network and work the net!

Hi Rylarians,

Hope you have all recovered from one of the most memorable weeks of your life – and still feeling hyped and pumped! OK … maybe just pleasantly tired! Thanks for your contributions last week. You are unique and each of you has a special point of differentiation - work it and use it to your advantage!

You are now in an awesome network! A new network of 40 people who know you….
You know the secret of how to grow your network painlessly? …..by keeping in touch, maintaining a contact listing and making each contact relevant…and helpful…

Networks are simply the relationships you have with people, and when it comes to job hunting, people who are willing to help you. The more people you know who are willing to talk with you about your job search, and your career aspirations, the faster you’ll find a new job or land that promotion!

The secret to growing your network - Help other people. Make it your goal to help people you meet naturally during your day. Be intentional. Look for ways to help co-workers, neighbours, and people in your professional organization, (What? You don’t belong to a professional or community organization?), people at conferences and every new person you meet.

The reason this works is the rule of reciprocity, which says that if you help people, they will be favorably inclined to return the favor in the future. By helping others you are making deposits in accounts that you can withdraw later.

What can you offer? Whatever might be helpful, and it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Perhaps you can send them a link to a website, or a copy of a relevant article. Introduce them to someone in your network. If they are in sales, ask them what a good prospect looks like. The important thing is to cultivate a habit of being interested in the needs of others. Once you discover their needs, you are well on the way to finding a way that you can help.

If you find someone who is feeling unsatisfied in their job, suggest they visit www.assessment.com. They can get a free, customized sample of MAPP, a powerful tool that identifies what truly motivates a person. MAPP helps people move confidently toward a more satisfying job.

If you make it a goal to help one new person each week, you will soon have a network that any executive would envy.

Ps don’t forget to prepare your thank-you speeches to deliver to your sponsoring Rotary Club – and remember – this is another opportunity to expand your network!

Lots of warm wishes - your networking friend for life..
Ivana (aka Babouska)

What a group of great people!

Hi there RYLArians. Just wanted to send you all massive congratulations on being a fantastic group and for accomplishing everything you did through the RYLA week.You were involved and having fun from the very beginning, but also took it seriously when needed. You guys wowed me with your enthusiasm, energy and willingness to be interactive - that made my role and the job of all the speakers so much easier!

I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity of being involved with you all and wish each of you every success in your very bright futures. I'd love to hear how you're going, or try to answer any questions you might have, so shoot me an email or give me call - my contact details are on the back of your manual. (That email address goes to our home business, so I may not get to reply until the evening.)

Thanks to the other speakers who gave their time so willingly and did such a great job of giving you some specialist information and tools. It wouldn't have worked without them.

I also wanted to say a huge thank you to the awesome Craig and Ivana, the Rotary committee and the faaaantastic Team Leaders for their help and support in pulling it together and making it all happen.

Best wishes RYLArians. You're all fantastic. And remember to review the material - often! Please!

John Carroll

Hey all. Meg (Moose) here. Well, finally home from Port. What an amazing week!!! I had the best week of my life, and I'm sure others felt the same. I have met some genuinely awesome people, who even if they don't realise it, have inspired me. RYLA '09 was an extraordinary experience and I hope to return next year as a leader and share my leadership skills and information that I have learnt this past week with other potential Australia leaders. My highlights of the week would have been everyday. I can't just name one or two. Everyday was an experience I hope to carry with me through out the rest of my hopefully long years. haha. Thank you to Ivana (Baboushka) and Craig (Stanley) the "Russian judges". The leaders: Damo, Kathryn, Stu, Brooke, and last, but definately not least... The almighty leader of Team Brumby's - Carissa! A MAJOR THANK YOU to you all, especially my fellow RYLArians. You all made this week the best of my life!!!

Meg Booth (Moose).

Wow what to say

Before i came to RYLA i was only told that it was a really good week & that i would have an awesome time & that i have. i have met so many ppl & made some really good friends as well as learnt a lot in the sessions provided. my most fav sessions 1. the mic skills as these r practical skills which i will use when i go back to Rhema 99.9 as a on air anouncer doing morning/brecky programs during the week. also the money skills have been really helpful as i do a bit of investment in the stock market but with it being so bad of late i should look at a compound interest account.

the group of ppl i was placed with are really nice they included me in everything possible & willing to lend me a hand/push when needed. also the girls in the room very easy going a accepting of my wc & crutches. well done to jack to succeded in reaching his goal of doing a wheely for 1 minute & extended it to over 15 min that skill i will just have to work on. through the week i have noticed slight improvments in my knee which have allowed me to be more active in the different & along with that my mobility has also improved although i still have a long way to go.

