Rotary District 5100 Group Study Exchange Overview

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) is one of the most popular programs of The Rotary Foundation (TRF), in which District 5100 participates each Rotary year.
 

History
GSE began in 1955 as a new idea in a New Zealand district, and was adopted by the Trustees as an official educational program in 1965. GSE is the only free Foundation program for which all districts may apply. Since 1965, more than 60,000 individuals (almost 12,500 teams) from 100 countries have participated at a cost of more that $96 million. In 2006-07, 558 teams traveled abroad.  Program awards were $4.3 million.
 

Opportunities
GSE is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and woman between the ages of 25 and 40. It is designed to enhance the early years of their professional lives. The program provides study of culture, geography, economy, government, customs and language - then travel for each team to exchange visits between paired districts in different countries. For about four weeks team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe how their own vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange many ideas.
 

Team Selection
Each year the District Governor Nominees (DGN) choose which Districts will be paired for exchanges. The District 5100 GSE Committee carries out the exchange with that paired District. We usually select an initial group of 8 - a Team Leader and alternate (both Rotarians) plus 6 non-Rotarians, 4 Team Members and two alternates. The TL and four TM’s travel on the exchange, the alternates prepare fully and “stand by” in case they need to step in, which sometimes occurs.

The Exchange. TRF provides economical round-trip air travel between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians in each host country provide most meals and group travel within their district and lodging, usually stays in homes of host Rotarians. The hosts also arrange the vocational and cultural exchanges, and exchange itineraries for comment in advance. TRF requires each team member to receive 5 personalized vocational exchanges during the trip.

For the Inbound Team visiting our District, we provide the same hosting, vocational exchanges, cultural opportunities and getting to know what life is like in our District. GSE Teams make many presentations to Rotary clubs, and usually at both District Conferences, here and abroad.

More information on GSE is available in the links at left - the Team Handbook (for Team members), the Program Guide (for Rotarians), a flyer for each exchange as it is announced, and the application forms for Team Leader or Member.
 

GSE With Norway
The GSE for 2009-2010 will be with District 2250 around Stavanger, Norway.

This is a general exchange, meaning it is open to business people and professionals in all vocations.  However, given that Norwegians are heavily interested in environmental issues, climate change, renewable energy, marine and fisheries, and tourism (especially along the coast), we believe there could be exceptional opportunities for productive vocational exchanges in those areas.
 

Exchange dates for the Norway exchange are:

Both GSE teams will make presentations at our District Conference in Welches in the spring of 2010.  As in years past, there will probably be a picnic to meet them Thursday night and a cocktail gathering on Saturday night before the Governor’s banquet.

Your Club is encouraged to apply to enjoy this wonderful international exchange, and get to know these great Norwegians by:

  1. Hosting them in your homes for 3 to 5 days, and visit your club, or
  2. Provide vocational exchange opportunities.

Your club should apply through your GSE Regional Rep, as they coordinate the logistics, transportation, and assure the quality of each exchange. If we have more requests than we can accommodate, the GSE Committee will select those that are best suited to the inbound team.   Regional reps for 2009-2010 are not confirmed at this date.  If you do not have a rep listed below, please contact Vicki Yates, GSE chair, at (503) 656-9792 or at vicki@yateslaw.com, or Susan Winterbourne, vice chair, at swinterbourne@comcast.net.
 

Regional Representatives
Here is a list of District 5100 GSE Reps, by Region:

GSE Committee
The GSE program is a District function, and this standing committee is composed of Rotarians who have an interest and experience with Rotary and international cultures or travel. Many have been Team Leaders or alternates. In the selection process we usually include current, past and “elect” district governors, and a recent Team member for an experienced yet youthful perspective.

GSE Calendar


Here is a Calendar of GSE Activities for the coming months:

 

May 26, 2009 - Application Deadline for Team Leader for GSE to Norway

May 30, 2009 - Interviews of qualified Team Leader applicants         

August 28, 2009 - Application Deadline for Team Members to Norway

September 12, 2009 - Interviews of qualified Team Member applicants for GSE to Norway

September - (soon after interviews) - first meeting of GSE Team, orientation, set regular meetings

September 2009 – first meeting re Inbound team by Regional Reps and GSE Committee – discuss which clubs are interested, which areas are likely

February 27, 2010 - deadline for draft Itinerary for Outbound team (their itinerary for our team)

March 16, 2010 - deadline for draft Itinerary for Inbound team (our itinerary for their team)

April 27, 2010 - Outbound GSE Team Arrives in Norway

May 16, 2010 - Inbound GSE Team Arrives

May 18, 2010 - Outbound GSE Team Departs from Stavanger for Home

June 6, 2010 - Inbound GSE Team Departs Portland, OR, USA return to Norway

 

Sincerely yours in Rotary Service,
Vicki Yates, GSE Chair