Submitted by: Laurie Lewandowski, District 5580 Rotary Friendship Exchange Committee Chair, and member of the Detroit Lakes Noon Rotary Club
A Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) allows participants to take turns hosting one another in their communities, their clubs, and even under their own roofs. So, not only do you have the chance to get a very individual visit to another country or state, but you have the opportunity to show off the hospitality of your own community in return.
I have had a chance to participate in two of the last three D5580 Rotary Friendship Exchanges (RFE). The three exchanges included Australia (2012), India (2015), and southern Louisiana, USA (2017). Did you know that an exchange can include the arrangement of only one person traveling to visit a Rotary club or person in another country or another area of the USA? Although our District 5580 exchanges have been a group of Rotarians and spouses from various clubs in our district, an RFE can be made up of any group of individuals, singles or couples, Rotarian’s and non-Rotarians. During both the inbound and outbound exchanges, participants will visit various cities in the host Rotary district, learn about host cultures, service projects, while forging lasting friendships and fabricating the groundwork for peace and cooperative service.
The first Rotary Exchange I participated in consisted of 6 couples. During my second RFE, there were only two couples. Each was a unique experience, and most of all I met some great Rotarians. All of the people that I met had the same goal as my own, to help make the world a better place and share whatever gifts we have to that purpose.
The District 5580 Rotary Friendship Exchange Committee is working diligently to set up the next exchange, which we hope to be able to announce at the 2020 D5580 Rotary Conference. Is there a country or a part of the United States that you would like to visit on a Rotary Friendship Exchange? The committee would appreciate your input and thoughts on a possible future exchange. To date, the committee has been working to obtain exchanges with Iceland, Bulgaria, Italy, and Poland. Please contact me if you have a burning passion or just an inkling of where you would like to see the next Rotary Friendship Exchange for District 5580.
Laurie Lewandowski
D5580 Rotary Friendship Exchange
218-849-2402
