District 7090 Group Study Exchange

   2008.... Bulgaria!

GSE 2008 – International Exchange Program for Young Professionals
working in tourism or the wine industry
May 4 - May 31, 2008 BULGARIA

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is offered by Rotary District 7090 as a unique cultural and vocational experience for business and professional men and women in the initial years of their careers.

In 2008, a GSE team from District 7090 will travel to Rotary District 2482 in Bulgaria. From May 4 to May 31, GSE team members will visit this eastern European country and participate in four primary activities:

• Vocational Exchange - Witness their respective vocations of tourism or wine production in action by meeting and spending time with peers in comparable professions and careers;
• Cultural Exchange - Experience daily living with host Rotarians and their families while exploring social, economic and cultural aspects of each country;
• Fellowship Exchange - Share ideas and understandings along with personal and professional expertise;
• Rotary Involvement - Participate in Rotary meetings and events in host countries by sharing information about their home communities and personal and professional lives.

A Group Study Exchange Team consists of four non-Rotarian business or professional people and a Rotarian team leader.

To qualify as an ideal GSE team member you are:

• between the ages of 25 and 40;
• employed full-time for a minimum of two years in a recognized tourism profession;
• employed in or a resident of Rotary District 7090;
• a citizen of Canada or the USA;
• in good health;
• able to express yourself clearly and logically;
• enthusiastic about your chosen vocation and exemplary in your work;
• open-minded, tolerant, and flexible;
• comfortable as part of a team with a schedule that is physically and emotionally demanding;
• free from all personal and work responsibilities between May 3 and May 31, 2008
• be able to travel with your employer's consent

Individuals who participate in Group Study Exchange (GSE) seek new perspectives and vision along with fresh ideas and firsthand experience with the culture, commerce and governments of countries around the world.

As an eager young professional, this is your opportunity for a unique and rewarding skills-building and personal growth experience that is sure to benefit you and your organization for years to come.

International Experience is a valuable asset to young employees. It enhances a global perspective for multinational organizations. It promotes open-minded thinking through contact with business and professional people of other cultures. It fosters creative approaches to problem solving by broadening the employee's outlook. It improves an employee's professional skills through exposure to alternative methodologies.

In addition, GSE provides a great public relations opportunity to expand community awareness of your organization. Inform the local news media that one of your employees will be traveling to another country to learn extensively about its institutions, culture and business practices. Also, arrange a media interview with the employee upon return, or provide an article with photos reporting on his or her experiences while abroad. The employee may be invited by your community's Rotary club to speak at one of its meetings. As well, it is an opportunity for your organization to develop and recognize your top-performing young staff members for the global environment in which they will be working. Consider GSE the pinnacle of professional development and recognition programs for your organization.