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Contact: Jed Shropshire, (803) 665-5814 (cell), This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
What is Group Study Exchange (GSE)?
The Rotary Foundation’s GSE program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families. For each team member, the Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries. Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.
August 2010
Two members of the District's India GSE team were sponsored by the Spring Valley Rotary Club. Selected were Amanda Jordan and Kathleen McDaniel. Both team members visited the club in September and provided a vocational talk. Jed presented them each with a check for $250 from the club to help defray the cost of some of their travel preparation expenses.
Group Study Exchange (GSE) coordinator Jed Shropshire introduced Amanda Jordan to the club at the September 16th meeting. Amanda was nominated by our club and selected to be one of the five GSE Team members that are going to India in November. Amanda is a Corporal on the Community Action Team (CAT) for the Richland County Sheriffs Department. Thank you Leon Lott for encouraging her to apply.
Spring 2009
Spring Valley Rotary Hosts Group Study Exchange Team from England
Members of the Spring Valley Rotary Club hosted a Group Study Exchange (GSE) team from England. Pictured from left to right are: Babbi Jaco, President Elect of the SV Rotary Club, GSE Team leader Rodney Spokes, SV Rotarian Dr. Stuart Hamilton, GSE Team member Holly Shaw, SV Rotarian Julian Gibbons, GSE Team members Jane Maddison and Steve Collins and SV Rotarian Paula Matthews who also served as the GSE Coordinator for the Columbia area.
In the spring of 2009 our club hosted a GSE team from Rotary District 1070 which includes the East Midlands of England. We coordinated the Columbia area portion of the exchange by providing five host families and coordinating the teams Vocational Day hosted by Palmetto Health. Members also coordinated visits to the SC State House, Lake Murray, Fort Jackson and the Rotary District 7770 conference held in Columbia.
A total of 30 host families were needed to support this GSE team’s visit to South Carolina which was held March 7 through April 4. Rotarians in the Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand area, the Hilton Head/Bluffton/Beaufort area and the Orangeburg/Sumter/St. Matthews area also participated in this exchange. “GSE team members and leaders are ambassadors of goodwill. Their involvement allows those whom they come in contact with to learn more about the culture of their country. It really is an exchange,” said Paula Matthews, of the Spring Valley Club and GSE Coordinator for the Columbia area.