Do you have what it takes to be part of the District 5220 Group Study Exchange team to Mexico? Next year’s exchange with District 4180 will be an exciting adventure in Mexico!

Our 2011 Group Study Exchange (GSE) is a unique vocational and cultural opportunity for young professionals specializing in Water and Sanitation to study Mexico's institutions and ways of life, learn how their professions are practiced in Mexico, and exchange ideas.

The Group Study Exchange Team consists of one Rotarian Team Leader and four non-Rotarian young professionals. Applicants for team member must be between 25 and 39 years old and have at least two years experience in their profession. All applicants for Team Leader or Team Member will have professional qualifications as Civil Engineers, Hydrologists, Geologists, Water Systems Operators, Sanitary System Operators or other professions related to Water & Sanitation.

Candidates must be able to secure the time off work to be available for the full length of the exchange. Additionally, the entire team will be guests of the district for at least one night and three meals during the Rotary District Conference April 29-May 1, 2011 at which time they will make a brief presentation on the exchange.

Check with your professional association to determine if the exchange may be considered for continuing education credits.

Information for both team leader and team members are listed below. All applications must be complete, club endorsed and submitted to be received by July 31, 2010

The trip dates are March 23rd to April 24th, 2011

TEAM LEADER APPLICATION

TEAM MEMBER APPLICATION

contact GSE District Chair Alan Bailey, for further information.

Submit your completed, club endorsed application no later than 7/31/2010 to:

GSE c\o ALAN BAILEY

TEAM LEADER INFORMATION

Application Process for Team Leader

The applicant’s Rotary club must first endorse the team leader application. The club must then submit the endorsed team leader application to the district's GSE selection committee, which submits the endorsed application 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 the team’s 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 on the exchange 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

RI offers these suggestions for 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.

TEAM MEMBER INFORMATION

Application Process for Team Members

All interested applicants must first have their candidacy endorsed by a Rotary club in District 5220, the district where the applicant works or lives. From there, endorsed applications are sent on for consideration at the district level. APPLICATIONS MUST BE ENDORSED BY A CLUB IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED AND ARE NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT A CLUB ENDORSEMENT.

Eligibility Criteria: Team members MUST:

be between the ages of 25-40;
be employed full-time in a recognized profession for at least 2 years;
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.
Must work or live in the Rotary District. District 5220 comprises the community of Galt and following counties: Calaveras, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Tuolumne

Ideal Candidates for team member are:

between the ages of 25 and 40; a citizen of the country in which they reside;
employed full-time in a recognized profession;
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.

Comments and questions may be addressed to webmaster@rotary5220.org. We hope you enjoy your visit.

Rotary District 5220 - Serving California's Central Valley and Mother Lode