Ready for a trip of a lifetime? Are you a young professional with a desire to experience the culture and people of Egypt or Brazil? Would you like to spend an expense-paid month in either country meeting and living with influential leaders, dignitaries, and your professional peers? The Kingwood Rotary Club is seeking applicants from our local communities.

Program Overview – The Kingwood Rotary Club, as part of the Greater Houston-area Rotary District 5890 (www.rotary5890.org) is seeking applicants to be members of a Group Study Exchange (GSE) team that will be traveling to Rotary District 2450 in Egypt from approximately April 11 to May 9, 2009, and to Rotary District 4630 in southern Brazil from approximately May 16 to June 14, 2009.  Each GSE team will consist of four young, Houston-area professionals from various vocational backgrounds and will be led by a District 5890 Rotarian as their team leader.  GSE team members' travel and accommodation expenses will be paid for by The Rotary Foundation.  GSE team members will reside and board with Rotarians and their families in Egypt or Brazil during the month long exchange trip.  

"We are delighted to offer this chance-of-a-lifetime experience to young professionals in Houston," said Mike Dennard, Rotary District 5890 GSE program coordinator.  "Having the opportunity to become close friends with Egyptian and Brazilian professionals, stay in their homes, and live with their families is a rare and exciting prospect.  GSE team members will discover that the individuals they meet during this experience will provide them with a new network for lifelong friendships and relationships."  Mike also added, "We will inform prospective team members' employers of the benefits of the Rotary GSE program so that prospective team members can take time from their profession to participate in this extraordinary international program."

In 2006, the Kingwood Rotary Club sponsored Ty James, a facilitator at Quest High School, as a GSE Team Member to Johannesburg, South Africa which focused on literacy.  “This gave our new Rotary club the opportunity to send Mr. James on a trip of a lifetime, and gave him the opportunity to meet his peers in South Africa to learn more about schools in South Africa.  His high school students ultimately received the benefit of his experience,” said Tommie Buscemi, Kingwood Rotary GSE program coordinator.  Tommie also added, “We recently hosted GSE team members from South Korea, and it was such a rewarding experience for them, our families, and our club members.  Two of the team members were teachers, so we arranged for them to spend half of the day visiting students and teachers at Quest High School, and the other half of the day with Dr. Sconzo.  They were so amazed at our educational system.”

Eligibility - Applicants must be between the ages of 25 and 40, be currently employed, have clearance to take time from their profession, have time to participate in the preparation and language training activities, reside in District 5890, be a U.S. citizen, and be physically and mentally prepared for the rigorous GSE team itinerary and travel schedule.  Also, applicants may NOT be direct relatives of Rotarians.            

Agenda - The GSE team will enjoy a one month travel itinerary in Egypt and Brazil that will include cultural and historical tours, participation in Brazilian and Egyptian Rotary activities, and meetings with professionals who share the GSE team member's vocation.  The GSE team will make several presentations to host Rotary Clubs describing facts about Houston and their personal life in Texas.   Upon return, GSE team members will be invited to share their GSE experiences both at Rotary Clubs and other community venues.

Application – Applicants must apply for either the trip to Brazil, or the trip to Egypt.  The "Group Study Exchange Team Member" application forms and other details about participating in the GSE program may be found online at www.rotary.org, or contact Tommie Buscemi with the Kingwood Rotary Club at Tommie@kingwoodcable.net.   Applications are due for both trips by November 10, 2008 to Tommie Buscemi, Kingwood Rotary Club, P.O. Box 5676, Kingwood TX 77325.  You will be required to participate in a reception for applicants at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 14th, and your interview will be conducted on Saturday, November 15th, or Sunday, November 16th.  For more information contact Tommie Buscemi at 281.359.7193 (w), 713.598.7129 (cell).

Rotary Mission - A worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.  Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self”.  

Kingwood Rotary – The Kingwood Rotary Club meets every Thursday evening at the Kingwood Country Club from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM.  To learn more, please visit www.kwrotary.org or call 281.359.7193

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