PROGRAMME and DIRECTORY

GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE (GSE): a TRF-program

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country’s institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

The GSE program began in 1955 as the idea of a New Zealand district. Originally known as the Rotary Overseas Travel Award (ROTA), it was adopted by the Trustees as an official educational program in 1965. As at the end of the 2003/2004 Rotary year, an estimated 54,000 participants have been involved in the program worldwide.

A GSE team consists of four non-Rotarian business or professional people and a Rotarian team leader. Individuals who participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience will return home not only with new perspectives and an enriched vision, but also with fresh ideas and an understanding of a nation’s culture, commerce and Government that can be invaluable to their future.

For each team member, The Rotary Foundation provides the most economical round-trip air ticket between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

Past GSE team members have commented on their experience:

·	“This trip has opened my eyes to the full scope of our world and has taught me to think more globally”.

·	“The GSE also opened my eyes to what Rotary Clubs do in their respective communities. Although each Club has a different focus or way of doing things, they all have the same honourable objective”.

·	“We saw the culture, social values and history of another country through the eyes of our Rotary hosts, as we lived their lives with them for five weeks. This was an experience that will remain with me forever and has formed permanent friendships for me”.

·	“It has been over two years since I returned from the GSE trip and I can honestly state that a day never passes where a memory or thought of that experience does not enter my mind. I cannot thank Rotary enough for the opportunity to participate in this wonderful program”.

National Anthems

WELCOME FROM DISTRICT GOVERNOR

To our friends from District 4560, Brazil / Santa Catarina:

On behalf of the members of the District 1580 GSE committee and of all the Rotarians in our District, I would like to extend a warm welcome to your team from District 4650 led by Mrs. Adriana Zardo, member of Rotary Club Jaraguá do Sul Vale do Itapocu. I can promise that you have much to look forward to over the next four weeks, and we know it will be an experience that will leave you with lasting memories.

Throughout this exchange, you will travel around our district, to some beautiful country regions and visit a variety of places large and small. Every day you will meet many different people who will give an insight into the Dutch way of life. Some may become friends or useful contacts in your particular vocations, but everyone that you meet will add to your knowledge of the Dutch culture.

The Rotarians of District 1580 encourage you to enjoy your time with us. The GSE is a hectic time of moving around, observing and listening, but the most important part of this exchange is communication. Wherever you are, speaking to those around you will provide a real insight into the lives, work and issues that concern us and equally importantly, we hope that you will give us an insight into your own culture and lives.

We have tried to provide an itinerary that matches your respective interests and also show you what a wonderful part of the world we live in. The Rotary GSE program is unique in that it provides you with the opportunity to visit our part of the world and to share the culture and social values with your local hosts as guests in their homes. We sincerely hope that you enjoy the “Dutch experience”.

Joost Hoffscholte
District Governor 2008-2009
District 1580

Welcome from District GSE Coordinator

It is a great pleasure to welcome the Group Study Exchange Team from R.I. District 4560^*), Brazil, visiting our District 1580 in Noord Holland in The Netherlands from 18th of April to May 16th 2009.

The friendship between our districts is a long lasting one via our long term youth exchange. Many young people of about 18 years old did stay in our districts and learned about our cultures. This year we are very happy that we could add The Rotary Foundation program Group Study Exchange to our toolbox to increase the links of friendship between our two Rotary districts.

“Strangers are Friends who have not yet met“ is truely applicable to the Group Study Exchange program. It touches lives, not only of the five of the GSE team with a small group of hosts but it shares little portions of lives of so many other people involved in the preparation and the performance of the actual program during the four weeks of the itinerary. From my own experience as a former teamleader I know that these weeks will have a never parting impact on your lives, that you will stay in touch with the people you met. The purpose of this program can only be appreciated as one of the most beautiful goals of Rotary International to increase world understanding.

