GSE Team Visits Provo
Highlights included: a tour of the world famous Conch Farm; a trip to North and Middle Caicos to see those island’s environmental wonders with hosts Wilbert Forbes and Brain Manco; a meeting with Director of DECR Wesley Clerveaux; a presentation with David Bowen, head of TCI Culture; and a kayak tour of the Leeward mangroves with environmentalists Marsha Pardee and Mark Parrish.
The group was also treated to great island cuisine at such notable spots as Da Conch Shack, the Tiki Hut, and Daniel’s Café in Middle Caicos, as well as several BBQs and in-home dining events hosted by Rotarians.
See our web site's Photo Gallery for pictures of all the fun.
The team was led by Rich Turnbull, a Rotarian in District 6970 in northern Florida, who is also a land and water resources management consultant. He was joined by Jackie Hird, a professional photographer, and Kristee Booth, who works for the Florida Department of transportation overseeing scenic highway and bi-way projects.
The stop in Turks and Caicos was part of a month-long tour of the Caribbean, hosted by Rotary District 7020 (of which the Providenciales Club is a member). They will also visit the Bahamas and our District Conference in St. Thomas before heading back to Florida.
Rotarian Val served as project lead for the host club from Providenciales and North/Middle Caicos Rotary Community Corps president Wilbert Forbes hosted the team’s visit to those islands. Special thanks to all the Rotarians who hosted the GSE team members, and an extra thank you to Karen and John L. who put on special activities during the GSE visit.
“The GES is a great program that we have been involved with several times in the past, including sending our own team of your professionals in the medical field to India for month several years ago,” noted Club President Art Forbes. “This group was linked by their common interest in the environment so we were able to show them all the wonderful aspects of our beautiful by nature islands, and what we are doing to preserve them as a natural wonder that is also critical to our economy. We received a lot of help from the DECR and the Department of Culture as well as some private citizens and businesses who helped make this an educational and memorable experience for our visiting GSE members.”
The Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.