Roots by Cholly Capps

A Little History of Your Rotary Club

Frederik Mejhert, Rotary Youth Exchange student from Sweden, is our latest high school age exchange student. It's a great pleasure to host one or more of these bright young students. We've been a participant in this program for more than 30 years. Every year, around the world, approximately 7,000 students ages 15 to 19, go abroad under this program, either for the academic year or an extended holiday. With the ability to learn a language quickly and adapt to a new environment, these lucky students make enduring friendships and bridge cultural differences. The self-understanding an global outlook they gain in the process benefits them for a lifetime.

Now here's where our Roots come through. This great international program -- at least in this part of the world -- was started by one of our club members. Owen Freed, a former Rotary Foundation Scholar, President of our Club in 1968-69, District Governor in 2005-06 and now a member of the Rotary Club of Miami, is credited with founding the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. As a Coral Gables Rotarian, this is something of which you can be very proud.

Jordan Steele is another interesting connection to the Exchange Program. He and his family were so enamored of the program they hosed several Rotary Exchange Students when Jordan was still a Kiwanian! In 1982 Jordan become a Rotarian so he wouldn't be in jeopardy of not being able to host for this fantastic program.