Group Study Exchange

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Group Study Exchange 

From DGN Bob Hemphill, D-7410 GSE Chair:

The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in four full days of vocational visits, 10 to 15 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.

For each team member, the Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries. Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

2010-2012 GSE

For 2010-2012, our district has been paired with District 4130 in Mexico. 

As the final exchange under the current Foundation GSE program, this one is being conducted over a two-year period.  The Mexican team came this Rotary year, and our team will travel to Mexico during the next year.  Thereafter, the program will be completely changed under the provisions of the upcoming Future Vision Plan.

The D-4130 team visited our District during the period 25 April to 22 May 2011. Their District sent us an outstanding team, consisting of team members who, both individually and collectively, greatly impressed everyone with whom they came in contact.  I hope they made many great friends here, and I believe many of our members feel that they now have friends in Mexico.

Our job now is to put together an equally impressive team to send to their District.  I will begin accepting applications for that team with the advent of the new Rotary year on 1 July 2011.  The deadline for submitting an application for Team Leader is 31 August, and the deadline for submitting an application for Team Member is 15 September. 

Team Leader requirements include being an experienced and knowledgeable Rotarian, a mature leader and able District representative, and have the physical and mental ability to perform this duty.  The Team Leader cannot be the current DG, immediate PDG, or DGE, nor the spouse or lineal descendent of these officers.  Foreign travel experience and some Spanish language capability, while not a requirement, are a plus.

Team Members are non-Rotarians, age 25 to 40, currently employed full-time for at least two years.  They must be American citizens who live or work in the District.  Other important attributes are good health, the ability to perform this very strenuous duty, neatness in appearance, the ability to express themselves clearly, enthusiasm about their vocation, open-mindedness and considerable flexibility.  They must be able to travel for at least four weeks with their employers' consent, and to participate in an extensive preparation program to be scheduled over the few months prior to their departure.  They must have, or be able to obtain, a passport and, if necessary, a visa.  They cannot be Rotarians or their immediate families, nor their ancestors or lineal descendents.  There are other restrictions, as well.  Interested persons should contact a local Rotary Club, or me at the contacts below, to determine whether the other restrictions apply to them.  Some Spanish language ability would be a plus here, as well.

 Application forms may be downloaded from the links below.  Completed applications must be forwarded through a Rotary Club in this District by the due dates above for both Team Leader and Team Member to DGN Bob Hemphill, GSE Chair, 264 Freytown Rd., Covington Twp. PA 18424.  Questions may be directed to Bob by email at: bravo6bull@aol.com.

Group Study Exchange Team Leader Application (PDF)

Group Study Exchange Team Member Application (PDF)