Wednesday, December 30, 2009
What is the Group Study Exchange Program???
Group Study Exchange is a Rotary Foundation program. Every year each Rotary district is given the opportunity to develop an exchange with another Rotary district somewhere in the world. Each district selects a Rotarian team leader and a small number of non-Rotarian team members for a four-to-six week study tour of the exchange district. Team members are hosted by Rotary clubs and their families during the tour, and the Rotary Foundation supports all travel expenses between the districts. Team members receive a thorough orientation on the language and culture of their host district, and the team prepares presentations for host Rotary clubs and other groups in the host country. After returning from the host district, team members share their experiences with sponsoring Rotary clubs and within their communities and workplaces. The objectives of the GSE program are to provide a unique educational set of objectives for young business and professional persons, designed to advance international understanding and goodwill through an extensive and rigorous program of international travel and participatory activities. This is accomplished through four main program aspects. Vocational site visits provide organized opportunities for team members to observe their vocation as practiced in other countries. The study, discussion and reciprocal exchange of ideas that results provides perspective that often impacts team members’ long term career and ultimately benefits all communities involved. Cultural experiences allow participants to study another country, its people, and its institutions through an organized and meaningful host program that promote an appreciation of cultural diversity worldwide. Fellowship opportunities encourage team members and hosts to meet, communicate, and live with one other in a spirit of fellowship and goodwill, to consider each other’s problems, aspirations, and community concerns, and to develop lasting friendships and understanding. The Rotarian team leader offers a Rotarian specific, practical, and meaningful opportunities for International Service.
Map of India
As said before we will be traveling through South Central India. Here is a map of India, although I could not quite figure out how to exactly pinpoint for all of you where we will be visiting, I think that this map may help you out a bit. We will be flying into Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. The rest of our trip will be spent in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with stops in the following cities; Raucher, Davangere, Anantpur, Gulbarga, Bellary, Chitradurga, Nollore, and Gudur. It is a lot of ground to cover in a month...Saturday, December 26, 2009
Meet the ladies....
Here is our GSE tea
m for 2010 at one of our three training sessions. I am lucky enough to be going on this trip, and even luckier to be traveling with such amazing companions! It has been a pleasure getting to know each and every one of these women better and I am sure our friendships will continue to grow as we continue on this month long adventure! Below I have added a bit of information about each of us, as you can see for yourself...amazing women through and through.
Here is a bit about each of the women I am traveling with....
First of all our fearless leader:
Lucinda Enderby
GSE INDIA TEAM LEADER
Lucinda is a certified Public Accountant specializing in the taxation of trusts and estates. She received her bachelors degree in Sociology in 1971 from Oregon State University and later stdued accounting. In 1988 she became a partner in an accounting firm in Santa Barbara, California. She sold that business in 2003 and moved to Michigan where she is the Trust & Estate Tax Manager for a firm in Houghton, Michigan.
She has two daughters who live near Santa Barbara, California. Rebecca, the oldest daughter, is married to Hector Tellez. She works in a dentist office and he manages the finance department for a car dealership. The youngest daughter, Katherine, works for an outpatient surgery center and is studying to be a nurse.
Lucinda joined Rotary in 1988. She served as president of the Montecito Rotary Club in Santa Barbara, California 2004-2005. In 2003 she received the Four Avenues of Service Citation from Rotary International. Her interest in international projects has taken her to Mexico for a clean drinking water project, Ghana to participate in a Polio National Immunization Day, Thiland as a part of a group to see how past projects were being managed and to the Philippines to work on a housing project and develop a project for the rehabilitation fo the handicapped and disabled.
At home in Michigan she enjoys gardening, hiking, kayaking, bicycling, golf, snow shoeing, sewing, and knitting.
Lily Palmer
GSE INDIA TEAM MEMBER
Lily lives in the Upper Peninsula of the State of Michigan, where she is employed by a private consulting firm, Coleman Engineering Company. Lily has a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Science and a Certificate of Environmental Studies. In her capacity at Coleman Engineering Company, Lily provides wetland and natural resource consulting services as well as environmental investigation services to ensure that her clients are aware of possible hazardous substance and petroleum contamination on properties that they would like to purchase.