Wednesday night was lots fun & very interesting although i am not one to go out a party it was still a good night out although the venue did not have propper wc access which was not good nor the buss to get to the venue this needs to be reconsided for future yrs.

the accomadation i would say is good although not throughly w/c accessible eg the bathrooms and not much room for getting in/out of the room & not wc accessible except by a tempory ramp which came a part abit in the wet weather.

I know personally i have learnt so much & i now have some skills to take home with me and some others to personally assist me in life. i now see the future in a different light although this light is bound to change it will never be the same.

if anyone is interested in contacting me after camp email addy is aussieireland@gmail.com this is also good if u want to find me on face book. (pic is of Marvin the Martion).
something else i have also learnt to do is blog so for the first time ever i have created a blog of which others will read & hopefully remember this week as a really +ve one & if you know someone who u think might be interested in doing RYLA go ahead & ask coz it is really worth it & what you get out is what u put in.

so everyone's experience is different but it comes highly recomended so what do u have to loose? one big goal for me is to move out of the parents house & become more independent & also to get a car what sort probally a subaru of some sort that can tow things well.

Its been a full on week of learning about self and how to be a good leader but in saying that a leader also needs to learn how to serve for it is better to work as a team than individuals pulling in all different directions.

we also had some other interesting nights we also had a movie night, trivia, dress up, chill out & others. bed/lights out supposed to be about 22:00 but if that ever got followed im not sure but we have all survived unfortuneatly 2 ppl had to go home early due to ill health but we wish them well in the future.

so many thanks to the organisers of RYLA & participants for making the week what it has been.

Mandie

Wow! What an amazing week its been. The time hear has flown by. I've met so many amazing people, and learnt that really there is no limmit to what young people can achieve except our imagination and the limmits we put on ourselves.

I've done things I would never have imagined doing this week, from newspaper catwalks, to fundraising, and yoga. The mix of activities and the amazing friends I've met will certainly stay firmly in my memory for many years to come. Ivana and Craig have done an amazing job co-ordinating the event, and we've all pushed ourselves to our absolute limmits. I've never laughed so much in 7 days, nor have I truely realised the amazing potential that people can express when they are given trust, compassion and inspiration. I will leave RYLA a new person, no longer fearful of that which I cannot do, but rather exited by the unlimmited potential which exists in me, and everyone else who I come across in this world. I feel more definite in my purpose, and hopeful for a life in which I truely live in accordance with my values.
----A week I will never forget, and the time in my life when I can say....dreams are only one step away, and each day is one step closer to achieving my dreams.

Thanks for such an amazing week!

Zac

One Unforgetable Week

Hi everyone,

I came to this camp expecting to learn about leadership but instead i gained so much more. I've been motivated and inspired by all the people we had the pleasure of listening to and the friendships made at this camp i hope will last for a long time. The early mornings and late nights spent sneaking from room to room giggling, trying hard not to get sent to bed will be etched in my mind for months to come. I think i've eaten enough food to last me a year but im not complaining!

I've learnt that Rotary is just not old people sitting around talking about the good ol' days but of a people of different ages coming together and doing their bit to make the world a better place and giving youth opportunitites to experience things they wouldnt normally be able to without the support of the Rotarians.

Thanks to the leaders(Carrisa,Damo,Stu,Brooke and Kat) for your guidance and support, giving us courage to stand up and share our dreams and desires to people we hardly even knew.They were always there when we needed help and because of that i think alot of us are more confident in public speaking.
We had great teams but i think we all agree that team Brumby dominated throughout the week :P.

To everyone who came, saw and conquered- your all leaders and i know that everyone will go on and do great things. You've left an imprint in my mind and im sure you'll leave your mark on the world.

I'd like to thank all of you for the great experience that i had and for making this a week i will never forget.

To Ivana and Craig, thanks for the jokes and making it easier to get through the week. Im sure none of us would have been able to do it without your little bit of sunshine to get us through the day.

I'd like to encourage anyone thinking of doing RYLA next year, if you dont you'll regret it. The things you'll learn here you wont be able to learn anywhere else........well at least not for free =D.
RY-LA BABY!
TEAM DOMINATION!



Joy.

Team Damo / Chiller T.R.E.A.D.S / De-rail...

Oh yeah...that's funny...haha...thats clever....mmm...haha...i like that...

Laura!

