District 7780 - Group Study Exchange

Since its founding in 1965, the Group Study Exchange program has provided grants for countless teams of men and women in the early stages of their business and professional careers to travel abroad and share vocational information with the representatives of their respective professions in other countries.

Team members spend four to six weeks studying the host country’s institutions, economy and culture while observing how their own professions are practiced abroad. They follow a carefully planned itinerary, including visits to government and cultural institutions, schools, religious and historic sites and other points of interest. In addition, each team member spends at least five days studying and observing the practice of his or her profession in the host country. More than 500 exchanges between paired Rotary districts occur each year, advancing the program’s ultimate goal of promoting international understanding and goodwill.

To be eligible for the program, Team Members must be between the ages of 25 and 40 and employed full-time for at least two year and be U.S. Citizens. They are not allowed to be Rotarians or children of Rotarians.

This year’s exchange will be with District 2230 in Poland, a multi-national district spanning Poland, Belarus and Ukraine and the first Rotary District established in a post-communist country. Previous GSE teams to District 2230 traveled all over Poland and visited cities, castles and cathedrals over 1,000 years old. This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the Polish culture and to experience the extraordinary vitality of the modern Polish people.

The date of the exchange is yet to be determined, but will most likely take place in May 2009. For more information, contact:

Karen Wendell, Chair

Group Study Exchange

karen.wendell@comcast.net

603-427-0200

GSE Team Leader Application

GSE Team Member Application

Follow this link to the Poland District 2230 website

Jagiellonian University is old (1364) and many famous people have gone here

including Nicolaus Copernicus (1491-95) and Pope John PaulII (1938-39, 1942-46).

Zakopane is a beautiful mountain town in the Polish Tatras

Wawel Castle is in Krakow - not to be missed!!

Follow this link to a speaker for your club

WHAT IS GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE?

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 in the initial years of their professional life. The program provides travel grants for teams of participants to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members study the host country’s institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas. Team members can come from corporations, small businesses, community organizations, medical and educational facilities, government offices, and nonprofit agencies

WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE?

Individuals who participate in this rewarding, once-in-a-lifetime experience will return home with a broadened cultural perspective and new understanding of a nation’s history, language, commerce, and government. A GSE offers a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills, work on team building, and increase self-confidence. The program is designed to have an invaluable impact on the career of a young professional in the increasingly global workplace by creating networking opportunities and lifelong friendships.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO MY EMPLOYER AND MY COMMUNITY?

GSE enhances the international perspective of the next generation of young leaders that will take your company into the future. GSE participants return with new communication and facilitation skills that promote tolerance and collaboration with professional people of other cultures. GSE fosters a creative approach to problem solving by expanding the employee’s skill set, exposure to alternate methodologies, and preparation for addressing community needs. In addition, GSE provides a great public relations opportunity to promote awareness of your business or organization, as local and international media may feature interviews, photos, and articles about the exchange.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

GSE team member applicants must:

Be between the ages of 25 and 40

Be fully employed with at least two years of work experience in their chosen field

Be in the early stages of their careers or professions

Reside in or be employed in the sending Rotary district and also be citizens of the country in which they reside

Be proficient in the language of the country being visited

Be personable, articulate, cooperative, motivated team players, and enthusiastic about their vocations

Seek to gain a maximum educational value from the program, as well as be able to fulfill the rigorous demands of international travel and active participation in an extensive itinerary. The best candidates for GSE are rising leaders who

meet the qualifications above and who have an interest in people of other cultures. GSE can be an excellent way to recognize top-performing staff or provide exposure for potential young leaders with limited international experience.

Note: Spouses of participants may not accompany teams. In addition, the following are ineligible: a Rotarian; an employee of a Rotary club, district, other Rotary entity, or Rotary International; any Rotarian’s or Rotary employee’s spouse, ancestor (parent or grandparent by blood), lineal descendant (child or grandchild by blood and any legally adopted child)

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM?

Teams are composed of 4-6 non-Rotarian team members, usually of various business and professional backgrounds, and one Rotarian team leader. The GSE experience spans 4-6 weeks. During the exchange, teams will visit local businesses,

government offices, and community organizations in the host district, tour historical and cultural sites, stay with Rotarian host families, and make presentations about their home countries and professions. Team members receive orientation

and cultural preparation from the sponsor Rotary district before their departure. This may include language training, practice of oral presentations, visits to Rotary clubs, and background about Rotary International’s mission and the

programs of its Foundation. The host country is determined before a team member’s application and selection.

WHAT IS PROVIDED?

For each team member, The Rotary Foundation provides the most economical round-trip air ticket between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel in their district. Each team member is responsible for all personal and incidental expenses incurred before, during, and after the study tour, including any personal travel arranged after the exchange.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF ME?

Before leaving: Participate in orientation sessions and group meetings, and obtain the necessary documents for traveling. This includes passport, travel visa, immunizations, and medical insurance.

During the tour: Accept the decisions of the Rotarian team leader. Fulfill any requirements to speak at Rotary host district gatherings. Remain with the group throughout the study tour except when individual activities are planned. Maintain standards of behavior that will reflect positively on Rotary and the home country.

After returning: Prepare and submit final reports of the tour as required by the sponsor district and The Rotary Foundation. Speak about your GSE experience to Rotary clubs and other groups.

How do I apply?

Contact your local Rotary club for application deadlines. Applications must be made through local Rotary clubs; those sent directly to The Rotary Foundation will not be considered. Candidates are selected by a qualified committee of Rotarian leaders. Additional information about Rotary club locations, GSE application materials, and program guidelines can be found at www.rotary.org.