Our special guest speaker on Friday, March 14th was Past District Governor David Lukov and Debe Franz, who went on a Rotary Friendship Exchange to Hungary recently. The purpose of the Rotary Friendship Exchange is to broaden international exchange. The RFE is a part of Rotary's Peace Initiative. Eight other area members accompanied David and Debe from the District 5050 Friendship Team on the trip. The trip included visits to a number of Hungarian communities.
The RFE focuses on gaining opportunities for active project involvement and to learn about the region's people, food, language, custom's and history. The trip was a product of PDG David Lukov meeting Elizabeth Gila Kovacs who was Rotary's District Governor of Hungary at the District Governor's Training session in Florida.
Some of the architecture the Exchange Group saw in Hungary. Hungary is about 1/2 the size of the State of Washington. The history of Hungary is very sad going back to the dissolution of Austria-Hungary after WW 1. Still on display is the Shoes of the Danube where Germans would shoot the jews and dump them into the river leaving their shoes on the bridge..
A team from Hungary will visit our state later this year as part of the Rotary Friendship Exchange. Looking forward to their visit and the chance to learn more from the Hungarians.