Mountains and Prairies, Oceans and Parades
Posted by Beverley Thornton
Mountains and Prairies, Oceans and Parades: Rotary Friendship Exchange D5360-D6840
February 3, 2016, the 12 District 5360, Alberta-Saskatchewan, travellers gathered in New Orleans, eager to meet the host Rotarians from District 6840, Louisiana-Mississippi.
It was Friday morning and excitement was building toward Mardi Gras on the upcoming Tuesday. D6840 PDG Karen Babin, RC Metarie, greeted the Canadians warmly, outlined a full and active itinerary for the upcoming 2-week adventure and offered gift bags of spices and beads in traditional Mardi Gras colours: purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. As host Rtn. Harry Glidden said, “By the end of 2 weeks you will think these colours look nice together.” And we did!
This moment was many months in the making. The D5360 travellers represented 6 different clubs from across the district and did not know each other prior to travelling together, so it was another level of networking and fellowship to meet new people from our own region. We got to know each other by phone and e-mail as we researched our destination, bought host gifts and decided on “team shirts”: bright red hockey jerseys that were quite attention-getting, even among the pageantry of Mardi Gras!
The Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) is a program of Rotary International that connects Rotary Clubs, encourages them to visit each other, explore new cultures and discover diverse perspectives.RFE is a wonderful way to meet Rotarians from around the world, build relationships and share ideas about projects and accomplishments. “We have ‘cross-pollinated’ many good ideas between countries, just through friendship visits”, says Margie Hansma, team leader for this trip.
The D6840 hosts had planned a minute-by-minute itinerary, ensuring that we saw Mardi Gras parades; to our surprise, there are dozens of them, not just one! New Orleans is the home of the national World War II museum and many other world class attractions. We got the insider’s view of amazing museums, galleries and sculpture parks. We ate great food, even had a few cooking lessons, and of course, experienced the music, culture and historic streets, and locations both in New Orleans and all along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Visits to Rotary project sites were very impactful, and we learned, first hand, amazing stories of Katrina disaster recovery and resilience. We were very impressed with the large scale Rotary rebuilding projects. A highlight involved helping with a feeding mission: unloading food supplies, helping with the cooking and serving and meeting residents who were beneficiaries of Rotary work.We also were guests at social gatherings and Rotary meetings, where we were warmly welcomed and given the opportunity to make presentations about D5360, our clubs and projects.
As the name indicates, it is a friendship “exchange” so, July 8, 2016 the Rotarians from D6840 returned to visit us in Canada. It was exciting to welcome our friends, and we were proud to show them the highlights of our region. It is with a sense of pride that we see our communities through the eyes of the visitor.
The 11 visitors were in Alberta for a total of 2 weeks, hosted by Rotary Clubs in Airdrie, Drumheller, Canmore and Pincher Creek.
Arriving just as the Calgary Stampede geared up, the visitors were all “white-hatted”, along with a second RFE group from India who happened to be here at the same time. Having admitted to copying our D5360 idea of team shirts, the D6840 visitors impressed the Calgary parade crowd, and were remarked upon and pointed out with their very distinctive green, gold, and purple shirts.
On to Drumheller, with a view of Horseshoe Canyon along the way. The Canadian Badlands enthralled the entire Louisiana-Mississippi team; they were surprised at the diverse landscape of hoodoos, coulees and hills. The Atlas Coal Mine tour guide, a recently graduated engineer was so knowledgeable and exemplary the Rotarians insisted on a large tip! On to Wayne for a great meal, followed by viewing the Passion Play in the natural amphitheatre - outstanding!
The way to Airdrie included a stop in Beiseker to view the gravesite of the “real” Sam McGee, whose poetic name is used in the Robert W. Service poem, another stop to view an old sod house, and a meal and tour of the Fairview Hutterite Colony, which was all new and interesting to the southerners. A craft beer tasting evening with the Airdrie Club rounded out a very full day.
Back at the Stampede the next day, Stephen Avenue Mall presented its splendour and pomp. The Calgary Tower lunch offered a view of the grounds and the surroundings; the chuckwagons demonstrated the incredible power of thoroughbreds; the Grandstand Show (possibly one of the best ever!) exploded with talent and innovation and repeatedly elicited excited comments from our guests. Next day a weary set of visitors witnessed the afternoon rodeo and then went on to an evening BBQ to conclude the Airdrie visit. (Yes, RFE requires stamina; there is lots to see and do in a short time!)
The trip to Pincher Creek included a short visit to Nanton and then on to Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump to meet up with new Rotarian hosts and enjoy a lunch of buffalo stew. The activities hosted by RC Pincher Creek included a day in Waterton Lakes, which is of significance to Rotarians, as Rotary Clubs in Alberta and Montana were the driving force in the formation of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in 1932. The visitors toured wind farms, historic sites and museums; went boating, hiking, shopping and dining, experiencing our southern Alberta lifestyle and climate, which is quite different from the southern coast of the United States.
The final days of the RFE in Canmore featured more of the best of Alberta: warm hospitality, dining, shopping and breathtaking mountain experiences.
“The group were nicknamed ‘the sunshine kids’ because everywhere we took them the rain stopped, the sun shone and our prairies and mountains sparkled on cue,” says Don Thomas, RC Airdrie, who transported the visitors for the whole 2 weeks. “I never saw the like - they brought their own southern sunshine with them.”
And, throughout the trip the friendships grew, and Rotary goals were strengthened, as we exchanged fund raising (and fun raising!) ideas and stories of successes in our clubs and districts. Notes from the New Orleans group on their return commented repeatedly on the deep friendships made not only with Alberta and Saskatchewan Rotarians but also with their fellow Rotarians with whom they spent so much time together on the bus.
RFE participation is relatively new to D6840, and we expect the successful exchange with D5360 may herald a host of Rotarians in their district who will want to carry on future exchanges. RFE is a well-established program in D5360 and the District Committee, headed by Darren Grierson, oversees the logistics of exchange visits and applications for Rotarians to be included on trips.
Taking part in an exchange is a wonderful way to make new friends and establish international service partnerships. “We got some great new ideas from learning about the projects these other clubs have completed,” says Mark Ens, RC Canmore. “And we think they got a few good ideas from us as well.”