Lions Club International Young Ambassadors Exchange
Organised by the MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION in collaboration with the LIONS CLUBS.
THE PROJECT
To set up a youth exchange to be known as Young Ambassadors study tour program between Murray Darling Association regions on an ongoing basis in partnership with Lions Clubs within the Murray Darling Basin.
PURPOSE
To create better understanding of the problems and advantages of living in the Murray Darling Basin through Young Ambassadors study tours within the regions of the Murray Darling Association (MDA).
By the sharing of local information and ideas by the exchangees with host and home communities through the medium of Lions Club and MDA meetings, schools and youth organizations, a greater knowledge and a deeper understanding of the region will aid in building a closer bond between the regions of the Murray Darling Basin.
PARTICIPANTS
The youth study tour candidates in each region would be selected by a panel consisting of representatives of participating Lions Clubs, Local Government and regional Murray Darling Association members. Youth should be in the senior secondary school age range or members of a youth organization, tourism and trade apprenticeships, and farm or irrigation employment or in other fields. Exchangees would meet their own travel cost to and from the actual tour unless a Lions Club may consider funding their outgoing exchangee's travel in certain circumstances.
Lions Clubs as co-partner with the Murray Darling Association would be invited to host the study tour participant, provide overnight billeting, meals and to transport the young person through their area of the region.
The Murray Darling Association as co-partner with the local Lions Clubs will assist by convening the organizing committee meetings, provide members wherever possible as tour point commentators and to negotiate access to government and private sector facilities. If MDA members wish to assist in billeting they may do so in agreement with their Lions partners.
HOSTING PERIOD
Because the age range and the constraints of time imposed by study and work commitments the duration of exchanges would be necessarily of short duration by one exchangee per tour. The suggested time period of exchange is of 10 days duration within the region.
WHAT IS AN MDA REGION?
The Murray Darling Association is made up of 12 regions covering a major part of the Murray Darling Basin, usually containing several local government areas. In each region, an MDA representative will contact strategic Lions Clubs within their area. Ideally three or four clubs could combine to give exchangees a wide view of their area. However in more widely spaced regions there may be only one club participating. Lions International covers insurance for exchangees together with Lions members involved. MDA members participating would be under MDA coverage. MDA Regional bodies requiring Lions Clubs contact details should contact either the MDA General Manager at head office, or the MDA/Lions Adviser.
WHICH LIONS CLUBS CAN PARTICIPATE?
Initially, strategic Lions Clubs in each MDA Region were contacted to 'kick start' the project but all Clubs are very welcome to participate. All these Clubs would be located within the Murray Darling Basin, or those Clubs that are in an area supplied by pipeline from the Murray-Darling River system.
HOW CAN A LIONS CLUB JOIN IN THE PROJECT?
If your Club has not yet been contacted by an MDA representative in your Club's area, check the list of MDA Regions displayed and select the contact person in the Region closest to your Club and make contact with that person.
If your Club lies outside any of these Regions or you have difficulty determining in which MDA Region your Club is located, contact the MDA Head Office:
PO Box 75, West Richmond, SA 5033
Phone (08) 8226 4402 Fax (08) 8226 4408
Email admin@mda.asn.au
Or the MDA/Lions Adviser, Frank Tuckwell for advice
THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Each Region will of course decide how the Murray Darling Association and Lions Club representatives with get together and discuss the project. However the general procedure will follow the principle:
- Lions Clubs will receive, billet, and cater for the daily needs and transport the exchangee through their area and ensure their safe departure for home.
- MDA Regional representatives will provide the tour program for their area, and where possible have guides at points of interest. Also to negotiate access to public and private facilities of interest considered appropriate to the enlightenment of the exchangee.
- MDA and Lions representatives will jointly select their candidate for exchange and provide information and perhaps a mini tour of their own area to prepare their exchangee to be a good Young Ambassador for their region.
- Participating organizing committees, after selecting and preparing their exchangee, will need to decide on a tour priority and then negotiate with the preferred Regional committee to effect an exchange between them.
For further information contact:
MDA/Lions Adviser Frank Tuckwell
Post: 7 Sumner Street, Goolwa, SA 5214
Phone: (08) 8555 2991
Email: cr.frank.tuckwell@bigpond.com.
Alternatively, Region 6 enquiries to Lion Peter McInnes at Unit 3, 234 Liverpool Road, Goolwa 5214 or mcinnes@chariot.net.au or (08) 85551211.