Become a New Paltz Rotary Club Host Family for Life-changing
experiences, lifelong relationships.  
 
The commitment is just 3 months!
 
Email Geraldine Kelly, the New Paltz Rotary Youth Exchange
Officer at geraldinekelly@mac.com, or Maria Rice, the Youth Exchange Committee Chair
at 56Jewels@gmail.com for more information and an application form and visit Rotary
District 7210 website at www.YEX7210.org.
Have you ever longed to visit a foreign country and encounter a different culture? Hosting a
Rotary Exchange Student is an opportunity to bring the world to your doorstep without ever
leaving home, and to provide your family with an enriching, unforgettable experience.

Bright, adventurous young people from all around the world are recruited and screened by local
Rotary Clubs to be ambassadors to other lands for a school year, living as part of a family, attending
high school, and getting to know their communities in a way no short-term vacation could ever
equal. Your family can be part of this exciting program by hosting a Rotary Exchange Student.
Host families may have children the same age, older or younger siblings, or none at all. All you
really need is an extra bed, a curiosity about other countries and cultures, and hearts big
enough to welcome a foreign child to be treated as one of your own and reside in the New Paltz
Central School District.

Generally, three different families in the school district serve as hosts for a student, for three to
four months each. In this way, Rotary shares students with more of the community and the
students are able to experience different families’ interests and lifestyles to get a better
overview of life in the Hudson Valley.

Host families have the fun of introducing students to new foods, activities, events, and the
natural beauty and historic places of the Hudson Valley, while simultaneously learning about
their student’s home country, culture and customs.

Students are sponsored by the local Rotary Club and report to its Youth Exchange Officer
(YEO), who oversees the student’s experience and well-being throughout the year. The YEO
also serves as a resource for your family, providing transportation, assistance and advice, as
needed. The exchange program is backed by the resources of Rotary District 7210, which
encompasses eight counties in the Hudson Valley, and by Rotary International.

By hosting a student, you help to shape perceptions and attitudes toward the USA of young
people who may go on to assume leadership roles in their own countries. What an educational
and enjoyable way to contribute to international understanding and promote global citizenship!
 
Interested? Wonderful! Email Geraldine Kelly, the New Paltz Rotary Youth Exchange
Officer at geraldinekelly@mac.com, or Maria Rice, the Youth Exchange Committee Chair
at 56Jewels@gmail.com for more information and an application form and visit Rotary
District 7210 website at www.YEX7210.org.