Introduction

In May 2009, Rotary District 7170 (central-western New York State) will send a team of five women to Rotary District 4460 (northern Peru) as part of a Group Study Exchange (GSE).

What is Group Study Exchange?

According to Rotary International, "The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women in their initial years of professional life. Rotary districts in different countries are paired to send and receive professional study groups of four to six non-Rotarian team members and one Rotarian team leader to travel for four to six weeks, staying in the homes of Rotarians when possible."

There are four goals of a GSE experience: vocational visits, cultural experiences, fellowship opportunities, and Rotarian involvement.

For more information, see www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/164en.pdf.

Who are the District 7170 (NY) team members?

In no particular order, we are:

*Nancy Potter (team leader), Family & Community Development Issue Leader with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
*Molly Bargar, Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program Assistant at the Ithaca Youth Bureau
*Maria Difrancesco, Spanish Professor at Ithaca College
*Gabriella D'Angelo, Architect with John Synder Architects
*Nicole Tedesco, Service & Operations Analyst with Tompkins County Area Transit, Inc
*Gina Gammage-Sikora (alternate team leader), Spanish Professor at Tompkins-Cortland Community College
*Rebecca Heller-Steinberg (alternate member), Community Educator for Opportunities for Otsego