A Leader's Journey

This was my second time at RYLA. However, this time I came back as a leader. For me coming back as a leader has been an incredible journey.
It is a very different experience being a leader as you need to remember that this time it is not about 'me'. This at first was simple enough but as the week progressed this became a challenge for me. There were often activities I found myself jumping in from a participant's point of view and forgetting to observe where my team were, how they were interacting, what strengths and weaknesses were been exposed and how they were progressing.
Being a leader in action has been so much fun, I have loved every minute. Having a team to lead 'Spunky Monkeys', I have learnt when I need to speak up, when to demonstrate, when to guide and when to encourage. My team have been so incredible and I believe I have learnt so much from each of them.
From RYLA this year I will emerge with greater confidence in my abilities, learn to stress less (hopefully-no garentees!!) and regain my thirst for community action and involvement.

Kathryn Charlier

Tamworth RYLArian Rachel finally at the computer!

I cannot believe that I am writing my first blog on the last night at RYLA. How time has flown!

Having had a great trip to Bonny Hills with Sam Sloane, I arrived at the Bonny Hills Conference Centre excited to meet everyone else who had driven from Moree, Narrabri, Inverell, Armidale, Walcha, Nambucca Heads, Taree, Wauchope and Forster to mention a few.

The camp began by being allocated to dorm style rooms, and in my case with six other lovely girls (thank god we have two showers and a double basin with a huge mirror!).

Mornings have started at about 6.30 am to ensure we're all to the dining hall for breakfast at 8 am. Following breakfast each morning, we've ventured to the main hall where the inspiring John Carroll, General Manager of Joyer Consulting Pty Ltd, has facilitated many priceless lectures.

I've spent many hours analysing myself, my values, identifying my life purpose, determining the image I want to portray as well as having learnt how to manage myself professionally and personally. I have developed to an extent beyond which I thought was possible this week, all thanks to the guidance of John Carroll and the support and encouragement of all of the fabulous team leaders and fellow wonderful RYLArians.

I have also gained valuable insight into the inner workings of effective teams and after many conversations on different topics, can now clearly identify the roles of initiator, supporter, objector, whinger and derailer. Not only being able to identify the roles people play when in a team, I now am equipped with techniques of leading a team, motivating members and keeping things on track to achieve the overall goal.

In addition to learning how to set 'SMART' goals and establish a clear sense of direction, Rotarian David Mayne's guidance in the area of perfecting public speaking has possibly been the most beneficial experience of my week. And, I jumped at the opportunity to co-host the RYLA 2009 Gala Dinner, held at the Laurieton United Services Club in front of approximately 200 people. The night was an absolute hit, enjoyed by various Port Macquarie Rotary Clubs, visiting Rotarians, and other special guests.

In addition to the formal learning we've all undertaken, we have enjoyed numerous wild nights where we have made outfits out of newspaper and strutted our stuff down the catwalk to 'I'm to sexy', played trivia, karaoke, had a dance party and games night (including pool where I managed to beat and wow all the fellas!).

I must free up the computer so others can jump on and write their blogs, however before I go, I must say thank you to Tamworth First Light and Tamworth Regional Council for your support in my attendance and participation at RYLA 2009. Thank you for making it possible! See you all soon.

Rachel

RYLA 09

When packing my bags for RYLA, to be honest, I didn't have very high expectations of the week. My thoughts were that if I could gain one positive thing from the week that would make it beneficial.

My reservations about the week were knocked over after day one, when I realised I couldn't have been more wrong. RYLA has been awesome, amazing and overall a great experience.

Nervous would have to explain how I felt when I first arrived, however as the week's progressed I now feel like I don't want to leave.

Throughout the week, I've made some great mates and learnt a lot about myself and my life.

I would like to thank Country Energy and Rotary for making this week possible.

Cheers

Matt Keriacou

Pimpin' RYLA

Hey y'all hehehe

argghghgh where do we start .... a week at ryla .. hmm .. it all started a week ago .. well the build up started way before that but yeah u get my jizz ... my name is Anna Mitchell I'm 19 years old and I live and work in a small country town in north west nsw called Moree. One day at work I was minding my own business and one of our local rotarians popped in and handed me all these brochures and papers i was like hmmm ok ... he explained it and I am now one to never let an opportunity go no matter how small coz you never know where it will take you so yarr...anywho I read the info sheets and got a bit worried , no phones and no keys lol . I signed it but made adjustments about the keys and phone thing, but I was just being a sook and soon realised i was being silly hehe. I was anxious for weeks thinking I was going to some kind of spiritual happy camp hehe but I was WRONG hehehehe ...

bla bla few weeks later I get in my car and drive 6 hours , after a bit of road rage, slow traffic and following a chicken truck all the way down the range kept the tunes pumpin n I got to Port...hehehe

Saturday morning I was actually excited to come to RYLA even though I might not have seemed it when I pulled in to BonnyH but I like everyone was just sussing it all out , the serenity, da peeps and just the energy of the whole thing which was and has been 100% positive and supportive thorughout :D

The games, the talks, the people all just amazing... better than anything you can ever experience crammed into such a short amount of time. You think a week is going to drag and its soo long but it flys , everything was soo relaxed, well organised and creative. I hope that I stay in touch with some people and make life long friendships and the best thing it all started from such a positive thing and we were all in the same boat.

