The decision to exchange GSE teams between districts must be ratified by Rotary International which often makes modifications to the original plan and/or suggests alternative pairings. Once an exchange is approved, the work begins at both ends of the project. Both Districts must organize a committee which will see to the recruitment and preparation of their team, and to the hosting and care for the team they will receive.
For the Capital Region District (7190) this process began in the late Winter of 2009 when Ellen Schaeffer of the Shenendehowa Rotary Club was named chair of the GSE committee . Appointed to that committee were other senior leaders of the District Rotary who had experience with previous GSE encounters. This group included John Eaton, the sitting District Governor, Past District Governors Harriet Noble and Anne Cargile, District Governor elect Dan Stec, District Governor Nominee Bill Nathan and several others.
In the Spring a notice was sent out to district Rotarians seeking a “Team Leader” for the district’s out-going team. A GSE team leader is an active Rotarian from a district club who will travel with the team and be responsible for the orderly completion of the program abroad. Team leaders are asked to demonstrate appropriate travel experience, knowledge of the area to be visited, language capabilities or other skills which would lend themselves to the role.
After applications had been received, the GSE committee, conducted interviews and on August 8th issued the following press release:
Rotary District 7190 Names Team Leader for Group Study Exchange with France
Rotary District 7190 is happy to announce the selection of David W. Roberts as Team Leader as we prepare to share Group Study Exchange (GSE) teams with District 1730 in France.
Mr. Roberts’ extensive professional leadership experience, as well as his long standing membership in Rotary, makes him an ideal candidate to lead young business professionals on this 4-week exchange. He has traveled extensively in France and is fluent in French and well versed in French culture and customs.
Our team, consisting of Rotarian Team Leader Roberts and four non-Rotarian team members will travel to France for a four week stay during the month of May 2010. The 30-day exchange provides an opportunity for young business professionals from the Capital Region to share their knowledge of American business with the people of France while learning about the culture, business practices, and history of that nation. Round-trip airfare and accommodations in France are paid for by Rotary International Foundation and the host district, making this a great opportunity for young business people to experience how their profession is practiced in the host country. In addition to valuable professional contacts, long term personal relationships are often formed during this period.
Capital Region Rotary District 7190 is also actively recruiting candidates to represent us and our country in this important exchange. The ideal candidate is a professional or businessperson between the ages of 25 and 40. He or she should be mature, have at least 2 years of work experience in their chosen field, be open to new and different cultural experiences, food and lifestyles and well grounded in their American citizenship.
For more information, or to obtain an application to participate, visit the District 7190 web page at http://www.capitalregionrotary.org/study.asp or contact Ellen S. Schaefer, Rotary District 7190 GSE Chair at 518-371-0364 or at gse7190@nycap.rr.com
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