Youth Exchange Experience

Rotary is an organization for all age, Jesse Tam from Seattle suggests seeking an opportunity to learn about culture and travel with youth exchange. Clubs can hosts a student for the school year or summer exchanges.  Below is an article from Rotary Voices blog...

Reblog  Rotary Voices  A larger than life youth exchange experience

It would be impossible to pick a favourite memory from my exchange in Germany due to the sheer number of opportunities I had and dreams I lived. From sailing in the Baltic Sea, to walking in the North Sea, to swimming in the Mediterranean, there are simply too many experiences to pick a favourite.

On the one hand, I felt so incredibly small when I realized where I was sitting and with whom I was sitting; as I was just a boy from Ontario who suddenly found himself halfway across the world, with people who would maybe only have a one in a billion chance of meeting together in any other circumstance. And yet, on the other hand I had never felt so large in comparison to the vastness of the world, and the borders as I had pictured them. The world suddenly felt like it had shrunk, and that there was nowhere that was out of my reach anymore.

Birthday on a beach 
One of the many stories that I do love to share, however, was when I was celebrating my 18th birthday during our year-end European Tour. All the exchange students had gathered on the beach at night to watch the stars in the little town of Portofino, Italy, and eventually I found myself sitting back to back on a rock with a Brazilian student, a Russian student, and a Taiwanese student. In all of my life, no other moment has ever made me feel so paradoxical as that night.

Larger than life
If I had to try to make a metaphor that could explain the experience, I would say that it gave me a feeling of being “Larger than Life” while still humbling me with the realization of the sheer amount of opportunity that had been given to me by the kindness of others; as without everyone back home in the Rotary club supporting me, I could have only dreamed of being where I was that night.

Out of all my life experiences, I would say that my exchange year played a fundamental role in forming and shaping the person I am today. It has shaped my world view; given me the courage to break out of my shell; and has given me the experience of living in an interconnected and continually shrinking world.

It has also inspired me to seek an international career, as I am currently studying in International Affairs and Policy due to the inspiration I received from my exchange year to continue living an international lifestyle.

Doing Good In The World

Doing Good in the World, join or volunteer in a service organization Jesse Tam Nepal to Bellevue, Seattle Gates Foundation,education, clean water...We make new resolutions each year and the Rotary Foundation celebrates 100 years with displaying their float at the Rose Parade titled Doing Good in the World 2017. Learn more about the committee and organization in promoting projects to serve humanity in our community and worldwide.

Read about the 2017 float committee and contributions http://www.rotaryfloat

 Winner of the 2017 PRINCESSES’ TROPHY 

Most beautiful float 35’ and under

2017 Float
Doing Good in the World

The 2017 Float promotes and celebrates the 100 years of The Rotary Foundation. The Foundation empowers Rotarians to travel throughout the world and create and complete projects which serve people in need in six areas of focus which are: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies.  The spectacular and colorful dragon is clearly a world traveler carrying luggage decorated with the six symbols of the areas of focus.  The Dragon also is proudly wearing a necklace with a medallion marked 100 for the 100 years of service.

Stay in touch  http://rotaryfriendship.blogspot.com/  Jesse

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Seattle's Bill and Melinda Gates were selected to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom to be presented at the White House November 22.  President Barack Obama named 21 recipients for the nation's highest civilian honor.

The Gateses are among recipients named by the president in honoring “individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”  The list includes honorees as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Robert De Niro, Ellen DeGeneres, Frank Gehry, Tom Hanks, Michael Jordan, Robert Redford, Bruce Springsteen, Vin Scully, Newt Minnow, Eloise Cobell and Diana Ross.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation manages an endowment fund worth nearly $40 billion.  It has invested $36 billion in projects to fight polio, malaria and tuberculosis and global health and education initiatives.  

"Our Global Policy & Advocacy Program has teams dedicated to advocacy, policy analysis and government relations, as well as strengthening philanthropic partnerships and the charitable sector in the United States and overseas.  In addition to the policy and advocacy staff at our Seattle headquarters and in Washington, D.C., we have a European and Middle East office based in London, and country offices in China, India, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa"

Join the Fight to End Polio

Join the fight to end polio - Jesse Tam, events are held across the world. Bellevue and Seattle will celebrate this year's event at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center on October 27 with fellow rotarians and the community.  World Polio Day is October 24.

"Representatives from UNICEF USA, Rotary International, and Congressman Jim McDermott will join The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a lively conversation about up-to-the-minute successes in the fight against polio and the lessons they hold about the innovation, collaboration, and the will needed to end polio forever.

Please join us at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center, 440 5th Ave N, Seattle, on Thursday, October 27, from 5:30-7:30PM. This event is FREE! Doors open at 5:30PM; program starts at 6:00PM."

Note: World Polio Day is on October 24. This year’s event is being held a few days later on October 27.

Invitation to a World Polio Day Event, October 27 http://bit.ly/2e0MBIZ  via @rotaryBellevue

ShelterBox Relief to Haiti

ShelterBox Relief post  Jesse Bellevue.  ShelterBox supplies and volunteer team are sent to help with those affected by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. The October 4th storm left hundreds dead and many homeless. Rotary action group is helping to collect donations for relief in Haiti and the Bahamas. The funds will be used to replace the roofs of 1,000 homes and provide water filtration systems. 