I loved how every talk was different, different topics, emotions, experiences and learning curves. I loved how we all got up infront of strangers and shared our ideas, goals and experiences, its one of the hardest things in life and not many people get a chance to do it in a complete positive atmosphere. (pat on your back) hehehe

Rain rain go away come again another day .. thats all I have to say about that lol .. but everything happens for a reason , we missed out on surfing lessons but we did manage an awsome and intense game of musical chairs hehe

Cabin life was fun again , even tho I fested everywhere, clothes towels make-up shoes EVERYWHERE hehehe but thats all the fun :) and the girls of room 8 you are a mad bunch hehe , loves yous :D thank you for being accomodating and not snoring too much hehehehe

I came to RYLA to leave behind negative energies and people that were in my life back home, I wanted to use RYLA as a vehicle for future direction with a positive aspect and to learn how to set goals, SMART goals and I did so yay .. I came with an open mind and like sponge-bob absorbed every bit , sometimes I was quiet but was just taking it all in and processing it. But had some mad-dwag fun (newspaper fashion parade, dance off, trivia, karaoke,rockclimbing, lazer skirmish just to name a few with some mad-dawg poeple yowey !! :D

My team was pretty cool HUMMER BEEZ bre' hehehe .. we had our ups and our downs but mellowed out and seemed to get the job done, not without our trippin leader STU, most chilled, logical bloke Ive met hehe :)

Umm Im trying to put in everyhting but we were all there so we all know what happened ... the food was yummy Ive never eaten so much in my life, FOOD BABEH ..

Thank you leaders for being so awsome, relaxed and motivating and to Ivana (aka Babushka) and Craig (aka Stanely)hehehe I didnt realise there were such amazing people in the world :)

I think I might sign off now hehe ranting like an old lady at a bingo conference ..

Peace out awsome people of RYLA 2009 BonnyH , Loves yous xoxox
Anna Mitchell (Anna Bottom Bunk room 8) hehehehe :D

Rockin' RYLA

hey dudes,
RYLA 09 was flippin sweet, i have had the best time ever, and am so thankful to everone that made ryla what it is and the experience that it has been for me and all the other guys here. We all came with no idea what to expect and i'm definate that it was the best week EVER! I have especially had fun with all the vast range of activities we have done durin the wk, eg. dressing up in newspaper and going down the runway, the dinner on wednesday night which was organised amazingly and everyone had an awesome time and got dressed up and stuff.. everything we have done this week is awesome and i will remember forever and ever, like the beautiful singers of the group and the not so, the amazing out there and wide range of pesonalities that make everything interesting, the random events and occurences, the fantastic leaders..damo, stu, carissa, brooke and kathryn who are the best, Ivana & Craig who are funny out there dudes that know how to have a good time. John Carroll who was such an inspirational funny talker man. a special mention to the CHILLER T.R.E.A.D.S, the best team ever who were leaded by DAMO, such a great bloke & the best leader ever!!! Funny times at ryla that i'll never forget. Thanks everyone you's are all da bomb!..

thanks,
Kate Bennett

AMAZING

There are no words to describe my experience at RYLA this week. It has been a life time experience, which I will never forget. I am very appreciative to be given this experience.
Heading into the week I was unsure, scared and didn’t know what to expect. To start the week off we opened our minds up and furthered our understanding of ourselves. As a group we had the privilege to have John Carrol to facilitate the week. Some of the stories he told us where truly inspirational and the theory and information he gave us was really useful, it helped me to set goals which I hadn’t recognised previous to this week. I loved Donna Carson’s story, she inspired me to become strong willed and not to let the little things worry me. David Mayne was a great help to me, because I wouldn’t have public spoken. Hence, at the formal dinner I got up in front of nearly 200 people and spoke clearly (without stuttering). My team (Spunky Monkies) were given the responsibility to organise the formal dinner, it was challenging but rewarding, having raised $1595.80.
Throughout this experience I have meet some really amazing people. First my fellow RYLARIANS, they are the most incredible people/ friends I have ever met and I am sure I have made some friends for life. Secondly the leaders, Brooke, Stew, Carissa, Damo, and especially Kat she has shown such great leadership skills and has lead by example. And we can’t forget Craig and Ivana they have put up with us all week.
Thanks to all the guest speakers, I got something out of every session.
Thanks to my sponsor Sunrise Port Macquarie Rotary club I really appreciate the opportunity and I look forward to meeting everyone and personally thanking you all.
Anyway I could write a whole essay/story about my experience at RYLA this week but I would just like to thank everyone.
Thanks
Amy Cubbins

