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"Building world peace, one student at a time"

What is the North Star Youth Exchange?

In collaboration with local Rotary clubs, we extend this remarkable international opportunity to passionate, driven, and curious high school students. Venture abroad to more than 30 countries across the globe, students embark on a journey that transcends borders and transforms lives.

Rotary International

Welcome to the North Star Rotary Youth Exchange

North Star Youth Exchange encompasses two Rotary districts (5950 and 5960), which are large geographical areas in south-central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. The area includes the entire Twin Cities metropolitan area, Rochester, St. Cloud, and Mankato (Duluth is part of the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange program). The outer part of our districts includes Albert Lea, Hayward, WI, Alexandria, and Redwood Falls.

Throughout this area, local Rotary clubs provide this international opportunity to eager, ambitious, and inquisitive high school students — both to come to our area to experience American life, or to go abroad to one of over 30 countries around the world.

What is Rotary?

Rotary is a worldwide service organization that promotes peace, goodwill and understanding on local, national and international levels. 

 

Rotary members perform community services in their local communities (such as providing scholarships, maintaining parks or helping food shelves) and around the world (such as clean water initiatives, PolioPlus vaccinations and youth projects). If you are not a current Rotary member, we encourage you to visit your local club and consider joining.

Rotary Club
The Rotary network includes 34,000 clubs with 1.2 million members worldwide.
Our team of volunteers and North Star Rotary members

North Star Rotary volunteers and team together!

Ignite your passion to make a difference in the world and the live of youth

Meet The Team

Eric Johnsrud

Chair (2023-25)

Elaine Baumann

Chair Elect (2023-25)

Sara Johnston

Executive Assistant

Kelli Tuttle

Country Officer Co-Director

Rita Varner-Otness

Club Support Director

Amy Roers

Club Support Team

Jesse Steed

Club Support Team

Bill Schult

Club Support Team

Jackie Johnston

Host Family Support Team

Country Officers

Kelli Tuttle

Country Officer Team Co-Director. Country Officer - Brazil & Australia, New Zealand

Elaine Baumann

Country Officer Team Co-Director

Katie Orr

Country Officer - Brazil

Mike Benz

Country Officer - Chile, Peru, France

Darice Fowler

Country Officer - Power of One, Romania, Croatia, Hungary

Had Solberg

Country Officer - Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania

Spencer Lavelle

Country Officer - Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania

Jill Fisher

Country Officer- Denmark, Faroe Islands, Sweden

Susie Beaumaster

Country Officer - India, Indonesia, Thailand

Bill Falk

Country Officer - Italy

Marcus Califf

Country Officer - Italy

Tom Tamura

Country Officer - Japan

Dorothee Ischler

Country Officer - Germany, Austria, Switzerland

Drew Johnston

Country Officer - Australia, New Zealand

Kristin Siskow

Country Officer - Chile & Peru

Mary Anthony

Country Officer - Spain

Robert Petrie

Country Officer - Belgium & France