Last week, I reported that our club would be sponsoring one BISD student at RYLA. Today I am happy to amend that report and to tell you that the Burleson Rotary Club will be sponsoring not just one, but four BISD students for the annual summer camp. Thanks to the diligent work of the club's board members, four Burleson students will experience Rotary's leadership training next month in Denton.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a program that originated with Rotary International and has subsequently been specifically designed by Rotary District 5790 for the students in our area. RYLA encourages servant leadership in youth by recognizing and rewarding deserving 11th grade students who are chosen to attend RYLA as an "award" for their past and present leadership and service activities. These select young people attend an all-expenses-paid camp where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues of today. These activities are conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The result is that these students return to their schools and communities motivated to take on additional leadership roles and to find additional ways to serve.

RYLA's intent is to encourage students to be more effective servant leaders. RYLA is not a camp intended to teach leadership skills (it is assumed that the students in attendance already possess those skills), however the following topics naturally arise in the course of RYLA activities and discussions:

• Fundamentals of leadership
• Ethics of positive leadership
• Qualities of a "servant leader"
• Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
• Conflict management and problem solving
• Building self-esteem and self confidence
• Elements of community and global citizenship
• Rotary's purpose of service to the community and the world

Four Burleson students will return to our community better prepared to lead and to demonstrate the "servant leader" qualities in their schools and in other organizations to which they belong. The diligent work of Burleson Rotarians -- that's YOU -- makes it possible for our club to sponsor these young leaders in this experience. Clearly, we will all benefit when those young people return.

One profits most who serves best.