Club History in Youth Exchange

Rotary Youth Exchange
image
Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) began, for what is now District 6060, in 1985, when District Governor H. Middleton asked Webster's Past District Governor Alan Hoener to form the District's RYE committee. Alan asked Webster's Jack LaBarge to serve on the committee, and to be responsible for placing the District's first incoming RYE student. 

 

hus, Webster Groves was the first host club for the District. Jack served on the RYE committee from its inception, followed soon after by his brother, Steve LaBarge, who assisted Howard Schwadron as Inbound Coordinator, and then taking that position assumed that role until 1992. Alan chaired the committee until 1989, followed by Jack LaBarge until 1992, when Steve took over as Chair until 1994 and again in the late 1990s. He was followed by Webster's Irene Kalnins in the early 2000s.

Ever year since 1985 (except during the COVID pandemic) Webster Groves Rotary has hosted at least one RYE student and has also sponsored dozens of outbound students.  

A fun fact of RYE is that two students who met through the District program, one from Webster Groves, subsequently married. Alan and Willie Hoener, Steve and Cathy LaBarge, and Jack and Mary LaBarge were all at their wedding. For seven or eight years, Mary and Jack LaBarge hosted a Christmas party at their house for District RYE students. Some outbound exchange alumni often attended the gathering, as well. After the festivities concluded, the boys spent the night at their house, and the girls stayed at Steve and Cathy LaBarge's.

The Club has sent numerous American youth abroad as well as received many students from all over the world. The Club has received kids from Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Brazil, Latvia, and Turkey in 2005-06, among others.

In 2001-02 the Club hosted a student from China and from Colombia. Both were the first students that came to Webster Groves without the Club sending a student to those countries. At the time, Rotary did not operate in China because of that country's political views. In Colombia the concern about safety and security prevents the Club from sending students. The Club accepted these non-traditional "exchanges" in the effort to help youth from these countries experience life in America.

In early 2000, the Club participated in short-term (two to three months in duration) exchanges for visually impaired and/or blind kids. This has been done in coordination with the Missouri School for the Blind. The initial exchanges were made with Argentina, but other countries may soon be involved.

Youth exchange has a great history in Webster Groves.