Career Fair
Four-Way Speech Contest
Interact Club
RYLA
Williamsburg High School Rotary Students of the Month Central High School Rotary Students of the Month Northern Bedford High School Rotary Students of the Month

Student of the Month

Student of The Month is a long time tradition with the Morrisons Cove Rotary Club when it recognizes one senior student from Central High School, Northern Bedford High School and Williamsburg High School each month during September through May to be named a Student of The Month for their school. They are nominated and selected by their schools for various accomplishments.

Honorees, along with their families and club members, celebrate each May at one of the club’s weekly meetings with a special breakfast where each student receives a plaque. The club has fundraisers throughout the year to support the program.

Youth Exchange Program

Rotary Youth Exchange has been providing intercultural exchange opportunities for secondary school students ages 15-19 since the 1920s. Students become cultural ambassadors for up to a full academic year, and the host families can help build peace and international understanding, serving one of Rotary’s six areas of focus.

Morrisons Cove Rotary Club supports both Inbound and Outbound Youth Exchange Students. The experience has been very rewarding for Club members, the Club’s host families, and the students.

The Club’s Youth Committee works with the student, their new school and host family to make their transition and stay comfortable. Club members volunteer to take Inbound Students on excursions, engage the student in community activities and tour community businesses and points of interest. Inbound and Outbound Students are encouraged to become involved in Morrison Cove Rotary Club activities and service projects, including attending the Club’s weekly meetings.

Morrisons Cove Rotary Club Dictionary Program

Dictionary Program

Each year, Morrisons Cove Rotary Club provides dictionaries for third-grade students in Central, Northern Bedford, and Williamsburg School Districts.

For many of these students, it is their first dictionary and they keep them through their school years.

Career Fair

The annual Career Fair is a joint effort of the Morrisons Cove Rotary and sister Blair County Rotary Clubs held annual to introduce high school students to a large variety of career choices and opportunities. Each club provides representatives of businesses and organizations to talk with the students and share details on every aspect of their work.

From the earliest days of Rotary, Rotarians have been concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world’s most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is the Four-Way Test, created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor. Taylor later served as Rotary International’s president, when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word test for employees to use making decisions in their businesses and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with suppliers and customers. The survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy.

Adopted by Rotary in 1943, the Four-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways.
It asks the following four questions:

Four-Way Test
Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL & BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The purpose of the Four-Way Test Speech Contest is to foster the principles of ethics in everyday life as well as in business. The contest introduces high school students to Rotary by creating interest through a competitive speech contest, sponsored by their local Rotary Club.Public, private, and home-schooled high school students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to enter the contest. Levels of competition and awards are offered on a local or club, regional, and district basis.

The specific goals of the contest are:

  • To acquaint a large number of youth with Rotary, and specifically, the tenets of the Four-Way Test.
  • To demonstrate and enhance Rotarians’ commitment to youth.
  • To heighten awareness of Rotary among students, parents, school officials, and the community at large.
  • To recognize, encourage and reward hard work and accomplishment in our youth.
  • To provide an opportunity for Rotarians to participate in a Community/Vocational Service program which focuses on the Four-Way Test as our standard of behavior.

Morrisons Cove Rotary Club Announces Winners of Four-Way Test Speech Contest

Photo Caption: (from left) Dan Hoover Club Member, Kara Wright 2nd runner up, Evan Cottle 1st runner up, Clint Curfman winner, Cheryl Gonsman Club President, Shanna Stern Club Member, and Dwight Kennedy Club Member.
Photo Caption: (from left) Dan Hoover Club Member, Kara Wright 2nd runner up, Evan Cottle 1st runner up, Clint Curfman winner, Cheryl Gonsman Club President, Shanna Stern Club Member, and Dwight Kennedy Club Member.

The Morrisons Cove Rotary Club has announced the winners of their 2018 Four-Way Test Speech Contest that was held on Wednesday, March 14 at Northern Bedford High School. Seven contestants representing Central and Northern Bedford High Schools participated.

The purpose of the annual Four-Way Test Speech Contest is to foster the principles of ethics in everyday life as well as in business and introduces high school students to Rotary. Each student is asked to write and present a speech in length no less than five minutes and no more than seven minutes. They select the topic of their speech, but should incorporate Rotary’s Four-Way Test “Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Clint Curfman, a 10th grade student at Central High School, was awarded first place and a check in the amount of $500. Evan Cottle, a junior at Northern Bedford High School, was awarded first runner up and a check in the amount of $300. Kara Wright, a senior at Northern Bedford High School, was awarded second runner up and a check in the amount of $200.

Also competing this year were Krysta Kennedy, Lacey Fleck, Hayleigh Wilkins, and Allie Snider all students at Northern Bedford High School.

Cheryl Gonsman, President of the Morrisons Cove Rotary Club, praised all the contestants for participating. “We are proud of all of the students who participated in the Four-Way Speech Contest,” commented Gonsman. “The depth of the topics and the presentations of the speeches were very impressive.” She encouraged the students to become involved with their communities and continue with their public speaking that will serve them well in whatever career path they choose.

This year’s contest judges, all members of the Morrisons Cove Rotary Club, included Cheryl Gonsman, Dan Hoover and Dwight Kennedy. Shanna Stern served as time keeper and Scott King coordinated the contest along with support from the school districts. Both are also club members.

The Morrisons Cove Rotary Club meets every Tuesday, 7:00 a.m. at the Spring Cove School District Administration Building in Roaring Spring. For more information about the Four-Way Test Speech Contest or the Morrisons Cove Rotary Club, please visit their website at www.mcrotary.com or email info@mcrotary.com.

Interact Club

Interact is a club for youth ages 12-18 who want to connect with others in their community or school. Interact club members have fun while carrying out service projects and learning about the world. Interact clubs organize at least two service projects a year: one that benefits their community and one that encourages international understanding. While Interact clubs receive guidance from individual Rotary clubs, they govern and support themselves.

How can I participate in Interact?

Follow Interact on Facebook and visit Interact’s YouTube channel to see what Interact clubs are doing around the world.

To find an Interact club in your area, contact your local Rotary club.

RYLA – Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership development program run by Rotary. While participants can be any age, most events focus on secondary school students, university students, or young professionals. RYLA events are typically 3–10 days long and include presentations, activities, and workshops that cover a variety of topics, including:

Leadership fundamentals and ethics

Communication Skills

Problem solving and conflict management

Community and global citizenship

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN RYLA?

Follow RYLA on Facebook to learn about inspirational events happening around the globe. RYLA participants are nominated by their local Rotary clubs. To learn more about a RYLA event in your area, contact your local Rotary club.