Rotary International, via The Rotary Foundation offers Rotary Districts the possibility to participate in this program. Volunteers in the district have prepared an educative, purposeful and action filled program. The stay with host families will provide insight into our life style and culture to our guests from Brazil. I am deeply indebted to all Rotarians in the four participating Regions and all Hostfamilies that contributed their time, talent and money for this great program.

The GSE-team from RI District 4560 has postponed their duties in their jobs for these weeks. They have left their families and friends behind and have committed to act as ambassadors for their profession in their country. I am fully confident that, when leaving our district, they will carry with them the fond memories of their visit to RI District 1580 in The Netherlands.

Jack Groot
Districts 1580 GSE coordinator

*) The District 4650 was created in 1944. In 1997 there was a re-distribution of clubs with the creation of District 4651.

The District has 52 clubs distributed around 34 cities with a total of 1,161 members. It is located in the North / Northeast State, with the limits to the South River Itajaí-Açu, west with BR-116, with the North State of Parana and east by the Atlantic Ocean.

The oldest club in Santa Catarina is the Rotary Club de Joinville which was established on 26 October 1934.

Rotary Districts in The Netherlands

DISTRICT 1580

GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE COMMITTEE 2008/2009

GSE TEAM – 4650 Brazil /Santa Catarina

ADRIANA ZARDO, TEAM LEADER

My name is Adriana Zardo, 42 years. I was born in Cascavel, a medium-size town in Paraná State. I’m graduated in Business Administration and also have two MBA´s, one in Hotel Administration and another one in Marketing.

For twelve years, I worked as a Food and Beverage Manager, in chains of Hotels, in different cities of Brazil, and was also the owner of a Restaurant.

In 2003 I changed my career and, until 2007, I worked in the Construction Industry, building and selling homes.

Since July 2007 I’m living in Jaragua do Sul, on Santa Catarina State, to run a franchised, fine chocolate store called Cacau Show ( www.cacaushow.com.br ).

In Rotary family, I’ve been a member for 25 years, started as a Rotaract Member in 1984, in my home town Cascavel.

On 1990 I moved to Foz do Iguaçu, a tourist city in Paraná State, famous for the wonderful Iguaçu Falls. I was the president of Rotaract Foz do Iguaçu in 94/95.

On 1996 I took part in GSE program to Australia and, when I returned, I was invited to be a Rotary member, which I accepted and became the first female member of that club.

On July 2008 I was invited to join in Rotary Club Jaraguá do Sul Vale do Itapocu, a new club composed of 20 women, where I’ve been the YEP Official and Public Relations Representative.

During my Rotary experience I have had the opportunity to take part in the Polio Plus Immunization; in campaigns to help abandoned children and in campaigns to help retired persons. I also have taken part in so many events, conferences, meetings and projects.

What I expect to see in GSE to Holland

Since 2008 I’ve been working with chocolate. I’m franchised of a fine chocolate store that sells different kinds of chocolate (for eat, for gift, pure, with flavors, nuts, etc), It could be observed on www.cacaushow.com.br

My idea, in close future, is to open another chocolate store, but with different bland, different style, something bigger than I have nowadays, including coffee, hot chocolate, fondue, ice cream, etc.

In Netherlands, I pretend to visit industries and stores that work with chocolate. I’m also interested in food stores and industries in general.

Other point I’d like to visit, concerns about Rotary programs to help people, like institutions, schools, etc. Some simple actions, ideas that we can bring to our communities.

I expect to try the delicious meals from Netherlands, like Febo delekkerste; Australians Ice-cream; Heineken Experience; Prinsenstraat fruits and chocolate; Coffee Company; etc.

And, the last but not the least, some tourist places like Reguliersgracht; Walletjes Channel; Rijks Museum; Stedelijk Museum; Van Gogh Museum; Rembrandt House; Anne Frank House; Jordan Village; Albert Cury Market; Haarlem; Leiden Tollip Park; Central Station; walking on Spuistraat; Begijnhof; Leidsestraat; Keukenhof Park; Euromast; Den Hagen; Rotterdan; Pathé Tuschinski Cinema; De Bijenkonrf Galery; etc.

