Rotary International in Italy and Switzerland

Here's a picture of the Rotary Club on the little island of Capri off the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It was great to see evidence of Rotary work while I was abroad in both Italy and Switzerland. In Switzerland, for example, I met several women who were working on a bake and craft sale to benefit underprivileged children in Zurich! I'm looking forward to meeting Rotarians and seeing Rotary projects in Thailand!

"Official" Group Meeting Minutes Available Online

If you would like a summary of our group meetings, several group members have been kind enough to publish them to this blog below. Anyone who is interested in viewing the detailed/official meeting minutes in outline format may do so by following this link: http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dg7tms5f_4gqc4h4

Our Wednesday, December 13^th meeting in Windsor was fun and exciting to see our trip to-do list take shape. Our meeting started out with the announcement that Nicole Rohrkemper (an alternate member) will be joining the GSE Team to Thailand. Welcome to the team Nicole and we look forward to getting to know you.

We were off to the races hoping to accomplish as much as possible on our to-do list. Who knew time could pass so fast. As a team we put some ideas together for our presentation, which Lee and I said we would set up the initial layout as our take away. We then finalized our uniforms, ID badges and a possible social event.

As excited and dedicated as we all are, we understood that Christmas and the New Year is quickly approaching and we will meet again in the New Year to keep plugging away. To all of you from the GSE Team to Thailand, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Update from Nicole

Hello again,

I have returned to the States from my recent travel and had a great time meeting the team earlier this month! I wanted to post an update since I am no longer an alternate, and am officially a team member at this time. I'm getting prepared along with the rest of the team to go on the trip in February. I'm enjoying the work we're doing together to get ready, and am excited to contribute.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell everyone a little more about myself. Right now I'm exploring work with local and national non-profits, including two human/civil rights and anti-discrimination organizations in Michigan. I hope to bring my experience with the legal system to the non-profit sector where I can really make a difference working for cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and equality. In college I worked with several social action organizations. Some of my relevant coursework includes comparative politics, world religions, international economics, and philosophy. Most of my travel has been in Europe and North and South America, but I'm looking for opportunities to travel to less familiar locations. I am scheduled to study beginning Arabic at the University of Cairo (Egypt) in 2007. In the last few years I've been privileged to attend services at christian churches of a half-dozen dominations, at a Muslim mosque, zen temple, and Buddhist center. I've also walked labyrinths dedicated to the sacred feminine, attended an African-inspired spiritual drum circle, and participated in a Native American cleansing sweat lodge ceremony honoring our ancestors. This year I have been studying Buddhism and meditation at the Jewel Heart Center in Ann Arbor, where I live. I hope these cultural experiences will make me all the more prepared for our trip, and that I will get the chance to deepen my understanding of both Buddhism and Islam while we are in Thailand.

Sunday of the Weekend

December 3rd was the final day of our retreat. Since we might visit a Moslem family, we invited Imam Salef to join us and discuss what we might expect in a Moslem home. He told us that they stopped to pray five times a day, women should wear a scarf when entering a religious area, and said we will see many women in places of power equal to men. Imam Salef talked about the Koran and the similarities in Western faiths. He recommended a video titled “Legacy of a Profit” http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/ and gave us some phrases to learn that would please our host families. After the visit, we worked on our presentations and completed the day by shopping for our uniforms. It was a very successful weekend!

Saturday's Minutes

After a great sleep we the day started out with a hearty breakfast to get us prepared for a long day of team building, education and bonding.

Jeannette Saquet, PhD brought about our first challenge of the day. We were faced with identifying our own personality type using “The Sixteen Types” by David Keirsey. This opportunity offered an insight into our selves as well how to act and respond with each other. This will give us the ability to understand the thought process of fellow team members. Jeanette kept us moving along with a simulation to test our survival skills. The emergency situation took place in northern Quebec after our plane crashes. This simulation proved our skills working as a team were stronger than our skills on our own. Good to know for adventures that await us in Thailand.

The next few items on our agenda we were able to move through rather quickly. We set the dates for our future meetings to work strengthen our team as well as finish of the projects needed to be completed before our departure.

Kim took the floor next to present us with our uniform options. Well let’s just say there were a lot of styles and colours to choose from. It will be a very daunting task to choose the one right for our team.

Eileen informed the team we have funds available for our use towards language education. Brandon took on the task of finding the right program that meets our needs. As well Brandon has volunteered to take our photos for the business cards and brochures. Speaking of brochures team members were reminded to begin preparing the write up they want used for their profile.

Presentations were the next hot topic on the agenda. The will consist of two presentations to be shown in Thailand and one for use upon our return. The two for Thailand will be made up of one long, approximately 20 minutes and one short, approximately 6-7 minutes in length.

After these issues were dealt with our guest speaker arrived. We were given the opportunity to meet with a Buddhist Monk who revealed some insight into the Buddhist way of life. We learned the main fundamentals were made up of three ideas: 1) not to do bad, 2) to do good, and 3) to purify the mind. Buddhists believe in respect for other cultures, people, and every living thing and by doing this you will get far in life. He extended an offer to visit his temple to expand our knowledge of the Buddhist lifestyle. A big thank you for the insight which we were provided with.

