Rotary District 5610 seeks GSE Candidates

to District 2820, Japan

District 5610 is seeking candidates for a Rotarian team leader and four non-Rotarian team members ages 25-40 for the outbound Group Study Exchange to District 2820 in Japan.

The GSE program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals who are in the early stages of their careers. The team will experience the host country’s culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas. 

The exchange to District 9790 is scheduled from March 20 to April 18, 2010.

Team leader candidates must be experienced Rotarians, who are willing to lead the team and act as a liaison between team members and the host clubs. Also, the leader must posses a willingness to play an active role in the team’s preparations and orientation prior to departure, ensuring that team members are well informed, motivated, and cohesive. Applications for team leader will be accepted from September 1 to October 1, 2009, with interviews tentatively scheduled for October 10, 2009. Along with the application, please submit a written statement responding to the following:

1. What makes you interested in leading a GSE trip to another country?
2. How would you describe your team-building style?
3. Tell about a time when you set out to build good will and better friendships with a person who was different from you in some way.
4. Choose two words to describe yourself and explain why you chose those words.

Team member candidates must be endorsed by a local Rotary club and cannot be spouses or lineal descendants of current Rotarians. Candidates shall be professional or business people who have been at their current employment for at least two years and who are 25-40 years old. Employers must give permission for the candidate to participate before the application is submitted. Candidates must be enthusiastic about experiencing and learning about another culture. Team member applications will be accepted from September 15 through October 15, 2009, and interviews are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, October 24 or 31, 2009.

Information on the GSE program is available at www.rotary.org.  Find the application forms by going to Service and Fellowship>Fellowship>Group Study Exchange from the Rotary homepage and reviewing the left sidebar.  Send completed team leader and team member applications by the designated dates to Kate Campbell at kcampbell@sio.midco.net.

Check www.5610tobrazil.com and www.5610toaustralia.com for blogs of previous GSE exchanges from District 5610.  If you have any questions or want additional information, please contact GSE Co –Chairs Bert Olson at fbolson@fnbsf.com or Kate Campbell at kcampbell@sio.midco.net.