Applicants must be between 25 and 40 years of age, from the NYC metropolitan area, and in their profession for 2 years .
Each year, most Rotary Districts around the world pair themselves with another Rotary District and they exchange a group of four young, local people (non-Rotarians ages between 25 and 40) and a leader (who is an experienced Rotarian of any age). On March 21, 2010, these lucky people will fly to Tasmania for a full month. The Rotary Foundation pays the airfare (even to Tasmania) and the hosts take care of pretty much all of their usual expenses while in Tasmania. Our team will actually live in Tasmanian homes (rather than hotels) so that they get to know their hosts well. They will be trans-planted several times during the trip to different areas of Tasmania and live with several different host families.
Since the basis for Rotary is international, interpersonal relationships, many activities will be scheduled for the team during that month, throughout the island of Tasmania.
1) Vocational visits: The Tasmanian hosts will arrange four or five one day or half day visits for our team members with various local individuals who practice or work in their same line of business or profession. Many of these professionals will also be Rotarians, which immediately establishes a special bond. Some that I met on my GSE were actually world famous.
2) Rotary Club meetings: Several Rotary meetings will be scheduled, where fortunately they speak our language, although it may not necessarily sound like it! Our team members will be expected to tell a little about themselves, their family, their work and even a little about where they come from. PowerPoint presentations are generally used and we can teach those who are new to them. Invariably, our team members will meet interesting people whom they will want to learn more about and vice versa. We will help them obtain business cards, which they may distribute to those with whom they might like to correspond or perhaps meet again.
3) Cultural sessions: These, of course, blend in with interesting touring of the area, guided by their hosts. Team members will be asked ahead of time to state their preferences, if any. These may include various cities, hiking and climbing in national parks, factories, houses of worship, car shows, cattle shows, sheep-shearing, opera, theater, biking, etc.
4) Government visits: Since many Rotarians are involved in government, team members may meet with elected officials ceremonially and/or person-to-person.
5) Free days: Rotary has ruled that each team member must have at least one free, personal day per week to sleep, shop, explore, etc.
6) The unexpected: It could be touring the private estate of a wealthy Rotarian, a round of golf at a local club, the research and development labs of a large automobile company, a city tour given by one Rotarian entitled "My favorite things!"
Rotary multi-page brochure (PDF):
http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/165en.pdf
A basic, descriptive GSE brochure:
http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/160en.pdf
