1. Welcome to wonderful world of Lions Youth of the Year!
YOTY Is a project of the Lions Clubs of MD 201 and is proudly supported by NAB
YOTY began in 1964 to give our young people a positive and practical experience at the stage of life where they are entering adulthood.
Each year we have around 2000 young people enter the Program, which testifies to the esteem in which it is held.
YOTY is a great opportunity for our young people to improve themselves.
“You just can’t lose” – is the motto of YOTY – and we believe it is a fact!
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“You just can’t lose”

2. Look at who has been a YOTY entrant!
(remember that partisan politics
shall not be debated! )
We are not claiming we that created a PM - but we have contributed to the development of one!
Over the years, there have been many famous people who have entered the Program, not all of them were national champions, but just MAYBE we contributed at the beginning of their life journey.
One thing is for sure, there are people, like our current PM, who are very happy to tell us they were in YOTY.
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3. This presentation will show you …
The benefits of the Program for our young people
The benefits of the Program for your Lions Club
What the Program involves
What to do next ……………………..
The slides in this presentation have simple aims:
We want to show the benefits for the young people who enter the Program
We want YOUR club to be involved and reap the benefits that come from this involvement, because without Club involvement, the Program cannot succeed
And we will show you what is involved when you take on the Program
So, what do we do next? …
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4. from a firm foundation …
NATIONAL FINAL
STATE FINAL
DISTRICT FINAL
ZONE / REGION FINAL
The Program can be likened to a pyramid:-
Without a strong base, the remainder of the pyramid will crumble and fall
Without strong club support, the Youth of the Year cannot survive
In many ways, the Club Final is the most important stage of the Program.
We cannot reach the peak without first having a strong base.
I HAVE A CHALLENGE FOR YOUR CLUB:
In 2007/08 we had around 2000 young people enter the Program. These entrants came through about 550 Lions Club, which is only 40% of the total number of clubs in MD201.
Just think about it - if we could increase this participation to 80% of all clubs, that would give over 4000 young Australians a chance to be involved in the Program.
The purpose of this presentation is to encourage more clubs to join in and show there are benefits for Lions as well
So … we must begin from a firm foundation ….
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CLUB FINAL
from a firm foundation …

5. Aims of YOTY TO FOSTER, ENCOURAGE AND DEVELOP: Leadership Personality
Citizenship qualities
Sportsmanship
Cultural appreciation
Public speaking
The aims of the Program are simple and clear
Read them out loud
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6. Why should my Club participate?
Opportunities
Why should my Club participate?
Good for young people
Good for Lions Club
OK, so – what are the opportunities and why should my Lions Club participate?
The experience gained from the Program is GOOD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
It gives them a valuable experience at:
an interview
public speaking
And it shows the adults in the community care.
The experience is also GOOD FOR YOUR LIONS CLUB
This is because the Program exposes the club to:
Young people
Get a breath if the infectious enthusiasm of youth!
Their parents
They are the perfect age to be Lions - so treat them right!
Your community
It will lift your profile - invite other organisations and people to the club final
(invite the local Probus Club, Senior Cits, the school community – think about who is out there and would enjoy listening to the young people speak!)
Your schools
A chance to create a valuable link between Lions and the schools.
YOTY will create a link and an introduction for other Lions projects
like Leos, YE, Young Leaders in Service – and possibly more!!)
The limit is only set by your imagination
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7. What does YOTY involve? Appointing judges Interviews
Recruiting entrants
approach schools
Appointing judges
prominent people who know about young people
Interviews
Afternoon or evening
Public speaking function
Club meeting or special event
What does YOTY involve?
Basically there are 4 steps in the process:
RECRUIT ENTRANTS
Talk to the High School they go to ‑ there WILL be interested teachers
Don't stop with the first knockback ‑ try the Principal, then the Year 11 or 12 coordinator, then the Senior English teacher ‑ persist.
Try the Student councillors – they are normally the senior student leaders
APPOINT JUDGES
Judges should be people who come from a wide cross section of the community
Judges should have a keen interest in young people and are, or recently have been, involved with young people through work, community organisations etc.
Gender balance is preferred, but competence is more important
Avoid more than one person from any profession or organisation. This give a better balance on the panel.
TALK TO CONTESTANTS AND THEIR PARENTS
Arrange to visit them at home so that you can explain the Program to them in some detail.
