RYESE Chair Job Description

The Rotary Youth Exchange Southeast multidistrict Chair is responsible for leading the operations of both the Inbound program and the Outbound program in the RYESE multidistricts, in a timely and consistent manner. The Chair proactively supports each member district to launch, operate, and grow their respective RYE programs following all published rules of governing authorities and the best practices of NAYEN and RYESE, Inc. The position requires 15 to 20 hours of dedicated volunteer work per week.

Responsibilities of the Chair

  • Prepare, schedule, and lead monthly operational meetings of the member District Chairs, District Youth Protection Officers and their support teams to manage proactively both the Inbound and the Outbound programs
  • Prepare, schedule and lead the quarterly RYESE Board of Directors meetings
  • Prepare, schedule and lead the annual RYESE Board of Governors meetings
  • Prepare, explain, and defend the annual RYESE budget, together with the Treasurer, and ensure that expenditures fall within the approved budget guidelines
  • Recruit, train, and retain, a multidistrict executive team of officers to lead the respective disciplines necessary to operate the programs successfully
  • Prepare and submit the required annual reports for the U.S. Department of State, Rotary International, and the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel, to ensure the organization retains our respective designation and certifications to operate the programs
  • Serve as the legal representative and CEO for the Florida corporation, Rotary Youth Exchange Southeast, Inc.
  • Recruit new Rotary districts in Zone 34 to become member districts of the RYESE multidistrict support organization and launch or re-launch their study abroad scholarship program.
  • Help District Governors and District Chairs in new RYESE member districts with the RI and U.S. State Department certification and other administrative requirements to launch or re-launch the programs in their districts.
  • Train new District Chairs, and provide ongoing support, on how to launch and operate the Inbound and Outbound programs in their district
  • Prepare and distribute the annual RYESE DG-line responsibilities letter to the incoming RYESE Board of Governors to remind them of their duties and responsibilities to Rotary Youth Exchange Southeast, Inc.
  • Research, vet, and disseminate best practices in operating both the Inbound and Outbound programs in support of the member districts’ District Governors, District Chairs, and their RYE committees (recruiting and training volunteers, student candidates, host family candidates, working with schools, problem solving, etc.)
  • Maintain relationship with Tzell Youth Exchange Travel to manage Outbound Student visa, round-trip itinerary and return date changes to control airfare expenses and adhere to program travel rules
  • Monitor all member districts’ activities to ensure full compliance with all applicable rules of the US Department of State, Rotary International Code of Policies, Youth Exchange Handbook, Youth Protection Handbook, and RYESE bylaws. Together with Compliance Officer, intervene as necessary to make sure that all RYESE program activities in member districts are within published rules and guidelines.
  • Prepare and lead all 4 RYESE annual in-person student and volunteer training and orientation events
  • Respond PROMPTLY to ad hoc phone calls, e-mails, text messages from students, parents, host families, and program volunteers
  • Produce RYESE PowerPoint presentations, handbooks, posters and flyers, in support of member districts’ activities
  • Work with multidistrict leaders to update the RYESE handbooks as appropriate (Host Family Handbook, Outbound Student Handbook, Inbound Student Handbook) and work with Secretary to print and bind the handbooks in time and in sufficient quantities for their annual distributions
  • Source and distribute the appropriate level Pimsleur language courses for each Future Outbound Candidate in December, and coach, monitor, and motivate their effective use of the language acquisition program between the December District Reveal events until the students’ departure on exchange in the summer.