Rotary Clubs in District 5080, which includes southeastern British Columbia, northern Idaho and eastern Washington, are seeking four outstanding professionals to visit Brazil’s Rotary District 4510 from April 20-May 20, 2013, as part of the Group Study Exchange program of the Rotary Foundation.
During the exchange, team members will share personal knowledge of their own country and vocations and experience the customs, vocations and lifestyles of Brazil. District 4510, described as an ecological paradise, is located in the mid-western region of Sao Paulo state. Metal industries, textile manufacturing and agriculture including coffee, sugar cane and oranges make this state the economic and industrial powerhouse of the Brazilian economy.
The purpose of the Group Study Exchange is to promote international understanding and goodwill through person-to-person contact. While abroad, team members stay in Rotarians’ homes and have the opportunity to meet their professional counterparts. They will also give presentations to Rotary clubs and other groups about their home country and respective vocations.
The Rotary Foundation provides a round-trip air ticket, and local Rotarians in the host country provide meals, lodging and group travel in their district. Team members pay for personal and incidental expenses including immunizations and visas.
People interested in applying should be employed full-time for at least two years in their vocation and be in the early stages of their careers. Young professionals within the age range of 25-40 at the time of the exchange are encouraged to apply. Applicants must live or be employed in Rotary District 5080.
Rotarians, employees of Rotary clubs, districts or other Rotary entities, and relatives of Rotarians (lineal descendants, ancestors, spouses, or spouses of ancestors or lineal descendants of Rotarians) are ineligible to apply.
For application forms and local club application deadlines, contact a local Rotary club or download the Group Study Exchange team member application form from www.rotary.org.
All applications must be made through a local Rotary club and forwarded to the District Group Study Exchange committee chair Sheila Hart by Sept. 8. Interviews will be held in Spokane, Wash., on Oct. 6. For more information, contact Hart at 250-825-9241 or sheilahart@shaw.ca.
— ROTARY DISTRICT 5080