For me, the most important of this travel is to see, to feel the day- by -day life of Netherlands, to exchange culture and experiences, and, of course, to show a little bit about my wonderful country, Brasil.

Cristiane Soethe

My name is Cristiane Soethe Zimmermann.

I’m 27, I live in Blumenau, a city colonized by German immigrants, that has 300.000 inhabitants today.  I’m married to Sylvio Zimmermann Neto.

 I’m a journalist, with post-graduation in business communication. I have worked with tv, newspaper, radio, magazines, but I have found my professional realization in journalism working with press assistance, public relation, all those things that the corporate communication evolves. I have a partner (also journalist) in a small company of corporate communication called “Presse” (www.presse.inf.br).  We provide communication assistance to several companies and associations.

 I have many hobbies and special interests, among them: to cook, to read, to do some handicraft, to travel, and to study new languages. I love arts and music and I take part in a German chorus.

Professionally, taking part of the GSE, I hope to make contacts with people who work in the same area and to know how they do this work there and what the differences are, improve my work in Brazil with some new ideas, etc. I’d like to know how the corporate communication works there.

 We can also tell you about our situation here. We live in a privileged place in Brazil, but not compared to the European level. In Santa Catarina we have a great quality of live, comparing to the rest of the country. However, in November 2008, we had the hardest flooding on the state’s history. We have never saw a tragedy like that. More than 100 people had died because the flooding and landslides and more than 6.000 were homeless. The tragedy has mostly reached cities like Blumenau, Ilhota, Gaspar, Itajaí and Luís Alves, the region called “European Valley”.

 This situation brought us a big problem: how we can rebuild the State of Santa Catarina? It’s hard to see our beautiful city, the place where we were born facing this situation. The government is asking for help, the citizens are asking for help and our hearts are asking for help. Then, I think this GSE program will give us the possibility to show you our real situation. This entire question has to do with the Rotary’s humanitarian program to reduce the infant mortality, because in natural disasters like this one, there are many innocent children who died because their parents has no conditions to build a house in a legal place. Maybe we can find a way to contribute and to give our testimonial about what happened here. For example, as a journalist I could visit the media to report our experience and give them information about this tragedy and how the world could help us.

 At the same time, I can learn about your country and propagate here in Brazil your way of life, your difficulties and the good things you have in Nederland.

As a tourist, I’d love to visit the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum, theaters, and I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun at the Queensday.

Cristiane Soethe Zimmermann,
Presse Comunicação Empresarial
(47) 9943-2992 / 3041-2992, www.presse.inf.br

Ramon Baridó Navarro Lins

what I expect to see in GSE

I am a psychologist specialist in mental health care and in primary health care and I work in the public health care system, so I would like to see especially how the psychologists works in The Netherlands. Of course, I’m much exited to know the public health care system on your country and understand how it works. But I also would like to see everything that concerns to my kind of job as well as clinical treatments, drug addiction management, group therapy, hospitals, all kind of health care units, public health care in the town administration level, health promotion, disease prevention, epidemiology and child, women and men focused health actions.

Beyond this, I’m also a Rotaract member and I have a very close contact to the Rotary Clubs at my city (Rio do Sul), for that, I would also like to visit some Rotaract Clubs and to know some projects from both, Rotary and Rotaract, that I could bring to my community such as said Adriana.

Well, about my hobbies, I really do like everything that concerns to technology and video gaming, so it would be great to see a little of this, because Europe has just the “top of mind” in this subject.

And finishing, I’m really mind opened to experience all the culture, the food and to see all the tourist points especially those that YOU would like to show us!

Thank you very much!

Ramon Baridó Navarro Lins

Luís Carlos Schmidt de Carvalho Filho

First of all, I really want to know the Dutch people (families and friends), their culture and historical places. The joy of living with our hosted and peculiarities of its people will be the biggest benefit of this GSI opportunity for me.

