When Tragedy Strikes

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When Tragedy Strikes

• Preparing Your District to Respond

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Presenters

• Kate Hoeppel
• Senior Supervisor, Rotary International Youth
  Exchange
• Tel [phone]
• kate.hoeppel_at_rotary.org  
• Jean Hannig
• Chairperson, Rotary District 5580 Youth Exchange
• Tel [phone]
• rotaryjean_at_gmail.com
• Ed True
• Country Correspondent Asia Pacific South,
• Central States Rotary Youth Exchange
• Tel [phone]
• edtrue_at_charter.net

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• The Role of
• The Rotary District

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RYE at the Rotary District Level

• Host the inbound Rotary Exchange Student
• Place the students in good communities and good
  host families
• Hold meetings with the inbound students for
  training and education
• Keep the students safe during the exchangne

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Emergency Situations

• The Exchange Student becomes seriously ill
• Emergency in the Students home country
• Natural disaster in the host country
• Accident that injures the student
• Accident that causes the students death

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The Story of Dutch

• Pakin (Dutch) was a student from Thailand
  assigned to District 5580
• Excited about the exchange
• Arrived in August and hosted in the small town of
  Long Prairie, Minnesota
• Attended the orientation weekend held in
  September
• Looking forward to the next weekend in Canada

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District 5580 0rientation Weekend
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The Accident

• Car accident on October 24, 2015 at 630 p.m.
• Ford Tauras sedan with an American Driver (age
  17) and three exchange students, one was Dutch.
  Ford was stopped waiting to turn
• Hit from behind by a Chevy Silverado Pickup
  travelling at a high speed (driver was 16)
• Caused substantial head injuries to Dutch
• Dutch died at 1230 a.m.

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Notifying the Sponsor District and Parents

• Call to Correspondent at 1030 p.m.
• Correspondent tried to contact Sponsor District
  Chairperson
• District Governors in host district and sponsor
  district
• Parents must be notified at 1230 a.m.

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Making Medical Decisions

• The parental consent form
• Role of the District Chairperson for the host
  district
• Communication with medical providers
• Role of the host family
• Role of the YEO in the host community
• Role of the host Rotary Club in the host community

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Crisis Management

• Availability to take a call
• Rotary Communication Channels
• The District RYE Chairperson
• The Correspondent
• The District Governor
• Handling the media
• One spokesperson
• Should NOT be the district RYE chairperson

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Making Arrangements for Family

• Emergency Visa
• Travel Expenses
• Cultural aspects of illness or death
• Hosting the family in the host community
• Hosting the family in another community
• Funeral home after death
• Hospital during Illness

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Transportation for Illness

• Transportation to another medical facility
• Transportation back to the home country
• Ability to travel
• Public or private transportation
• Family transportation
• Insurance benefit for transportation

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Repatriation after Death

• Returning a body to the home country
• Legal requirements that need to be satisfied
• Death certificate translation
• Containers for transport by airline
• Other requirements vary
• Authorization to accept the body
• Insurance benefit for repatriation

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Understanding the Insurance Claims

• Rotary Youth Exchange Insurance
• Medical expense claims
• Accident Claims
• Auto insurance
• No fault medical payment
• Commercial carriers
• RI Coverage

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Understanding Legal Claims

• Claims against Rotary
• Claims against another person
• Cultural Differences
• Differences in legal systems
• Hiring the Legal Professional

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The Grieving Process

• Students Family in the host community
• Host Family
• Host Community and school
• Rotary Volunteers
• Importance of a memorial service in the host
  community

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Grieving After the Family Leaves

• Continuing Information
• Grieving in the host community
• Grieving in the home country
• Cultural Differences
• Bereavement support
• Rotary support

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Pakin (Dutch)
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Dinner with the other students in the car
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Flowers from the Host Club
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Flowers and the YE Jacket
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High School Cross Country Team
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Family with Cross Country Team
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Funeral in Thailand
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RYE Students in Thailand
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• The Role of the
• Country Correspondent

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RYE at the Multi District Level

• Role of Multi Districts for Youth Exchange
• Facilitating Communication
• Notifying RI
• Contact Partner Districts
• Contacts with natural parents

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Cultural Differences

• Translating crisis events to another culture
• Rights and customs of natural parents
• Customs associated with illness
• Customs associated with treatment of body after
  death
• Differences in medical delivery systems
• Differences in legal systems

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Working with Governments

• U.S. Department of State
• Visa requirements
• Emergency Visas
• Emergency travel
• Medical travel
• Repatriation

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• The Role of
• Rotary International

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A Global Perspective

• Between 7000-8000 students go on Rotary Youth
  Exchange annually
• But just one serious accident or death can
  devastate a family, its community, and its
  district
• Sound risk management practices can help reduce,
  but not remove, these risks while also assisting
  in managing crises when they arise

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The RI Role in a Crisis

• Assist with partner district/club communications
• Assist with insurance mediations, if necessary
• Assist with partner communications
• Are current/future students at risk to similar
  situations?
• Are there any concerns about Rotarys handling of
  the situation?
• Was student safety the highest priority?
• Do you need to notify your general liability
  insurance?

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Media Relations

• Never the first priority but something to
  consider in advance
• RI can help connect you to RI Media Relations
  staff to
• Discuss who DG should appoint as spokesperson
• Craft media message points
• Monitor coverage
• Refer to Effective Public Relations A Guide for
  Rotary Clubs

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Student Travel Insurance

• Review the minimum coverage amounts in RCOP
  41.060.10
• Ensure your students have the necessary coverage
• Contact the Insurance Working Group or RI with
  any concerns

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Resources

• youthexchange_at_rotary.org
• RCOP https//www.rotary.org/en/document/622
• Effective Public Relations Guide
  https//www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/document/effect
  ive-public-relations-guide-rotary-clubs
• Insurance Working Group (found on page 9 of the
  YEO Directory)

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Questions?