WOW :)

Hi there,

I will just start by saying WOW, what an amazing week. RYLA has been the most life changing and moving experience.
Most of us started the week off feeling very unsure of our expectations of what RYLA was actually about.
I now know what it is about, it is confidence building, discovering things about yourself that you never knew, making friendships that will last a life time and basically has helped me to set goals and stick to them.
I had the privellege of partially MC'ing at the dinner on Wednesday night. For me this was one of the most beneficial parts of the week. I was by no means a confident public speaker but having had this experience my confidence has grown enormously.
Our team 'Spunky Monkeys' had the role of running the dinner. We had to establish a run sheet of all of the events for the evening and also come up with a seating plan.
Throughout the week we not only got to listen to many inspirational speakers, but there were a lot of fun team building activities.
I feel so honoured to have had the chance to be able to attend RYLA and there are not many words that can descirbe the experience that I have had. We are leaving for home tomorrow and the thought of having the leave all of these amazing people is very emotional.

Thank you
Kate Fraser

Future Leaders Of Australia...

.......What an incredible week!!!

With all the happenings of the week with John Carroll, David Maine, Ivana, Craig & More telling us what they have been through and the experiences they have learn, what to expect and what will help us through our careers. As well as all the parties and games we played at night it's going to be hard to go back home!

The best experience i had at RYLA would have to be with our team getting the Rotary Dinner organised, we all put our heads together worked as a team to organise the nights proceedings which was a great success! Thanks to Amy, Dave, Jenna, Kate, Matt, Rachie & Spunky Monkeys leader Kathryn.

So many memories to write down its hard to fit it all into a few paragraphs let alone even write down the way i feel about this fabulous experience that i have had with so many amazing people i will have for friends for many many years to come!

Cheers guys & girls cant wait till we meet up again!
Richard Lock

RYLA's back with a Brand New Mission!!!

Hi guys and gals,

Well....Let's see, RYLA '09....only one word could describe such an event... INCREDIBLE!!

For me the best bit of RYLA '09 was learning how to discover myself and the realisation that I didn't really know who I was...but through some soul searching (thanks to John Carrol) I am well on my way to understanding myself.

I have met some people that I'm sure are going to be friends for life!! There is really not much else to say, except thank you for the experience!! Big thanks to Craig and Ivana (aka Stanely and Baboushka), all the team leaders, but especially my fellow RYLArians.

But before I go I want to give a special thanks to Team Brumby!! Especially our fearless leader Carissa. (Thanks for the 2IC status) You're awesome, the Brumbys are awesome and all the other RYLAarians are awesome.
I guess the general theme is RYLA is AWESOME....

Peace Out....Trent

What A Week!!!

When leaving for RYLA a week ago all I felt was fear...I didn't have many expectations, mostly due to the fact that I didn't really know what RYLA was all about!! It's now a week later and I don't want to leave!!

This has been one of the most enjoyable weeks of my life!! I have learnt so many new things...from public speaking skills, resume skills and "dressing to impress"...most importantly I have learnt new things about myself...I have pushed myself to new limits and discovered that I'm not the person I think I am...I have so much more to achieve in my life and I know that the skills I have learnt here will help me achieve anything I want!!!

I would like to thank Ivana and Craig for all their hard work!!! To John, Julie, David, Kate and all our other guest speakers you have given me so much to think about...thank you for making me challange myself!!

To all the awesome friends I have made during the week...you guys are amazing...I have never in my life been involved in a group wher 40 people have bonded so completely so quickly!! You are all amazing and I hope that the friendships we formed this week continue through our lives!!

Thanks Everyone!!

Ez xoxox

From the guy in the speedo's!

Well it is the last night and my first blog, but i have just Dodged that last of dinner to write this. I can really not believe how amazing this week has been. I have fallen in love with nearly everyone here and am sure i am going to cry like a little girl when we have to leave tomorrow. Ever since arriving I have been getting to know people and I have never expected to make so many friends let alone have such a life changing experience. In case you don't know me, I am the goose of the group, but everyone has been so accepting of my personality. Having said this, everyone with whom I have gone through this experience with feel more like family then Friend's.

I would just like to thank everyone who gave me the opportunity to come and enjoy such an extraordinary week.

Thanks
Jack Woods

BRUMBIES!!!