Our final event for the day brought us right up to the evening hours, a wonderful Thai dinner with a rebound exchange student, Nolwazi, who spent a year in Thailand. Nolwazi gave us some hints and tips to make our adjustment into the Thai culture a bit smooth and seamless. Along with her wonderful stories, trinkets and souvenirs, she educated us on culture and language. Thank you Nolwazi for your tips as well as the Thai phrase sheet you prepared for us.

Weekend Getaway Kick-off Dinner

On Friday, December 1, our GSE team met at the Orchid Caf頩n Troy. Reverend Herb Swanson and his wife Runee were are guests. The Swansons lived in Thailand for over 30 years as a missionaries. We learned about a variety of Thai foods, appropriate dress, language tips, and much more. Following the dinner, the team went to the Homewood Suites in Troy where we began to work to prepare for the exchange to Thailand.

Summary of November 14, 2006 meeting.

Tonight marks the first official meeting of the GSE team headed for Thailand on February 19, 2007 – March 20,2007.

We began our meeting with introductions. Each person shared his/her name, occupation and affiliation with Rotary. Judy, Steve, and Eileen were able to share their experiences of first being involved in Rotary and their journey thus far. We learned of some of the many programs and activities that Rotary offers and the vast areas of the world that Rotary assists.

We discussed the idea of starting a scrapbook to share with the people of Thailand so that they have an understanding of our life and culture.

In order to best represent Canada and the United States, we will be selecting and purchasing an outfit (uniform) that will be worn whenever we are involved in a Rotary function. Kim will be looking for selections that may best suit the team.

Although English is widely used, we are looking into the possibility of taking language classes so that we might communicate better with those in Thailand. Even if we do not need the lessons, we would at least like to know some words and phrases to show our interest in their culture.

Eileen recorded some questions that we would like to ask in regards to our journey. These questions will be forwarded to Thailand and the answers will be returned via Eileen.

We scheduled our weekend away meeting. Using the Homewood Suites as our base, and with the help of Jeannette Saquet, we are going to build our team to prepare for the month long experience. It is exciting to think what is in store for us as we begin forming friendships and learning to work as one.

WOW, Thailand.

WOW, Thailand; another exciting piece of my life’s puzzle is upon me and it’s taking me to Thailand. I would like to thank Rotary International and District 6380 for allowing me to be a part of the 2007 Group Study Exchange Program (GSE) to Thailand and also for the amazing opportunities Rotary International provides like the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, RYLA and much more. www.rotary.org

Sawatdee Ka (Hello), I’m Brandon LeClair-Stuart from Chatham, Ontario, Canada. I am currently employed at Union Gas Ltd, a Spectra Energy Company (as of January 2007) where I am a Distribution Planning Engineer-In-Training (Mechanical Engineer-In-Training). My job entails approving new natural gas pipelines, approving new customers, emergency response and much more for my district of responsibility in northern Ontario.

I have been participating in Rotary events since 1995, when I was chosen as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student to France. I lived in Tours, France for one year. Since my year away and returning to Chatham after my studies, I have been participating in events with the Rotary Youth Exchange Students and RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) Program. Programs like these, along with the GSE Program, truly make the world seem smaller.

As we prepare for our trip to Thailand, I am looking forward to getting know the other team members and participating in this blog to share our experiences with you.

The Journey Begins

Hello To All:

Well another exciting chapter in my life has begun. This time the journey takes me to a wonderful Kingdom called Thailand. I am very fortunate to be part of such an amazing team. It always amazes me that no matter where you go in this world, whether next door or half way around the world, there are people out there similar to yourself. We, the team, may all be individuals but we all have the same drive, focus, and passion needed to make this journey, or better, this adventure a huge success.

Currently I am working in a Long Term Care facility in Sarnia, Ontario as a Nutritional Manager. To clarify, as a member or the interdisciplinary team, I ensure the dietary department follows the individual nutritional care place designed by the dietician for our residents. As well as the nutrition field I am a trained chef. Another reason I am so excited about this adventure, Thai cuisine is one the most interesting in the world. I grew up just outside of Chatham, Ontario and am presently residing there but lived for several years in Toronto. As well, I was given the unique opportunity to work and live in Italy as a chef in a 14th Century castle which has been converted to a hotel.

I have to take this moment to thank Rotary for giving me this opportunity. Rotary has had a major impact on who I am today. I was first introduced to Rotary at age sixteen where I embarked on the chance of a lifetime, like my fellow team member Brandon. I was among the few chosen to be a part of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, where I studied a year abroad in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. Now several years later, I am still involved with Rotary Youth Exchange Program, this time as a Non-Rotarian Counselor to the inbound student as well as a member of the Social committee for inbound students. Besides inbound students, I also enjoy being part of the selection committee for the outbound students. But my involvement with Rotary doesn’t stop there; I am also part of a wonderful weekend, RYLA. Those who have been know what I am talking about. And now here I am once again with Rotary by my side through this next adventure in life.

