Commitees

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ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS COMMITTEE - Harriet Downer and Peg Johnston, 2008-09 Co-Chairs

Rotary International Committee is responsible for two exciting programs sponsored by RI.  These are the Ambassadorial Scholarships, including the Peace and Conflict Studies Program and the Temple Buell Scholarship, and the Group Study Exchange. 

Scholarships and Fellowships 

Rotary International has several of the most impressive scholarship programs in the U.S.  The Club’s District 5450, which encompasses most of the Rotary clubs in the state, can provide this opportunity to several students selected from within the entire district. The RCD can submit two candidates to compete for the award.

The focus of the Ambassadorial Scholar Committee is, first, to increase awareness of the Rotary scholarship opportunities among Rotarians and the community in general and, second, to find outstanding students to nominate.

The final selections are made by District 5450 based on student grades, achievements, community involvement, future leadership potential and financial need.  It is a belief of Rotarians that even if one person at a time can understand we live in a world of differences, we will ultimately develop people who will understand and be able to work toward a better world made up of patience, tolerance and acceptance.

The programs which these scholars can participate in include the Ambassadorial Scholarship for single-year or multi-year academic programs as well as cultural scholarships of three or six months duration.  These are available to students with at least two years of college or the equivalent.  For the Temple Buell Scholarship, the course of study is limited to architecture (land planning, urban planning, landscape and design).  The World Peace and Conflict Studies scholarships are available to professionals from around the world to train in the areas of conflict resolution and mediation strategies. 

ROTARACT

This committee supports Rotary groups for young professionals.  Currently the club does not have one of these clubs. 

GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE

The Group Study Exchange Program is financed by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) of Rotary International. It is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young, non-Rotarian, professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40.  The program awards all expense grants for a team of 4-5 plus a Rotarian leader, from paired Districts in different countries, to visit the exchange country for four to six weeks. Rotarian members from several local clubs then host and plan the team itinerary to visit business, educational, governmental and cultural places as well as include social time with Rotary members.

Our GSE committee will recruit young professionals who fit the requirements of the program and the particular outgoing team as determined by the District and help coordinate the incoming team’s hosting and itinerary should our Club be involved.

In 2008/2009, our District is sending a team (already selected) specializing in domestic violence and child abuse, Sept. 15-Oct. 14th, to New Zealand.  Our District will help host the GSE team from New Zealand in April 2009.  Applications are due this August for a diverse team of young professionals and their Rotarian leader who will travel to Central America- Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador, Mar. 6- April 5th, 2009.