Australia Group Study Exchange

District 5960's 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.

The 2016-17 GSE Team was comprised of four young professional non-Rotarians (Jonathan Huffmaster, Mario Hernanandez, Carly Lunden, Lindsey Day) and their team Leader Mark Berger who is a member of the Rotary Club of Rice Lake.  Mark has lived in Rice Lake, Wi for most of his life, where he works as a  Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. He was a GSE participant in 1989 which lead hiim to becoming an active Rotarian for the past 26 years.  The GSE Team was fortunate to have Mark as a  team leader.