"The Category 4 storm affected an estimated 330,000 people in Haiti, including 6,400 who were moved to temporary shelters. Extensive damage to main bridges and other transportation networks have left some areas cut off and vulnerable. Torrential rains have resulted in flooding and landslides. And contaminated water supplies threaten to lead to a surge in cholera cases and other waterborne illnesses.

A ShelterBox response team of volunteers from Canada, England, New Zealand, and the United States traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, last week to assess the damage and decide how best to help people. Shelter Box, an independent charity, is Rotary's project partner for disaster relief.

Working with Rotary members, government authorities, and other relief agencies, ShelterBox is focusing on the cholera outbreak in the southern region of the island and emergency shelter. A shipment of ShelterBox supplies arrived in Les Cayes, in the south of Haiti, on Wednesday, which likely will be used to help health professionals screen and treat cholera victims."   https://www.rotary.org/en/news-media/rotary-and-shelterbox-ground-haiti

Thanks for reading, http://rotaryfriendship.blogspot.com/ 

 follow my blog stay connected with Jesse   http://bit.ly/1opkxyz

Centennial Year for Rotary Foundation

Centennial Year for Rotary Foundation,  Jesse Tam

Rotary Foundation turns 100 this year 2016-2017.   How will your club and organization celebrate this special Centennial year?  Rotary members changing lives and improving communities all over the world.  It's definitely worth celebrating the work of members thousands of projects to provide clean water, fight disease, promote peace, provide basic education and grow local economies.  The fight to eradicate polio worldwide continues.

Here are just a few ways you can join in and commemorate this Centennial Year:

• Plan a special Rotary Day and invite the community to participate. It can be anything from a concert to  a simple birthday party with a giant cake in the shape of the Rotary wheel of course.
• Hold a fundraiser in your community to support a Foundation grant project, the Rotary Peace Centers, or PolioPlus.
• Organize or participate in a global grant or district grant project.
• Promote your club or district projects that are funded by the Foundation.
• Dedicate some club meetings to Rotary Foundation topics.
• Challenge members to increase your club’s contributions to the Foundation.

Here's to another year of successful Rotary  projects and volunteering in your local community and across the global.  Thanks for visiting Jesse Tam stay connected. "Start with Rotary..."

Enjoy An Old Fashion Picnic

August is a busy month as we make plans for family vacations and gearing up for back to school.  Join Rotary friends and families on Sunday, August 28th from 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM, Aubrey Davis Park, 72 Ave SE and SE 22nd Mercer Island.

Old Fashion Picnic in the park with Rotary District 5030.  Sign up and register for this free event.  It will be a great event to meet new friends and exchange ideas, meet new members and bring the kids and relax.

• 
• 
  Kid activities- 
  Free Face Painting, Balloon Animals, sack races, tug-of-war, hula hoops, and bubble station. The park also has a great playground to help keep the kids entertained.

• 
  

Food - 
Plan to pack a picnic lunch. We will provide some light snacks and beverages, but not enough to count as a meal. There will be some BBQs available, so you can bring items to throw on the grill. (We provide the briquettes, and you do the rest). Note: Public parks prohibit alcoholic beverages.

Directions-
Aubrey Davis Park 72nd Ave SE and SE 22nd Mercer Island
The location is conveniently located off I-90 on Mercer Island. Aubrey Davis Park is on the Lid  reserved the picnic shelter. There are plenty of free parking spaces.

Thanks for visiting Jesse, stay connected and learn more about rotary 

Rotary Friendship - Jesse Tam: Time to Pass the Gavel

Rotary Friendship - Jesse Tam: Time to Pass the Gavel: Time to Pass the Gavel or Rotating the Wheels to begin the next Rotary year.   Jesse Tam , Dragon Fest as part of Seafair celebration was he...

Time to Pass the Gavel

Time to Pass the Gavel or Rotating the Wheels to begin the next Rotary year.  Jesse Tam, Dragon Fest as part of Seafair celebration was held last weekend at the Seattle Chinatown International District. The festivities on July 16 - 17 included the Chinese Drill Team, music, lion and dragon dance, food vendors, display tables, games, bouncy toys and activities for families and all ages.

This year the Seattle International District Club set up a table to share their Rotary stories in the community, vocational services and various international projects. The weather was perfect for the outdoor gathering with volunteers and an opportunity to reconnect.  If you are interested in hearing more about the organization, club meetings are held every Thursday from 11:30 to 12:30 in the International District.  It's a diverse group of members with an interesting history and stories.

Come visit and learn how Rotary began with projects for youth, student exchange, volunteer opportunities and giving back to our local communities.  Pass the Gavel to our next group of leaders with more adventures and stories to come.

Rotary Leadership and Year Ahead, Jesse

Rotary Leadership and Year Ahead - Jesse Tam Greetings from Seattle, Bellevue and the Northwest. What a year, International Convention in Korea and the start of a new Rotary year for incoming presidents on July 1st. Our local clubs are selecting leaders and future projects to participate and focus with setting goals for fund raising.  June is when we 'turn the wheel, pass the gavel, roast the current leadership or celebrate the work club's have achieved.

Set the standards for your clubs and raise the bar a bit more each year.  You will be amazed what can be accomplished with small steps and teamwork. This year rotary is using all means of social media to spread the word and projects in our communities.  Giving back to our local schools and families, feeding those in need, cleaning up our parks, vocational and international projects. 

 There are so many things to be involved by volunteering or with a pledge for donation.  Enjoy the networking and July is just around the corner.