Successful Recruiting of Outbound Students Presented by Gary D. Aguren of the Willowbrook Rotary Club District 5890 SCRYE Winter Conference February 7, 2009 Houston, Texas

Three Successful Methods of Recruiting l Presentations directly to foreign language students at high schools l messages to high school foreign language department chairs l Packets of information delivered to foreign language department chairs (enough packets so that each teacher can have one)

What has been the success of the club since 2005? Recruiting Period Long-term Students Recruited Short-term Students Recruited Total Students Recruited Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall = = 1027

What are the secrets to success? A committee of three dedicated members of the Willowbrook Rotary Club, District 5890, Houston, Texas The development of a formula The division of labor

What is the formula for success? l Talking directly to foreign language students in high schools l Sending messages to and delivering packets of documents and posters to foreign language department chairpersons in 15 high schools in 4 school districts l Developing and using recruiting tools l Holding informative parent/student evening presentations at appropriate locations

How did we get into the high schools? l The first high school – 2005 l The second high school – 2007 l The third high school l Two high schools in a different school district – 2008 Started at the top- Supt. of Schools Meeting with Supt. and top 5 subordinates Presentation to curriculum coordinators and directors of instruction – about 70 key people Presentation to 150 high school counselors Invitation from two high schools

What do we do when we go to a high school? l Speak from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to anywhere from 600 to 900 foreign language students l Where – teaching theater or auditorium l Who invites us – generally the chairperson of the foreign language department

What is the format of our presentation? l Show the RYE video, “Youth Exchange: The Adventure of a Lifetime!” l Power Point presentation on “What is Rotary?” and “What is Rotary Youth Exchange?” (17-20 minutes) l Five minute talk by former short-term outbound student l Five minute talk by current inbound student l Ten minute talk by former long-term outbound student l Give “student packet” of documents to each interested student as he or she exits the auditorium

What is our division of labor? l Lois Alberts: Send message to foreign language department chairpersons Work with interested schools to schedule our presentations l Anais Watsky – have copies made of all documents sent to schools and taken with us to the presentations l Gary Aguren – contact and schedule former outbound speakers and current inbound speakers l Gary Aguren and Anais Watsky - give Power Point presentations at schools

Equipment required l Laptop l Digital projector l Screen (always furnished by venue) l External speakers l DVD containing video l Power Point presentation l Device to remotely control slides

Our presentation schedule for the fall of 2008 l Oct. 20 – Klein High School l Oct. 21 – Interact Club at Klein Oak H. S. l Oct. 23 – Klein Collins High School l Oct. 23 – First parent/student night l Oct. 28 – Klein Oak High School l Oct. 30 – Cypress Ridge High School l Nov. 3 - Second parent/student night l Nov. 5 - Cypress Lakes High School l Nov. 12 – Third parent/student night

Three Successful Methods of Recruiting l Presentations directly to foreign language students at high schools l message to foreign language department chairpersons l Packets of information delivered to foreign language department chairs (enough packets so that each teacher can have one)

message to foreign language department chairperson l Link to letter Link to letter

Packets delivered to foreign language department chairs l A RYE poster for each teacher A RYE poster for each teacher l A flyer announcing the next parent/student night meeting A flyer announcing the next parent/student night meeting l A copy of the “Student Packet” for each teacher of foreign language A copy of the “Student Packet” for each teacher of foreign language l A copy of a monthly report letter from a current outbound

Folder for foreign language department chairs

RI RYE Brochure

The parent/student evening meetings l The same agenda as the presentations to students at high schools l Venue l Refreshments l Dress code l Sign in form l Host family recommendation form

Club Interviews l Venue - Nice office with lobby, conference room, and other offices for private conferences and multitasking of the interview process l Schedule applicants at 30 minute intervals l List of questions to be asked l Scoring system developed by Ed Charlesworth, clinical psychologist

Successful Recruiting of Outbound Students Conclusion