She is the President and co-founder of GO-IN' FORWARD, a young professional organization in her area. Lily also served ont eh board of her local natural food co-op for two years, volunteered in a National Park for a summer and is Volunteer Coordinator for a park initative in her community.
Lily enjoys cross country skiing, swimming, music, running, attending yoga classes and gardening. She studied abroad during her final semester of college in Trinidad and Tobago. Most recently, Lily and her husband Tom have been enjoying constructing a small cabin on a rural, eight hectare property they purchased in 2008.
Sue Vater Olsen
GSE INDIA TEAM MEMBER
Sue is Library Director at the Scandinavia Public Library in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. She enjoys the challenge of providing information to inquiring patrons in this community of 349 people. The library employs four librarians and is often staffed by only one person at a time.
Sue lives and works on a 176 acre farm in rural Waupaca County with her husband George. They raise sheep, beef cattle, pigs, chickens, and garden crops together. For enjoyment a prairie and woodland is maintained on the land. George teaches chemistry at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
Sue has also worked as a manufacturing engineer, mechanical engineering lecturer, museum progam planner, laundry worker (Wyoming), and camp councilor (Iowa). Volunteering has provided Sue with experience in house building (Mississippi), logging road planning (Alaska), museum display development, and food service.
Sue's four grandparents were self-employed as dairy farmers. Her parents have worked as an industrial arts teacher, math teacher, phootgrapher, watercolor painter, adn pheasant farmers. She is very thankful for all of the expeirences they have provided to her. Sue and George have no children, but enjoy the company of their 14 nephews and nieces. Holidays are often spent with extended family.
Lisa Nicole Casey
GSE INDIA TEAM MEMBER
Lisa most recently became the majority owner of Kinetico Water Systems, a non-electric water treatment company in Northeaster Wisconsin. Lisa was attracted to the water treatment business after learning about the world's water challenges while developing a business plan for her friend. Currently, Lisa is the youngest female majority owner of a water treatment dealership in the country. Prior to starting her own business, Lisa focused her career in the non-profit sector. Lisa served as Exectuive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, a local non-profit organization, from 2005-2009.
She has been recognized nationally through her active participation in nationwide initiatives, programmatic innovations and the development of best practices to increase standards of service for non-profits. Lisa also received the 2008 Young Professional of the Year Award from the area's local chamber of commerce, was named a finalist for the Ethics in Business Award two years in a row adn was spotlighted as one of the "25 Women You Should Know" in the local YOU magazine. Lisa was also named the youngest Executive Director that a Big Brothers Big Sisters agency has had nationwide.
Lisa is a take-charge, relationship focused, community-minded woman. She encourages all those around her to get involved in teh community and accept the challenges beyond their current comfort level for professional growth. She brings a special set of skills and enthusiam for organizational development and seeking efficiencies for greater output in the for-profit and non-profit sectors.
In her spare time, Lisa enjoys training for triathlons (swimming, biking, & running competitions) partaking in outdoor recreational activities, practicing yoga and spending time with her family and friends. On a Saturday you can find her at a local bookstore reading and sipping tea with her friends.
Marcy Kusz
GSE INDIA TEAM MEMBER
Marcy is currently working on her second year as a middle and high school guidance counselor in Ironwood, Michigan. She has been working in the field of education for the last ten years, formerly as a middle and elementary school teacher. She received her Bachelors of Arts from Northland College in Ashland Wisconsin in the spring of 1999 and received her Masters in Guidance Counseling from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan in the spring of 2009.
Marcy lives with her dog, Lexi in Ironwood, Michigan where she remins very close to her family and friends. Marcy is very active in her community. She has played a large role in teh GO-IN' FORWARD group, which is a young professional group that has been established over the last year in her community. Marcy also sits on the city of Ironwood Parks and Recreation committee, where she is currently filling the role of secretary. Along with her important role as guidance counselor in the middle and high school, Marcy has also taken on the role of advising the outdoor adventure club, the pep club, middle school student council, freshman class advisor as well as coaching both JV and Varsity Cheerleading.
Marcy is somewhat new to her Rotary connections; in teh last year she has worked with two Rotary exchange students in her school (one outbound and one inbound student). Marcy is excited that Rotary is making her trip to India possible, and looks forward to being able to share the experience with her students upon her return.
m for 2010 at one of our three training sessions. I am lucky enough to be going on this trip, and even luckier to be traveling with such amazing companions! It has been a pleasure getting to know each and every one of these women better and I am sure our friendships will continue to grow as we continue on this month long adventure! Below I have added a bit of information about each of us, as you can see for yourself...amazing women through and through.Here is a bit about each of the women I am traveling with....
