BASSETERRE, St Kitts (19 March 2011) - Following the successful hosting of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference (29 October to 2 November 2010) by the Rotary Clubs of St Kitts & Nevis, the Clubs have again been awarded the honour, by District Governor, Anthony Watkins PHF, of hosting another District Event, a segment of the Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team Visit to the District.
The GSE Programme is a programme operated by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for business people and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers.
The Programme provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. While TRF covers travelling expenses from home to the host countries, Rotarians in the host area provide meals, accommodation and travel within the receiving District.
The visit to a host District typically would be four (4) to six (6) weeks during which the Team Members will experience the host country’s culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced in that country, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas.
The visit of the Incoming GSE Team follows on the heels of the recently concluded visit of the Outgoing GSE Team from our Rotary District (7030) to England (Rotary District 1210) when Dominic Matthew, employee of TDC and senior member of the Rotaract Club of St Kitts, was co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Liamuiga (RCL) to be part of that GSE Team.
The Incoming GSE Team Members from England, who will be staying in the homes of various Rotarians in SKN during their time here, will arrive in the Federation on Sunday, 20 March and will depart on Sunday, 27 March 2011. The Team consists of the following persons:
1. Carol Reilly, Nurse who is currently Network Manager for the development and implementation of long term heart and stroke disease strategies, National Health Service (Team Leader)
2. Victoria Bateman, Staff Nurse In Oncology/Haematology, Chemotherapy Unit, Mid Staffs NHS Foundation Trust
3. Fay Boulton, Communications & Marketing Officer, Stoke-on-Trent City Council
4. Jennifer Paddison, Secretariat Officer, Keele University
5. Clair Turner, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Oncology/Chemotherapy & Treatment Unit Manager.
The Team will be involved in various activities throughout their stay in the Federation which include Courtesy Calls on the Governor General and the Deputy Governor General; Vocational Day visits to Organizations; Launch of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga’s Rotary Four Way Test Signs Installation Project and Unveiling of the first two (2) signs at the Washington Archibald and Basseterre High Schools; visit to the Rotary Club of Liamuiga’s Computer Assisted Literacy Solutions (CALS) Project at the Washington Archibald High; Blood Drive sponsored by the Rotary Club of Liamuiga (RCL) at the Human Simulation Lab at the International University of Nursing (IUON); and island tours on both Nevis and St Kitts. They will also make presentations at the General Meetings of the three (3) Rotary Clubs, Nevis, St Kitts and Liamuiga, and the Rotaract Club.
The Vocational Day, Tuesday, 22 March will be spent at the following Organizations:
1. International University of Nursing (IUON) hosted by Rotarian Sargeant At Arms of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga (RCL), Dr Agnes Beachman and her team
2. LIME St Kitts Nevis hosted by Rotarian Past President of the RCL, Mrs Laverne Caines and her team
3. TDC hosted by Rotarian of the Rotary Club of St Kitts, Mr Earle Kelly and his team
4. Joseph N France General Hospital hosted by Rotarian Past President of the RCL, Dr Cameron Wilkinson and his team.
The SKN Rotary Clubs express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Rotarian Hosts and their families, other Rotarians and members of staff of the Organizations that will be involved in the execution of the Programme of Activities for the visit of the GSE Team to the Federation.
