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.