First of all our fearless leader:
Lucinda Enderby
GSE INDIA TEAM LEADER
Lucinda is a certified Public Accountant specializing in the taxation of trusts and estates. She received her bachelors degree in Sociology in 1971 from Oregon State University and later stdued accounting. In 1988 she became a partner in an accounting firm in Santa Barbara, California. She sold that business in 2003 and moved to Michigan where she is the Trust & Estate Tax Manager for a firm in Houghton, Michigan.
She has two daughters who live near Santa Barbara, California. Rebecca, the oldest daughter, is married to Hector Tellez. She works in a dentist office and he manages the finance department for a car dealership. The youngest daughter, Katherine, works for an outpatient surgery center and is studying to be a nurse.
Lucinda joined Rotary in 1988. She served as president of the Montecito Rotary Club in Santa Barbara, California 2004-2005. In 2003 she received the Four Avenues of Service Citation from Rotary International. Her interest in international projects has taken her to Mexico for a clean drinking water project, Ghana to participate in a Polio National Immunization Day, Thiland as a part of a group to see how past projects were being managed and to the Philippines to work on a housing project and develop a project for the rehabilitation fo the handicapped and disabled.
At home in Michigan she enjoys gardening, hiking, kayaking, bicycling, golf, snow shoeing, sewing, and knitting.
Lily PalmerGSE INDIA TEAM MEMBER
Lily lives in the Upper Peninsula of the State of Michigan, where she is employed by a private consulting firm, Coleman Engineering Company. Lily has a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Science and a Certificate of Environmental Studies. In her capacity at Coleman Engineering Company, Lily provides wetland and natural resource consulting services as well as environmental investigation services to ensure that her clients are aware of possible hazardous substance and petroleum contamination on properties that they would like to purchase.
She is the President and co-founder of GO-IN' FORWARD, a young professional organization in her area. Lily also served ont eh board of her local natural food co-op for two years, volunteered in a National Park for a summer and is Volunteer Coordinator for a park initative in her community.
Lily enjoys cross country skiing, swimming, music, running, attending yoga classes and gardening. She studied abroad during her final semester of college in Trinidad and Tobago. Most recently, Lily and her husband Tom have been enjoying constructing a small cabin on a rural, eight hectare property they purchased in 2008.
Sue Vater OlsenGSE INDIA TEAM MEMBER
Sue is Library Director at the Scandinavia Public Library in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. She enjoys the challenge of providing information to inquiring patrons in this community of 349 people. The library employs four librarians and is often staffed by only one person at a time.
Sue lives and works on a 176 acre farm in rural Waupaca County with her husband George. They raise sheep, beef cattle, pigs, chickens, and garden crops together. For enjoyment a prairie and woodland is maintained on the land. George teaches chemistry at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
Sue has also worked as a manufacturing engineer, mechanical engineering lecturer, museum progam planner, laundry worker (Wyoming), and camp councilor (Iowa). Volunteering has provided Sue with experience in house building (Mississippi), logging road planning (Alaska), museum display development, and food service.
Sue's four grandparents were self-employed as dairy farmers. Her parents have worked as an industrial arts teacher, math teacher, phootgrapher, watercolor painter, adn pheasant farmers. She is very thankful for all of the expeirences they have provided to her. Sue and George have no children, but enjoy the company of their 14 nephews and nieces. Holidays are often spent with extended family.
Lisa Nicole Casey
GSE INDIA TEAM MEMBER
Lisa most recently became the majority owner of Kinetico Water Systems, a non-electric water treatment company in Northeaster Wisconsin. Lisa was attracted to the water treatment business after learning about the world's water challenges while developing a business plan for her friend. Currently, Lisa is the youngest female majority owner of a water treatment dealership in the country. Prior to starting her own business, Lisa focused her career in the non-profit sector. Lisa served as Exectuive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, a local non-profit organization, from 2005-2009.
