Group Study Exchange
Mary Beth Aguilar - Chair
Carbondale Breakfast
Purpose: Facilitate an exchange of teams of outstanding young non-Rotarian business and professional persons between districts in different countries.
Goals: applications for Group Study Exchange Team are now being accepted for our next exchange 2009-10 to District 3600 in South Korea. They are sending us their team in late March - early April 2010, and we are sending our team to their District Conference in April/May 2010.
For the 2010-2011 Rotary Year, the parameters have changed for GSE. In the spring of 2011, we will be receiving a GSE team from District 1080 in England. In the fall of 2011, during the 2011-2012 Rotary year, we will send a team to District 1080.
To host the incoming GSE Team, please contact Mary Beth Aguilar.
The GSE program began in 1955 as the idea of a New Zealand district. Originally known as the Rotary Overseas Travel Award (ROTA), it was adopted by the Trustees as an official educational program in 1965.
As of the end of the 1999-2000 Rotary year, 8,063 teams had traveled, with another 587 scheduled for 2000-01. Through 1999-2000, 42,209 participants had taken advantage of the program, with 2,935 more alumni presumed for 2000-01. For 2001-02, more than 590 teams were paired, adding nearly 3,000 more participants to the total.
Expenditures through 1999-2000 were more than US$73 million. In 1999-2000 alone, the Foundation spent US$3,825,111.81 for the program.
GSE is the only free Foundation program for which all districts in good standing may apply.
South Korea GSE Team 2010
(L to R) Following a long-standing Rotary Club tradition, Freeburg Rotary Club President Steve Jackson and GSE Team Leader Sang Bok-Lee exchanged Club banners at our April 12 meeting. Pictured from left, Yeon Bong-Kim, Yun Mo-Yang, GSE Team Leader Sang-Bok- Lee, Freeburg Rotary Club President Steve Jackson, Jung Yeon-Eun, and Se Yeon-Cho.
Application Process for Team Members
All interested applicants must first have their candidacy endorsed by a Rotary club in the district where the applicant works or lives. From there, endorsed applications are sent on for consideration at the district level. Club and district deadlines for applications vary, often six months before travel. Applications sent to the Foundation without club and district endorsement will be returned.
Eligibility Criteria
Team members must:
- be between the ages of 25-40;
- be employed full-time in a recognized profession;
- not be a Rotarian, honorary Rotarian, or employee of Rotary or the lineal descendant or spouse of a lineal descendant, a Rotarian, an honorary Rotarian, or an employee of Rotary;
- not be the spouse of another team member;
- not be an ex-Rotarian or the lineal descendant or spouse of a lineal descendant of an ex-Rotarian or ex-Rotary employee who resigned less than 36 months before the time of application.
Ideal Candidates
Ideal team members are:
- between the ages of 25 and 40;
- employed full-time in a recognized profession;
- a citizen of the country in which they reside;
- in good health;
- neat in appearance and able to express themselves clearly and logically;
- of a sound, general educational background;
- interested in and clearly enthusiastic about their chosen vocation and in possession of outstanding vocational skills;
- open-minded, tolerant, and flexible;
- proficient in the major language of the partner district;
- comfortable working as part of a team with a schedule that is physically and emotionally demanding.
Application Process for Team Leader
The team leader application must first be endorsed by the applicant's Rotary club. The club must then submit the endorsed team leader application to the district's GSE selection committee, which submits the endorsed appliction to The Rotary Foundation. Deadlines for applications vary within each club and district. Any applications sent to the Foundation without club and district endorsement will be returned.
Responsibilities of the Team Leader
The team leader acts as advocate, confidant, mediator, organizer, intermediary, consultant, colleague, friend, motivator, arbitrator, and protector of team members. As the only Rotarian on the team, the team leader is expected to assume complete control of the team and put its interests first.
Eligibility Criteria
The team leader must:
- be an experienced Rotarian;
- not be the current district governor, immediate past district governor, or district governor-elect;
- remain with the team for the duration of the exchange;
- be willing and able, physically and mentally, to keep pace the GSE;
- not be accompanied by a spouse, companion, or other relatives or dependents.
The team leader should help coordinate the exchange by facilitating the submission of pre- and post-departure documents (including the Travel Request) and by acting as an adviser during the selection of team members.
Ideal Candidates for Team Leader
An ideal team leader:
- is not more than 20 years older than the oldest team member;
- possesses outstanding interpersonal communication skills;
- is proficient in the major language of the host district;
- has presentation and public-speaking skills and is able to help the team prepare for speeches at Rotary clubs;
- has the ability to imbue a team with a sense of mission.
GSE Team Leader Application
GSE Team Member Application
GSE Downloads
REConnections Bulletin
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