Ciao

Kim Pierce - Introduction.

Hi! My name is Kim Pierce. I am a Hairstylist from Chatham, Ontario, Canada.

Well, a lot of new things are happening in my world. Of utmost importance right now is being involved in Rotary International and the awesome opportunity to go to Thailand . I am so looking forward to learning more of blogging and sharing with my team members.

Tonight, I had my introduction to the Thai culture. On our Rotary weekend, we met a lovely couple by the name of Herb and Runee. They informed us of all the tips to preparing ourselves for our Thailand experience. We learned some Thai words ……… most of which I totally mispronounced but hey, I’m learning. In the days ahead, I hope to become more knowledgeable of the Thai language and culture. I’ll keep you posted. Stay tuned…..
:-) Kim Pierce.

Nicole: Introduction

Hi there,

I'm an alternate for the GSE Thailand trip, and even though I am currently out of the country I am doing my best to keep up with the team. I enjoyed meeting Eileen and Judy briefly, and I can't wait to meet else everyone involved in person. I'll be back from travelling very soon and am looking forward to working with everyone in the group, and doing what I can to help them prepare for a sucessful trip!

I am a legal assistant from Ann Arbor, Michigan (I grew up in Macomb, and went to Alma College, both in Michigan). At Alma, I majored in Economics and Philosophy. I've lived in the Ann Arbor area for about four years. I'm most interested in international and human rights law, as well as alternative conflict resolution. Over the past few years, I've enjoyed my experiences with progressive techniques in mediation/conflict resolution and collaborative law. With regard to the GSE program, I'm currently learning about the Thai legal system-- including both the local and superior courts and quasi-judicial Islamic tribunals. I'm also interested in Thailand's current human rights and accompanying legal issues (the focus of several current UN initiatives and positive recognition for the king!).

Right now I'm travelling in Switzerland, Italy and NYC. Some of the "fun" highlights of my trip include the Natural History museum in NYC (including an exhibit on Thailand's history and culture), cooking for and hosting an "American Thanksgiving" for 25 international students at a Swiss university, and exploring the underground aquaducts in Napoli.

I hope to add more as the blog progresses... in the meantime, I can't wait to hear from everyone!

GSE Preparation Creates a "HIGH"

Steve Youtz

I get “high” on life; even more so when I help people!

Did I get your attention? Great! Now let me explain the “how” and “why” of things.

The frequency and effectiveness of helping people has significantly been improved with my involvement in Rotary International; whose sole purpose is the support of local community and international humanitarian needs through peaceful programs. As a Rotarian, I’m driven by this “high” to continually search out opportunities for helping people.

During my quest I have become more and more involved in my local club, the Rotary Club of Milford, serving as chairman for several projects, as a board member and currently the 2006-2007 president. More recently however, participating in a Rotary Foundation supported program, a Group Study Exchange (GSE), has caught my interest. This program organizes non-Rotarian business professionals and a Rotarian into a team who together, travel to a host country to exchange cultural and professional ideas with Rotarians there. Selected as a Alternate Team Lead, I am tasked with helping to prepare the team for the exchange.

This year the GSE Team will travel to Thailand. Though I won’t be accompanying them, the satisfaction and “high” I anticipate experiencing will be partially the results of helping the team prepare for their trip.

Do you see how, by helping the team experience a successful trip, I can get “higher” on life?

Well maybe you just need to be a Rotarian to appreciate it!

So if our paths cross, look for the sparkle in my eye, the smile on my face or the energy I generate and you will know that I am “high” because I'm helping the GSE Team or other individuals with whatever challenges they were facing.

Still interested? Let’s talk!

Eileen Heasley

Greetings,
I am thrilled to be chosen as Team Leader for the Group Study Exchange going to Thailand in February, 2007. Thank you so much to those Rotarians who selected me for this high honor.

I have been asked to tell you about my background and what I hope to see in Thailand. It was my interest in providing safe drinking water to those who do not have it that brought me to Rotary in 2002. I initiated a water project that provides BioSand filters, toilets and hygiene training to a village near Kathmandu, Nepal. I am currently a board member and membership chairperson for my club in addition to being the Water Resource person for my district.
What do I expect to see in Thailand? I hope to see a team that works and travels as a strong unit. We are busy preparing for this to happen. In 1999 I was in Thailand for a week as a tourist with my husband and son. Although we tried to see things that other tourists miss, I hope that this trip will be a real look at how the people live and work.

The GSE Team Meets at the District 6380 Gala

Rotary District 6380 in USA and Canada has chosen a team of four non-Rotarians and two alternates to go to Thailand in February, 2007. They will be hosted by the Rotararians in District 3330. This team met for the first time at the Foundation Gala Dinner and will be using this blog if possible to keep everyone posted.