TEAM BRUMBIES RYLA RAP

Alright STOP.. Communicate and listen
RYLA's back with a brand new mission
New friendships, grabbed a hold of me tightly
flowing to the lunchroom daily and nightly
Saturday STOP.. YO! i dont think so
Reaching new heights, as we grow
To the extreme we rock the mic like vandals
light up the stage like a barbie and ken doll
CHANCE! To be the speaker who blooms
Ain't no chance of a girl in your dorm room
RY-LA Baby RY-LA Baby

GO TEAM BRUMBIES



RYLA has been the most amazing experience imagineable.
i had no idea what i was getting myself into, and upon arrival had feelings of anxiety and fear as i approached the venue, after meeting 40 of the most friendly, fun, encouraging and supportive people, i knew it was going to be a spectacular week..
Although the rain came down for the majority of the week, that didn't stop us. We were lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to revieve motivational and at times quite moving talks from the AWSOME John Carrol and many other great speakers.
i have grown so much in just a matter of days, public speaking, teamwork skills, and getting to know and appreciate myself.
Dance offs, kareoke, epic games, newspaper runway modelling, hip hop dancing, yoga.... just a small sample of our wicked activities- Could ask for anything more!!

Have made 40 friends i will NEVER forget,, cant wait for the RYLA reunion.

Love
Jess McMullen xxx

What a fantastic week

hello everyone,
i would just like to say that this has been an inspirational week for me, with lots of new challanges and activities that i usually wouldnt experience in the real world. I have learnt an incredible lot here and hope to use all my new experiences in my everyday life. The friends and people that ive met here are amazing and will stay with me for a longtime. Also a thanks goes out there to all the group leaders, john caroll, ivana and craig who did an awsome job, they are great people.

RYLA

howdy partner,
What i would like to say about ryla is that, when i signed up and first came, i was not very interested and had the wrong attitude, but i discovered that this course supplies a range of lectures which WILL benfit your life and make you think different about situations. Basically this course has open my eyes.

RYLA 09

Day 1: Get to know forty awesome people. Days 2 through 7: Listen to some hugely inspirational speakers, eat great food, partake in team building excersises like rock climbing, play crazy games, host a huge dinner for local Rotary members and generally laugh your head off with with a group of legends-and thats just the start. Thanks to my local Rotary club and my boss for sponsoring me, and to everyone who helped convince me to come, best decision I've ever made. Think of it as an all expenses paid holiday having a blast, building confidence and making life long friends.

Carl Hurford.

RY - LA BABY

What a week. I have had the best week meeting new people and opening myself up to things I never thought I would have - thanks to John Caroll and fellow speakers. After the initial part of meeting everyone things just opened up, with conversations flowing after just a few hours. From there I never turned back making the most of the week, going through the best aspects of life and what it meant to me. Coming to RYLA I really wanted to work on a couple of things, especially public speaking and communication, my life goals and leadership skills - and now I have accomplished them.

As the week comes to an end I'd like to thank. Country Energy who sponsored me, our leaders Ivana, Craig, Brooke, Stu, Damo, Kathyrn, and especially Carissa who was just awesome, without you my week wouldn't have been the same. The biggest thanks this week goes to my fellow RYLArians you are just awesome and I would truly like to have you all as friends for a very long time.

Cheers Caleb Mainey

wow....what a week!

It's day 7 and it's nearly the end of the week, i've had an awesome experience and i would fully recommend it to anyone. i was really nervous about coming but i'm glad i did. we have done so many things i haven't done in years and things i never thought i would. all the people have been really nice and very supportive,i now know there's more to life besides working all the time. so a BIG THANKYOU to R.Y.L.A , I feel like i have a life again!
micaela paul-r.y.l.a 09!

leadership

it was great to see how well the leaders used their creative juices to deal with suprise situations (like the rain)

RYLA 09

Hello world,

Wow! What can I say? I had no expectations when I came to RYLA. I was nervous arriving at the camp - but luckily I was met straight away with smiling faces and 40 other nervous RYLArians.

As everyone began to get to know each other we realised just how diverse we all are - there are people here from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and everyone is at very different stages of their lives, all with differing goals. The presenters here have challenged us in every aspect of our thinking. We are invited to delve into our somewhat subconscious thoughts and analyse our life purpose, our values and the way we see, and work with, the world around us. It has been deceptively challenging and I have loved every minute of it. I never imagined this week could be so beneficial as I already knew exactly what I want to do with my life before I came here. The presenters relate easily to people of our age and our days have been filled with fun and excitement! We have been presented with a variety of different perspectives - causing us all to think, evaluate and challenge ourselves and more importantly the status quo. I have learnt how to be a become a better leader, how to get the most out of teamwork and the amazing things life has to offer us! It has been an incredibly motivating experience.

