District Cabinet Meeting - Sunday, March 28, 2025
Lions International Youth Exchange Report
Plans are underway for our Wisconsin Lions Youth and Exchange Program 2025. We've reserved CAMP VISTA from August 10th - August 17th at Camp Vista. Our new camp date rental fees are similar to what we have paid in the past- $9250.
Outgoing Wisconsin Youth
We currently have THREE Wisconsin Youths from 27-D1 (out of 7 students in the state) who have applied to participate in an International Youth Exchange Program:
Landon Bakken - accepted to Japan
Riellyn Cartwright - accepted to Switzerland
Dylan Thomas - accepted to Austria
Family Hosting
Currently we have 27 international youths promised for Wisconsin. Fifteen have been placed and 12 are waiting for placement. Please consider hosting a youth this year. This is the website of current international youth who wish to visit our state:
http://www.wisconsinlionsyouthexchange.org/YEPlacement.htm
Our hosting program uses an “open schedule” which is dictated by our host family's availability AND our youths preferred travel dates (listed within their applications). Please contact Lion Crystal Riniker for more information and a host family application.
Family hosting is from approximately late July/early August through August. Camp is August 10-August 17.
Fundraising
We are currently soliciting funds from our district Lions clubs to finance this year's program. Funds collected are used to pay our district's share of the Youth Exchange camp-related fees; youth exchange scholarships, host family stipends & other direct expenses. All the funds collected are used only for direct youth exchange-related costs. There are no indirect fees; all individuals involved in this program are volunteers including camp counselors & all support staff.
Finances/Budget
• Camp fee - $1700 (paid by each of the 10 state Lions Districts) NO INCREASE!
• Scholarships - $1000 x 2= $2000 (the scholarship amount is determined by # of applications & available funds)
• Host family support ~$1000 (activities and expenses incurred within our district during sponsored outings with host families and visiting youth).
• Support with new trailer- $1500
**Trailer- Our Wisconsin Camp needed to purchase a new trailer to haul supplies and craft materials. The trailer we have been using was starting to show its age and was leaking. See photos below. The new trailer is brand new, made October 4, 2024 and we paid $4,915 ( got 2% when asked if they could help out a Lions Project). After taxes the bill was $5,135. Best part is that because this trailer is under 3000 lbs there is no title/plate or annual registration fees! We'll only need to cover insurance. Any extra money the YE receives will be used towards insurance, decals and locks for the doors. A1 and A2 have also made similar pledges.
There is currently 1 volunteer on the District 27-D1 youth exchange committee: Crystal Riniker - Hazel Green.
We are looking for another volunteer for our committee. If you enjoy working with youth and would like to learn about this awesome program that satisfies the third objective of the Lions “To create and foster a spirit of understanding among peoples of the world" Please contact us ASAP.
Lion Crystal Riniker, Hazel Green - Youth Exchange Committee Chair
cmriniker@gmail.com
608-732-8192
Website: https://www.wisconsinlionsyouthexchange.org/
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