Dear Rotarians:
February’s promotion of world understanding is certainly evident in Youth Exchange and Group Study Exchange of District 6740. Relationships and cultural understanding are the foundation of peace and these Rotary programs bring the word a step closer to this ideal.
This Sunday I had the opportunity
to meet again with our Group Study Exchange team as they make their final
preparations for their excursion to District 1780 of France. Rotarian Jon Bennett of the Covington club
will lead our team that includes Carrie Strambaugh of Ashland, Brandi Berryman
of Lexington, Jessica Tretter of Lexington and Tabitha Baker of London on this
cultural and vocational exchange. Our team represents a diversity of
occupations and includes an engineer, a journalist, an urban designer, a
financial adviser and a social services clinician. They will depart on March 15
for a one month vocational and cultural experience in the Grenoble region. Just a few weeks after they leave we will be
hosting a team from District 1780 district from France.
Our Youth Exchange program, under the leadership of Chairman Jack Lundy and assisted by Outgoing Chair Bill Perrine and Incoming Chair Dave Wolfer, continues to provide young people with the opportunity to engage in the life changing experience of youth exchange. This summer we will have a short term exchange with Brazil and Heather Greene of the Georgetown club is our chair for STEP (short term exchange program). We will have some additional positions in our Youth Exchange program opening up in the next few months, so if youth exchange is your passion contact me at once. Preparations and arrangements are already being made for our incoming and outgoing youth for next year. Think about ways you can help by hosting, recruiting, or planning a special activity.
On a very sad note, my close friend and fellow Rotarian Lori Acton, died unexpectedly at age 55 on January 28. Lori’s Rotary years, as all her years, were full ones. She was the first female member of our club, a Paul Harris Fellow, an Assistant Governor, my District Conference Chair, a past president, facilitator for PETS, and the chair of the London-Corbin International dinner. Lori gave as much to Rotary as she did in her other roles of librarian, wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend. Of late, Lori was the happiest I have seen her in 25 years and I know she is at peace.
Peace Through Service,
Kathryn Hardman
District Governor
No comments:
Post a Comment