The people you meet are so much fun to be with! The week has been non-stop laughter! Late nights, dance parties, sneaky cabin parties and lollie feasts! We've had karaoke nights, newspaper fashion shows, and I discovered possibly the best pictionary players on the planet! We had a great leader in Damo - he is so much fun! And...to top it all off we created our very own casino! It is sad to think the week is over but no doubt we will stay in contact and we are already planning the reunion! I will never forget the people I have met, the jokes we have shared, and the fun times we've had. I have had one of the best weeks of my life and I feel truly grateful to have been given this opportunity. I strongly recommend this to anyone anywhere - its an awesome opportunity not to be missed! We had nothing to lose and have gained an invaluable amount. It has been so exciting!!

I loved RYLA 09!!!!!!


Laura!

WOW

This week has shown me so much about myself and what I am capable of doing with my life!!!

The week has come to an end...

7 days.. New friends.. New ideas..
RYLA has given me so much more confidence and perspective. I feel like I am leaving with a more positive outlook on life. I have met and heard some wonderful speakers and made some great friends. Karaoke night was my favourite evening activity, along with chilling out with the girls in my room. I’m already looking forward to the reunion!
Love Sam Sloane

Awesomeness!

Well I wish I could say that the weather had been all sunshine and rainbows - but no. Mother nature tried to have her revenge and ruin our week, but fear not! Our RYLA leaders came up with some great indoor activities to pass the time and that also related to teamwork.

The time has passed so quickly and it has been an amazing experience. On the first day the boys and girls seperated into groups but amazingly by the second day everyone began clicking with each other and soon acted (some times immaturely - all in good fun) like we had been friends for years.

The experience has really helped me gain more confidence especially when it comes to public speaking, meet new people and made me aware of the actions of both myself and others. I defiantly recommend the program to those who are wishing to improve in confidence and leadership.

The group activities were quite interesting especially when we got tied together at the wrist and skin to a random RYLAIAN. The basketball and soccer was totally awesome and let's not forget getting up at some ungodly hour to go for a morning run. Everyone has been so supporting and I hope that we are able to fullfill our wishes and actually meet up weeks later to catch up.

GO TEAM CHILLER TREADS!!

- Abby A.

RYLA creates potential

When I first heard about RYLA I thought it would be full of exceptional people ("me a mear mortal amung the immortal?") with fully developed skills and characters, but the people here are everyday people with real weaknesses. I would have to say over the duration of the week I found that these ordinary people begin to shine, and the only thing different about them and the rest of the world is attitude and a little encouragement from our leaders.

The food was great but I swear it created alot of gas... causing my cabin to smell distinctly...

RYLA helped me to become the leader that I am, Great speakers, Great environment, Great friends, Great food, Amazing leaders and Good fun.

Aidan

OH WHAT FUN!!

WOW, what a time i have had at ryla 09 its been great i have done things i never thought i would do i have met some amazing people i have certainly learnt things i didnt think i would. I learnt how to be a better person. the first few days of the camp was pertty wet and horrible but we dealt with it as best we could and when the sun did come out we made the most of it, it was great. the think i learnt the most was how to be a better public speaker and how to keep the nervous away. if i ever get the opportunity to do something like this again i would love to do it again or something like it. The group activities was great but i was hoping for some more physical activity but what we did great. thanks for giving me the oppunity to do ryla '09' it was awsome,enjoyable.

Rebecca

Best Experience Ever!

RYLA '09 for me has been an excellent experience for me as it has opened my eyes to something I would never have thought possible. I now have a completely different outlook on my life and of those around me. I have made a lot of friends here and the way I feel will only progress my life towards something greater. Before RYLA '09 I could never have thought I could stand up in front of a crowd and publicly speak. Everyone here has been so supportive and the networks and friendships we have all made I'm sure we'll never forget. I would recommend this opportunity for anyone and as I know I will never regret coming here.

Grant B.

RYLA 2009 was AWESOME

I have found RYLA 2009 AWESOME because so much came out of it. There was such a wide variety of topics, all of which are completely relevant to our lives now and will be in the future. One thing I have set a goal to improve has been public presentation skills, and in the past 7 days my confidence in this area has grown massively. Thanking ever so much my supporting Rotary Club and the other organisers and presenters during this event.

Anna L :) :) :)

What a Week!

Well, it's day 7 and it's been a massive week of fun, learning and making friends. Sharing this experience with the other Rylarians has enabled us to form some really close friendships in a short amount of time. I remember on the second day we were talking and sharing parts of our lives that we normally keep fairly private and someone reminded us that we'd only known each other for 36 hours. We were all amazed as we felt like we'd known each other for years! The teamwork exercises showed us all how to cooperate better. The public speaking I found really helpful and it enabled me to challenge myself to actually speak at the Gala dinner and I conquered my nerves. The most valuable thing that I will take from this week is some extra confidence. I've done things this week that I would never do with people that I've only just met. RYLA creates this really supportive environment where nobody is judging you because we're all in the same boat. I would recommend attending RYLA to anyone who is within the age groups. It was fantastic! So much so that I almost don't want to leave!