Be prepared to answer any Questions, but if you don’t know the answer, tell them you will find out and get back. This is important – don’t guess.
ARRANGE THE INTERVIEWS
Interviews can be held at a time and place at the Club’s discretion.
(some have a separate evening, weekend afternoon, or on the afternoon of the Public Speaking event.)
Each interview should last at least 30 minutes.
You must allow up to 40 minutes will be required for each “turnaround” between interviews.
ARRANGE THE PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNCTION
This can be a normal Club dinner meeting, or it can be a special function. Some clubs run a supper meeting, or maybe a Sunday afternoon function etc rather than a full club meeting.
You must remember that often the other requirements of a regular Lions meeting are of no interest to non-Lions and just make the event too long and boring for them.
We MUST consider the visitors and make a good impression of Lions.
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8. Recruiting entrants Small town? No school? Inner suburb?
Can be difficult BUT……..
It CAN be done!!!
Small town? No school?
Your young still go to school
Inner suburb?
Get to the schools
Recruiting young people to enter the Program can be the hardest part
HERE ARE SOME TIPS
The key to getting entrants is PERSISTANCE
VISIT schools and make an appointment to talk to the appropriate staff members
DON’T just post information and expect a response. This seldom gets any response.
ASK to speak to the Principal – his/her support is vital
Ask the Principal to direct you to the appropriate teacher.
It may be an English teacher, Year Level Coordinator, Debating teacher
– but there will be SOMEONE
IF YOU ARE FROM A SMALL TOWN
Don’t be discouraged
Many State and National winners have come from small towns
Talk to the young people in the area.
Try the Scouts & Guides. Maybe it will help a member towards a badge or award
Approach other community clubs – many football & netball, cricket, tennis clubs are clubs are aware of the personal development of the members these days.
IF YOU ARE FROM AN INNER SUBURB??
The same applies. Some suburbs don’t have secondary schools,
- but there WILL be one not too far away
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9. What’s the next step? Appoint a YOTY Chairperson Adopt the Project
Must have full Club support
Appoint a YOTY Chairperson
A Lion who is KEEN to be involved
At this stage you are now convinced – what happens next ….
ADOPT THE PROJECT
Make sure the CLUB adopts the project.
The YOTY Chairperson will do most of the work in the lead up to the events,
BUT he/she must have the FULL support of the Club Presidents, Board and all members.
The Chairperson will need assistance the Interviews and at the Public Speaking function from a number of other club members.
APPOINT A YOTY Chairperson
This must be a Lion who has an affinity with young people
Remember, first impressions are important – the YOTY Chairperson must be keen when speaking to the possible entrants.
Be aware that YOTY does take a lot of time to do it properly
– but the rewards of working with the young people make it worthwhile
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10. Support YOTY Manual YOTY District Chairperson YOTY Website
Get familiar with basic rules
YOTY District Chairperson
Is there to help Clubs
Has all stationary etc
YOTY Website
Has loads of information
You are not alone - There is a lot of support available
YOTY MANUAL
There is a full Club Chairperson Manual available for downloading from the YOTY website (read out the web address on the slide)
Make sure that the Club Chairperson has the Manual AND keeps it updated.
Any changes to rules are only made annually at the start of July.
The YOTY Chairperson should become familiar with the rules as far as possible.
YOUR DISTRICT HAS A YOTY Chairperson
This Chairperson is there to help you.
If you have questions or problems, he/she is the first point of contact.
Do not hesitate to make contact with him/her
YOTY WEBSITE
Visit the website.
There is a lot of information on this site and it is kept up to date
Don’t flounder if you are having difficulties – call on help.
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11. The Journey
Any journey starts with the first step. Any worthwhile journey takes effort and commitment But isn’t that why you joined Lions? …..
A journey – ANY journey - cannot begin until you take the first step
The first step is to commit to our youth and to the project.
BUT be aware that the journey will take effort and persistence.
And remember: - any journey worth taking requires commitment and effort
But isn’t that why you joined Lions?
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12. “You just can’t lose” THE CHALLENGE! Great for our young people
Get involved!
Take that first step
Great for our young people
Great for YOUR Club
Great for Lions members
“You just can’t lose”
So, here’s the challenge - GET INVOLVED
That that first step.
YOTY is great for:
- Our youth
- Your Club
- Lions members – both personally and collectively
You are contributing to the future of our great country
- the personal rewards are great for everyone!
REMEMBER “YOU JUST CAN’T LOSE”