Friendship Exchange with New Mexico

Posted by Donna Phillips 
 

Camrose Rotarians hosted visitors to District 5370 from New Mexico/Texas.

 

In July 2008, the Camrose Rotary Club and the Camrose Daybreak Club hosted 12 Texan and New Mexican Rotarians for four days, during the return portion of a Rotary Friendship Exchange between Districts 5370 and 4290.

 

The group of five couples and two singles were hosted in the homes of local Rotarians.  Many members of our clubs, as well as people from the Camrose community in general, contributed time, goodwill, and funding to make our guests visit  special.

 

The group arrived Saturday July 12, and left July 16.  Some of the events that took place in Camrose were:  

  • BBQ hosted by Ted Gillespie at home of Ron and Viv Grue
  • Skating and tour of EdgeworthCenter - Thanks to Paul Nielsen and hockey player John McAllister
  • Tour of Rotary Environmental Park and Four Season Trail - Thanks to Dan Olofson
  • Flight around Camrose - Thanks to Ron Grue and Neil Hansen
  • Tour of Camrose Historic Downtown - Thanks to Robert Early
  • Meeting with the Mayor - Thanks to Mayor Clarence Mastel
  • Lunch at the Lefse House - Thanks to Norm Mayer for hosting the dinner
  • Tour of Evraz Pipe Manufacturing Facility - Thanks to Mike Howard
  • Afternoon of Stamping - Thanks to Louise Gillespie and Jan Nielsen
  • Fire Training and tour at Camrose Fire Hall - Thanks to Ken Drever for sponsoring pizza, and to Fire Chief PeterKrich and Training Office Joe Mah for their services.

After leaving Camrose, our guests travelled to Fort McMurray where they toured the tar sands, to Hinton and Edson, and finally back to Edmonton.  A farewell dinner was hosted by the Edmonton Rotary Clubs on July 25, 2008.

 

Special thanks to the host families

  • Jerome and Pat Stetar
  • Al and Jackie Rostad
  • David and Elaine Taylor
  • Maurice and Gloria Francoeur
  • Ted and Louse Gillespie
  • David and Karen Finlay

I had a lot of fun organizing the Camrose portion of the Exchange.  Our guests were very nice people, who sincerely appreciated our hospitality.  It is very interesting to look at your own community through the eyes of others.  They had nothing but praise for Camrose.

 

Please see the Photo Journal at right for a few photographs of the Exchange. More photos are available on-line at http://flickr.com/photos/camrose/sets/72157606266325823/

 

Submitted by,

 

Ted Gillespie

Camrose Rotary Club.