Jenna Lievore

BEST TIME EVER!!!

Coming to ryla was something that I didn't see myself doing, though looking back now I would have kicked myself for not coming because the last 7 days have been so insperational, educational and life changing. All teens should attend this leadership camp. :)

LANCE

Time flies when you're having fun!

Hi All,
This is Emily reporting for the first time from RYLA 9650! Well it’s Day 5 and the rain continues. Lucky for us the leaders have plenty of inside activities planned so any form of cabin fever is prevented. It’s been a wonderful week so far, so much to learn in such little time! We have a wonderful diverse group of people here. It is hard to believe that so many close bonds have been made and it’s only been 5 days! I am proud to say I’m in Team ‘Chiller T.R.E.A.D’ and we’re currently leading the scoreboard! We’re being led by a fantastic bloke, Damo, who is willing to have plenty of fun but pulls us into line we our teamwork gets too ‘derailed’ by other silly chit chat! Excitement is brewing for the dinner tonight. I think everyone is looking forward to some outside contact and the chance to show off all their new skills. I’m definitely looking forward to the next few days, and trying not to think about returning to work! Until next time, Em Southwell.

Team Hummer Bees!!

Hi There Stu here!!
My fantastic team, the HUMMER BEEZ, led tonights entertainment for the RYLArians.
The BEEZ consist of Breeanna Taylor, Christina Blair, Mandie Young, Anna Mitchell, Jack Woods, Aiden Sinclair and finally Matt Keriacou.
The team led a Karaoke night involving a song from each of the 5ive teams followed by some individual efforts. Laura Bereicua was the standout star with her preformance of "Fever", in Buble style. Very closely followed by Joy Teluca on the acoustic guitar, whose performance also received a standing ovation.
Highlights of the night were Matt Keriacou's botched back flip wich resulted in a very large egg on his head as he staggered back to finish his tune!!
Terry Crosley judged the night in the fashion of Red Symonds, tight!
The team did brilliantly to organise the night as I had very little input and was so proud of the event they put on. It has definitely set a benchmark for the rest of the teams to beat with their individual nights.
Thank you to Jack for his MC'ing assisted by Breeanna, who before this afternoon had not been in front of the group, your confidence is blossoming!! Breeanna also put in a mile of work preparing lyrics for RYLArians.
Mandie, thanlkyou for your organisational skills, solo performance and assistance. Aidan was instrumental in the early organisation of the night and Anna assisted with the presenting and dropped a few solo notes in herself during our groups song. Christina Blair...thanks for the tech support, and you "Eye of the tiger" performance. Very good! Matt you were there all the way through and shared my nerves at the start of the night, heart rate 220 b.p.m!!
The rain is still falling as our team work skills and confidence is lifting. Looking forward to the rest of the week, it is going so fast.. Ok time for Stu to get some shut eye. And yes I will keep my day job after my self admitted - terrible singing. Ha ha! Over and Out.

wet wet wet yet...

RYLA 2009 has to be the wettest in history, even so, the constant rain has not dampened spirits. This group insist on being positive and enthusiastic despite the fact that many outdoor activities have had to be cancelled. You are all amazing people! It is only day three and already most have tackled the microhone challenge and have presented to the group... takes courage and confidence. The entertainment provided by each team has been first class. I am so lucky to be a part of this wonderful experience. Ivana

Well here we are at RYLA 2009 with a mostly dry day at Bonny Hills. Our team of participants have already bonded well and have really taken on board the lessons that John Carroll has already delivered.

The teams have now worked on their team branding and logo exercise and will be presenting them to the rest of the group tonight.

The rest of the week promises to be full of much learning and fun.

Regards,
Craig

Welcome to RYLA 2009

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) are a recognition programme where local Rotary Clubs and employers select young people who currently hold leadership positions or have shown potential to lead, either within the community or at work. RYLA provides an opportunity to participate in a challenging week-long residential conference where you will get to:

- Exchange ideas with like-minded people in a supportive atmosphere;
- Discover ways to become a better role model;
- Develop close rapport with your local Rotary Club.

In addition to the many indoor programmes, there are plenty of outdoor activities to help motivate and develop effective team work, which also assists in the development of greater interpersonal skills.

So, sit back, participate and take all that you can from your RYLA experience.

This Blog is for all participants in RYLA 2009 to make comments about their experiences at RYLA and we encourage family and friends and the sponsoring Rotary Clubs to view the blogs each day as a way of being kept informed as to what each participant has been learning and doing.