My particular interests are related to my profession: lawyer and consultant, and my social activities: Chairman of the board of a hospital foundation.

I would love a day spent in the International Criminal Court in The Hague (Den Haag? we call it Haia!), especially considering its operating and monitoring its activities. I’d like to make contact with international corporate law, such as reception or transmission of foreign investments (MERCOSUR <=> EUROPE), a look of my office: www.carvalhofilho.adv.br, affiliated to www.estoup.com.

Also, it would be very important to exchange experiences with people involved in the fundraising and looking for investment for hospitals and health care, the site of my foundation: www.hsan.com.br.

Finally, I’d like to work with consultants who act in strategic planning and corporate governance (organization and management of boards of directors), the company where I am member: www.linkedpartners.com.br/site.[1]

With these short points, I most objectively explain my demand for vocational experience, wanting that I could be shared my experience too.

At the end of the program, I want to take my wife to Europe (She’ll arrive in Amsterdam on the day which the group returns), to show her the beauty of the country where I was privileged to be and live for 30 days.

At most, I’ll enjoy the brotherhood of Rotary and want to involve me deeply in Dutch culture, knowing and understanding its history and how are their daily lives.

Fortunately, in only two months we’ll be there with You!

Regards,

[1] Unfortunately, none of these sites are translated into English yet, but Google can help solving this problem (You can laugh!).

Jean Rafael Finger

My main objectives in 2009 GSE Brazil x Netherlands 

Day-by-day:

-	learn about the humanitarian projects Netherlands have already created and that have had great results;

·	the acquaintance with Rotary families is implicit and I think it will be just great;

·	visit Rotaract clubs in order to check what they are doing for the community and what they do in order to have cash for the campaigns;

·	to have the opportunity to show the results of the Brazil x Netherland Match in Grants.

Professional:

·	visit the harbor;

·	visit some companies, if possible any that has international business.

Personal:

·	learn about the countrys culture;

·	visit some sightseeing.

SUMMARY OF HOST Regions

ITINERARY GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE

GUIDELINES FOR THE GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE

(from GSE handbook of Rotary International)

The District 1580 Group Study Exchange Committee has prepared this Schedule and Directory in cooperation with representatives of each participating Rotary club based upon the objectives of the Group Study Exchange program as set out in the handbook for Districts and Clubs.

The success of the planning will be determined by clubs and individuals adhering to the details as set out in the schedule, particularly as to places and times, but the schedule should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate either changing circumstances or Team Members’ reasonable requests.

The Club President and District Committee assume responsibility for the following matters:

THE STUDY TOUR

Pre-arrange with the heads of firms, industries or institutions whose facilities are included in the tour, to be certain that they supply their most capable and competent representative to conduct the study of those facilities or services. The visitors have the right to expect a professional approach in each instance.

The Club President, members of the Rotary Club and host families should use all means available to inform non-Rotarians in their community, including news media, public officials, educational and religious leaders, about the visit of the team of business and professional men and women from District 3060, and the purpose of this project. Do everything possible to share the fellowship with non-Rotarians.

All matters of urgency should be referred to the District GSE Coordinator or the nearest GSE Committee member

TRANSPORTATION

The Rotary Clubs receiving the team being responsible for transportation within its community/region and to at mutually arranged changeover points, as indicated in the itinerary. Transportation fromand to the airport.

LODGING

Hosts should remember that members of the team are well established in their particular vocations and have been carefully selected from within District 4650 to represent not only the District, but their profession.

Host families will contribute much to the comfort and convenience of their guest if they inquire promptly upon arrival about their laundry and dry cleaning requirements. Laundry will be a daily personal problem for which they may be reticent about seeking assistance.

The hosting of a guest implies supplying appropriate meals each day when the guest is ‘at home’.

With the exception of perhaps Sundays and special events, members of the team may not be at their lodging homes for lunch, depending on the schedule.

