Rotary Foundation - Sub Committees

RI Ambassadorial Scholars

This committee promotes Rotary International’s Ambassadorial Scholarship program, reviews applicants and selects a candidate to represent our club in District competition. Ambassadorial Scholars are designed to further international understanding and goodwill, provide for study abroad for one year in one of the many countries and geographical regions where Rotary clubs are located.  During their studies abroad, Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars act as “ambassadors of goodwill.”  Through appearances before Rotary clubs and districts, schools, civic organizations, and other forums, the scholars represent their homelands and work to further international understanding.

Group Study Exchange (GSE)

This committee liaises with District for selection of GSE outward and hosting of GSE inward exchange teams.  GSE is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

Interact

This committee assists our club in organizing,mentoring, and guiding Interact Clubs in local high schools, in order to provide opportunities for young people to work together in a world fellowship dedicated to service and international understanding. Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single gender or mixed, large or small. They can draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community. Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. The Alamo Heights Rotary Club currently sponsors an Interact Club at Alamo Heights High School. In 2010-2011, a new Interact Club was formed at MacArthur High School.

Rotaract

This committee's goal is to assist in forming a Rotaract Club in a university in San Antonio.

Rotaract’s purpose is to provide young adults from 18 to 30 years of age the opportunity for service and development of leadership skills. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they’re sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the family of Rotary. There are more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas. All Rotaract efforts begin at the local, grassroots level, with members addressing their communities’ physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service. Currently, this club does not sponsor a Rotaract club.

Rotary Foundation

This committee is responsible for increasing awareness among club members about the work of the Rotary Foundation.  The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. This committee coordinates the receipt and transmission of fund to the foundation, arrangements for the different levels of recognition for donors, and all reporting requirements related to the operation of the Foundation.

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)

This committee plans and directs the annual leadership camp for high school students that are sponsored by the local Rotary clubs.  RYLA is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA participants can be ages 15-25. Our RYLA program focusses on a narrower age range involving Juniors and seniors in high school. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth.

Youth Exchange

This committee welcomes Rotary-sponsored Youth Exchange Students from other countries into our community and works with District to send local young people overseas to broaden their outlook. Rotary Youth Exchange students spend up to a year living with a few host families and attending school in a different country. The student acts an ambassador, teaching people they meet about their country, culture, and ideas. More than 8,000 young people (usually of high school age) each year have experiences like these through Rotary Youth Exchange.