She has been recognized nationally through her active participation in nationwide initiatives, programmatic innovations and the development of best practices to increase standards of service for non-profits. Lisa also received the 2008 Young Professional of the Year Award from the area's local chamber of commerce, was named a finalist for the Ethics in Business Award two years in a row adn was spotlighted as one of the "25 Women You Should Know" in the local YOU magazine. Lisa was also named the youngest Executive Director that a Big Brothers Big Sisters agency has had nationwide.
Lisa is a take-charge, relationship focused, community-minded woman. She encourages all those around her to get involved in teh community and accept the challenges beyond their current comfort level for professional growth. She brings a special set of skills and enthusiam for organizational development and seeking efficiencies for greater output in the for-profit and non-profit sectors.
In her spare time, Lisa enjoys training for triathlons (swimming, biking, & running competitions) partaking in outdoor recreational activities, practicing yoga and spending time with her family and friends. On a Saturday you can find her at a local bookstore reading and sipping tea with her friends.
Marcy Kusz
GSE INDIA TEAM MEMBER
Marcy is currently working on her second year as a middle and high school guidance counselor in Ironwood, Michigan. She has been working in the field of education for the last ten years, formerly as a middle and elementary school teacher. She received her Bachelors of Arts from Northland College in Ashland Wisconsin in the spring of 1999 and received her Masters in Guidance Counseling from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan in the spring of 2009.
Marcy lives with her dog, Lexi in Ironwood, Michigan where she remins very close to her family and friends. Marcy is very active in her community. She has played a large role in teh GO-IN' FORWARD group, which is a young professional group that has been established over the last year in her community. Marcy also sits on the city of Ironwood Parks and Recreation committee, where she is currently filling the role of secretary. Along with her important role as guidance counselor in the middle and high school, Marcy has also taken on the role of advising the outdoor adventure club, the pep club, middle school student council, freshman class advisor as well as coaching both JV and Varsity Cheerleading.
Marcy is somewhat new to her Rotary connections; in teh last year she has worked with two Rotary exchange students in her school (one outbound and one inbound student). Marcy is excited that Rotary is making her trip to India possible, and looks forward to being able to share the experience with her students upon her return.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Dec. 12, 2009.....21 days until I leave for India
21 days until I board the plane for India...and there is sooo much to do!
It is coming up so fast and I am quickly realizing that there are things I forgot to order, things I have to pack, work I have to complete, letters I need to write (at work), gifts I need to purchase (for my host families)...the list goes on and on.
On the bright side I have a nice two week vacation coming up that I get to somewhat realx and spend time with my firends and family before I leave for a whole month.
How do you pack for a month? How do you pack for a warm climate, with restrictions on women's clothing? Shoes? What shoes? How many shoes? Do I pack what I can here and purchase when I get there? How do I pack to fly out of Green Bay and fly into 90 degree weather for a month (any amount of suitcase space is important!)?
The craziness of it all...
On a positive note I am traveling with an amazing team of women that I am looking forward to getting to know better. As many of you may already know Lily Palmer and I are both from Ironwood and were both blessed with this trip (which is rare since this is the first time someone from the Ironwood/Hurley area has applied to go), there are also two women from the Appleton area, Susan Vater Olsen and Lisa Casey, and our team leader from Houghton, Lucinda Enderby. Five strong and intelligent women taking on India!
It is coming up so fast and I am quickly realizing that there are things I forgot to order, things I have to pack, work I have to complete, letters I need to write (at work), gifts I need to purchase (for my host families)...the list goes on and on.
On the bright side I have a nice two week vacation coming up that I get to somewhat realx and spend time with my firends and family before I leave for a whole month.
How do you pack for a month? How do you pack for a warm climate, with restrictions on women's clothing? Shoes? What shoes? How many shoes? Do I pack what I can here and purchase when I get there? How do I pack to fly out of Green Bay and fly into 90 degree weather for a month (any amount of suitcase space is important!)?
The craziness of it all...
On a positive note I am traveling with an amazing team of women that I am looking forward to getting to know better. As many of you may already know Lily Palmer and I are both from Ironwood and were both blessed with this trip (which is rare since this is the first time someone from the Ironwood/Hurley area has applied to go), there are also two women from the Appleton area, Susan Vater Olsen and Lisa Casey, and our team leader from Houghton, Lucinda Enderby. Five strong and intelligent women taking on India!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