Hosts should always, within the limits of the itinerary, ask the guest what they would like to do. They may just wish to relax around your home, write personal correspondence or write their official diary.

Hosts should be prepared to discuss any social and economic problems with as much authority as possible. Similarly, hosts should take full advantage of this opportunity to learn about the guest’s country.

Punctuality is essential for the smooth running of the program. You can help by ensuring that your guest is breakfasted in ample time to be called for or delivered, as the case may be, in time for the morning’s first engagement.

If an evening is to be spent at your home, your guest may appreciate meeting small numbers of your friends (not necessarily from Rotary). It is important that they be given the opportunity to meet people of their own age group.

Should the stay be for five or six nights, they may appreciate one evening at a ‘night spot’ either with the family or with other team members and friends.

If a small dinner party is to be arranged, this could perhaps be done jointly with another nearby host and their member of the team.

Free days appearing in the program are essential for relaxation.

They may wish to be left to their own devices. On the other hand, they may wish to have a day at the beach, or play tennis/golf. It is important that their wishes be sought and respected if feasible.

Everyone connected in any way with this project is urged to recognise the opportunity that it offers to participate in a significant international understanding experience.

ROTARY IN THE NETHERLANDS

In the seventeenth century, the Dutch laid the basis of their present-day wealth with the first multinational trading company. With their ships, they visited the Far East and the West, Scandinavia as well as Africa and South America. As worldwide traders, they developed a kind of tolerance for foreigners and their way of life. With the money earned through trade, they purchased paintings and music compositions and they built the large canal houses that still stand in Amsterdam and other cities. They began fighting the water that dominated the land, and many lakes were pumped dry so that fertile soil could be established for agriculture such as cattle farms. To maintain the water level in the polders, an extensive system of collaborative boards and working groups were put up. This system, based on mutual agreement about the water-household, lends its name to the way many things in the Netherlands are arranged via the "Poldermodel. Collaboration and respect for other ideas and culture used to be fundamental to life in the Netherlands. This fundamental approach still underlies society and its laws but is under pressure in recent years.

In the Netherlands people speak Dutch, but most people speak English when necessary. You will find yourself in another climate, and you will talk daily about the weather, just like all real Dutch people do! You will eat what the Dutch eat and you'll miss the food that you have enjoyed at home. However, you will come to enjoy Dutch delicacies such as "stroopwafels", “hagelslag” “pindakaas” and our "vla." Bicycling is second nature for the Dutch, as normal as walking or riding in a car, and you will join them on your bike. Most importantly, you will be introduced to a different lifestyle and you will participate in that way of life. You will notice that time is time and the agenda rules the days. Costs of living are high. Although salaries are relatively high, and the so called Big Mac Index is relatively low, very rich people are rare in these days.

Rotary started in the Netherlands in 1923 with the first club in Amsterdam. Gradually, but mostly after World war II, the number of clubs increased to about 475 clubs with more than 20.000 members nowadays. For obvious reasons the Rotary community is divided in seven districts, with each district divided in regions with about eight clubs.

Although each district is autonomous with its own Governor, District Board and District Committees, the seven district work together in many respects. Each of the seven Governors is the link to one of the Multidistrict committees or to one of the joint activities. These committees follow the line of the four avenues like Vocational service, International with inter-country committees and Youth Exchange, and so on. The seven districts have one central administration in Amsterdam where membership and financial aspects are taken care of and where Governors can get assistance for some administrative tasks.

Clubs have their specific projects for local or international community service. Some community projects are multi districts wise organized like the Rotary Doctors Bank, giving medical aid abroad where appropriate and “Job-Rotary”, founded to reintegrate middle aged people that lost their job involuntarily. Many water projects and projects related to improving health and education are collaborative efforts of clubs in region, district or multidistrict.

In general membership of Rotary clubs start at an age of well above 40, where the professional dare to share his/her time between obligations in the job and family with obligations in Rotary.

Jack Groot

For a clickable map of the District 1580 go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Holland