Bill Boone, a member of the Reno Rotary Club, will discuss the District 5190 Youth Protection Policy.  Bill has been active with the International Service Projects Committee, Mardi Gras Fundraiser, Community Services Project, Board of Directors, Open World Program, Youth Service and other roles.  Currently, Bill services as the District Youth Service Chair.  He has also been active volunteering in many ways including SCORE and the Eddy House.
 
Rotary has a long history of providing service to youth. Each year, more than 300,000 young people participate in Rotary programs like Interact, Rotary Youth Exchange, and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). Many club and district mentoring programs, immunization efforts, job training programs, literacy projects, and other initiatives also help young people or other vulnerable populations.
 
Unfortunately, no organization or program is invulnerable to abuse or crises. They can and do occur in even the most seemingly positive settings. Predators often seek teaching, coaching, or other positions that give them access to children and teenagers. Others who are committed to working with youth sometimes find it hard to believe that some adults will abuse the trust placed in them,so they may not notice the signs. Rotary takes youth protection very seriously, and it relies on Rotarians to foster safe environments that prevent abuse and to respond appropriately when it occurs.