SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT____________________________
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
“Over 8,000 students will spend tonight in someone else’s home,” according to _____________, chairperson of the _______________Rotary Club, Youth Exchange Committee. Rotary Youth Exchange, one of the largest of the international youth exchange organizations, draws its participation from over 60 countries throughout the free world. _________ pointed out that Rotary District 5100, which encompasses the Northern third of the state of Oregon and a portion of Southern Washington, is one of the most active exchange districts
in the world, with about 40 students venturing off to the far corners of the world each year, and a like number arriving here from the 21 countries involved in the exchange with the district. The countries involved in the exchange with the local district this past year are: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Czech Republic/Slovakia, Denmark, Finland/Estonia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Turkey.
_________ stated that during the ______ years his club has been involved in the exchange program, more than _______ students from this area have become Rotary exchange ambassadors.District-wide, in 30 years of participation, well over 1,000 youngsters have become exchange students. Rotary Clubs throughout the district are beginning their search this month to find the students who will be “ambassadors” during their Junior year. Students who participate in the exchange are high school freshmen this year, should be in the upper one-third of their class scholastically, and must have a desire to experience a new culture and perhaps a different language, and to meet people and make friends while spending a year in another country. Students who participate in the program from this area may expect to participate in 17 days of orientations, over a six-month period during their sophomore year, prior to going on their exchange.
Students who are interest in applying for the program will find posters and literature in the local schools and may get further information by contacting __________________ at (phone) __________. Screening of applications at the local level will be held about _______________ so that the final applications can be completed and submitted by the successful candidate to the district Youth Exchange Outbound Coordinator by October 31. A particular challenge for the Rotarians has been the task of locating new host families. Each of
the incoming students is placed with three or four families during their year, and it is this hosting that creates the possibility for a local youngster to participate in the program. All types of families, including single-parent households and retired couples, are welcome to contact Rotary about hosting a foreign student. Room, board, and guidance are provided by the families in exchange for a rare opportunity to become close to a young person from a different culture. Organizations wishing to meet students from other areas of the world or schedule programs by the students should contact _______________ at ____________
