District 5110 Group Study Exchange
| Chair |
|---|
| Chris Duncan |
Inbound Team 2008 - Oregon/California
As part of the exchange, District 4790 has sent a team to our District. Visit them on their team website!
The GSE Team from Argentina has arrived!
Enrique, Alberto, Osvaldo, Judith, Soledad
The inbound GSE team from Argentina arrived on schedule Friday and were warmly greeted by Rotarians from seven of the local area Rotary clubs. The handshakes and kisses on the cheek were immediately followed by hugs, as all members of the team expressed their warmth and excitement to be here. Fifteen Rotarians and family members shared lunch with the team at the home of GSE Chair Chris Duncan, and Ralph Lafferty did the honor of presenting each team member with the Rotary Foundation pin given to all team members.
The team headed up the McKenzie River to the home of Doug Bales for a weekend of relaxation before their busy schedule began on Monday. Dinner Friday night was at the local hangout, Ike's Pizza, where they tried four different combinations of pizza toppings and two kinds of beer - all receiving rave reviews. Awed by the beauty and peacefulness of Doug's river property, where Doug, daughter Sara and fiancé Haley treated them like old friends, the team hung out along the river bank until their Argentinean clock caught up with them.
After sleeping late on Saturday, the team enthusiastically accepted the idea of a float down the McKenzie that afternoon. Captain Rick Duncan guided his crew in a paddle raft in which the most energetic paddler was the smallest person - Yuli (pronounced Juli). BBQ dinner complete, the team wanted to try marshmallows, as all the cartoon characters in Argentina eat marshmallows. So they roasted their first marshmallows and made s'mores, which they loved.
The Welcoming Committee!
Sunday took the team and a few Rotarians up to hike the Sahalie to Koosah Falls trail before heading to the cabin of Paul and Tamara Spain for a late lunch of chili, cornbread and salads. Even though Sahalie Falls was snowed in, the team managed to slip, slide and sink into the snow past their knees in order to see the falls bursting with turquoise blue water. Paul Spain led most of the group up a precarious snow-covered hillside to the top of the falls where, luckily, nobody slid into the icy water below.
Back at the cabin Tamara had a campfire burning with chairs all around, and lunch was prepared for all of the hungry hikers. The Argentineans devoured the chili in spite of the warm, sunny day, because they are used to having a hot meal for their mid-day meal. The absolutely gorgeous day and intense sun called for a nap, so we decided to head into town to deliver our new found friends to their first District 5110 host families.
The team really is as good as we've ever had. Each and every one of them is warm, friendly, and down -to-earth.
Chris Duncan, District GSE Chair
Outbound Team 2008 - Argentina
Lisa Cortes, Kelly Talbert, Heather Navarette-Linnemeyer,
Melissa Weinblatt and Team Leader Emily Francona
Our District team to District 4790 in northern Argentina is on their way! See the Team website for more information.
If there are questions about the GSE program, please go to the Rotary International Website at or contact a Rotarian in a club in your area.
SPREAD THE WORD!
NOW RECRUITING FOR GSE TEAMS TO INDIA AND THE PHILIPPINES FOR 2008-2009
Materials for Download
- GSE Brochure
- Fillable RI Team Member Application
- Fillable RI Team Leader Application
- Biographical Data Form
- Team Handbook
Thanks for Visiting!
Committee Details: Group Study Exchange
<< Grants Committee | Committees | Homeless Committee >>
