On behalf of our District Rotary Youth Exchange Committee, it is with deep regret to share with you that the Eastern States Student Exchange (ESSEX) Executive Board has suspended the long-term exchanges for Rotary Year 2020-2021.    

 

Long Term Outbounds 2020-2021:  The Outbound students for the 2020-2021 year, their parents and club YEOs/Counselors who attended the zoom meeting on 4/18/20 held by District YE Outbound Chair Amber Seidel were given the sad news. Both Amber and incoming District YE Chair Jill Tenny had complete sympathy with the other students/parents that morning as they too were an exchange student, and both have a daughter in this group of outbounds who were planning to go out 2020-2021.

 

During the meeting Amber provided the students their options for going on exchange for the year 2021-2022 and answered questions from students and parents. Those students who will still be eligible and want to continue will retain priority placement by ESSEX for 2021-2022. Additional zoom meetings will be held by Amber throughout the year with the students and their parents. Their CISI insurance and Tzell itinerary if paid will be fully refunded and partial refunds of our district fee will be made according to the status of each outbound. FAQs link per Amber:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vLRw34Hwuhf_Eo9TzIFGKWAkchwt1u6HoFnkYrpANgI/edit

 

 

Long Term Inbounds 2020-2021: On 4/18/20 our Inbound Chair Walt Tilley notified all the Inbounds who were assigned to our district for the 2020-2021 year of the suspension of the Inbound program.

Several youth exchange events due to the coronavirus were canceled for 2020 including the March overnight hosted by the Harrisburg club, the April Annapolis day trip hosted by 7620, the end of May Farewell Picnic, the Dickinson College August Re-entry, and the 31 day Discover America trip for Inbounds hosted by 7170 (Inbound students will receive full refund). 

 

Short Term Inbounds/Outbounds 2020-2021:  The students/families and club YEOs were notified of suspension several weeks ago. ESSEX/Insurance fees were waived and 50% of district fee refunded. The students are eligible for 2021-2022 if they meet the age requirements.

 

The status of the 2019-2020 students:  All but 1 of our Outbounds will have returned to our district by the end of April. Amber Seidel, Outbound Chair is planning on two zoom meetings – one for those who have returned and one when all have returned, dates to be determined.

 

4 of our Inbounds have returned to their native country. 4 of our Inbounds are currently being hosted by our district as it is felt by their natural parents that they are safer here than going home right now during the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Their host families are gladly hosting them and are supported by their club counselor/YEO until it is a bit safer for them to go home in the next few months.

 

ESSEX will be busy developing recruiting tools for the 2021-2022 exchange year for all district members. In addition, our incoming District Youth Exchange Chair, Jill Tenny, along with her District Youth Exchange Committee, will be busy in engaging with clubs to promote the long term and short-term programs for the 2021-2022 year and beyond.

 

Thank you for all your contributions to the youth exchange program.

 

Yours in Rotary Service Above Self,

Linda Spotts, DYE Chair (2006-2020)