This Photo is our 1994 file photo of Jamie Suszek, but she hasn't changed a bit.
Jamie logged in to our meeting, and it was great to catch up with her and get an update on her life and career.
She is a member of the Rotary Club of Palatine, a town outside of Chicago. The club has around 40 members, and is currently using Zoom for its weekly meetings. The club is heavily involved in Youth Exchange, and Jamie has been a host for eight students.
Rotary Club of Palatine runs an Octoberfest event each year, raising around $100 000 - and that's US dollars. They do get dressed up for the festival - see the photo.
We heard Jamie reminisce about her host parents in Wagga Wagga, the Connolly's, the Benn's and Kevin and Lyndal Watts. She is up to date on grandchildren, has been back to Australia twice with parents, and still has her yellow Wollundry Sloppy Joe. When asked about her favourite memories of Wagga Wagga, she singled out visits to Paul and Carolyn Murrays place, and Merv the Kangaroo, visits to the coast with the Croziers, and climbing Uluru.
John Gray asked about Jamie's experience with student exchange, and the difficulty attracting applicants. Her response was that the contraction that we are experiencing is evident in the USA as well.
Jamie gave us an update on her career in sales and marketing, where she was recently promoted to Vice President of Key Accounts, dealing with brain and spinal cord injuries. Three are some gaps in this information, but it sounds important.