ROTARY INTERN

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES DURING THEIR VISIT FROM 4TH FEBRUARY 2012 TO 6TH MARCH 2012

GSE

KAPIL

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3080

KAPIL GUPTACHAIRMAN GSE HOSTING RID 3080

GSE TEAMFROM

RID 1140 –UK

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES4TH February to 6th March 2012

Dear DG Rtn. Manpreet Singh ,

It was a great honor for me to serve as this year's Group Study Exchange (GSE) Chairman, Hosting. I was ably assisted by Rtn. Vijay Jawa co-chairman GSE Hosting , District GSE Coordinators Rtn. Gurvinder S Juneja, Rtn,. Dr. Sudhir Chaudhary, all zonal GSE coordinators and Astt. Governors. I also wish to express gratitude to PDG Rtn. Parmod Vij, Chair,GSE who guided me at every step during planning and execution of the Team’s itinerary.

I am giving here below the brief informations and activities report during the Team’s stay in our District.

OUR FRIENDS

GSE TEAM FROM DISTRICT 1140- UK

TEAM LEADER: Perminder Singh Tamana (Pindi)

Past President of Rotary Club of Twickenham (2004/5 & 2010/11) and PH Fellow.Businessman in food industry. He was National President of Kenya Jaycees in 1981. He is Chairman of local Traders & Business Association .A former Kenya Hockey International enjoys sports and music.

Martin Kavanagh:

Pursuing a career in Human Resources. He is Surrey County Council's seven most senior officers. He did his BSc(Hons) in Psychology, and MSc in Occupational Psychology. Hobbies include Sport, especially football and music. Plays Trombonist in a 25-piece jazz band.

Ms Holly McNeil

Having completed MSc in Plant Pathology, worked for Royal Horticultural Society. Having a very active interest in nature and environmental issues. Her hobbies include reading, music and many craft activities such as knitting and making jeweller

Ms Ashira Perera

Graduate from university of Bath (UK) with a MSc in Economics. She worked as an Asia Economist, where she provided written coverage on emerging Asian economies including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Phillippines, and Malaysia.. Ashira's interests lie mainly in music and

she plays the piano, violin, and guitar.

ABOUT RID 1140 – UKThere are 46 Clubs in District 1140 which stretches from Croydon in the East to Odiham in the West and from Hounslow in the North to Ripley in the South. It has a total membership in the District of 1250 Rotarians. The District lies to the South West of London and made up of parts of Six London Boroughs and a major part of Surrey and a small part of NE Hampshire.

The District is part of the Administrative Area of Rotary in Britain and Ireland (RIBI) which is comprised of 29 Districts and is administrated by a General Council made up of the 29 District Governors and chaired by the RIBI President.

The district has a diverse population with countryside that varies from rural to the more densely populated London Boroughs. There is a mixed population of many ethnic groups which reflects the diverse culture of the UK. Some areas, particularly in the London Boroughs are very poor while there is also a wealthy class who tend to live in the rural areas but the bulk of the population is probably best described as a middle class who has an above average income. The bulk of the area is situated in the rolling countryside of Surrey, with plenty of wooded areas along the North Downs and on the southern side of the area. The river Thames flows in the north of the District and is used for boating by many people. Two major motorways cut through the district, making travel between the various parts relatively easy

ACTIVITIES IN BRIEF

A) 4th to 8th February 2012- Panipat, Kurukshetra and Ambala

I along with Rtn. Vijay Jawa had the pleasure of welcoming the team on 4th February, Saturday afternoon on their arrival at New Delhi Airport. They were a little weary after their journey but the spirit of Rotary was keeping them going. We escorted them to their first hosts Rotary Clubs of Panipat. The Team was given the rest of the day and till Sunday afternoon to relax and get over their jet lag.

RC in Panipat organized visits to War Memorial , Museum and vocational visits to carpet manufacturing unit. Small shaggy carpets were distributed to the Team members.

RC Ambala took the Team to their permanent Projects, vocational visits to BSNL and Horticultural farms and in the evening a semi classical dance program was organized for them. The stay of the GSE Team was short, sweet and a pleasant experience

The Team also attended Club Meetings, Dinners at Panipat and Ambala.

GSE Team being received by RC Ambala Classical Dance performance in the evening.

Exchanging Rotary Flags Project Visit

B) 8th to 14th February 2012 - CHANDIGARH AND SAS NAGAR

GSE team were received at Rotary House Chandigarh by President Neena Singh, Rtn S.P. Handa, Rtn. D.C. Mehandru and Rtn. A.P. Singh.

The Team visited RVTC and interacted with the girls in the tailoring class, students of computer class and the beautician course.

The Team were also escorted to Dhanas where they met the ladies of the Roshni Centre, club’s initiative towards women adult literacy. The GSE team members distributed blankets to the Roshni women and their teacher.

On 9th February, the GSE team members had a brief interaction meeting with PRIP R.K. Saboo, along with DG Rtn. Manpreet Singh and Rtn Kapil Gupta, chairman GSE hosting.

Rtn. Neenu Vij accompanied the visitors to Sector 17 for shopping.

On 10th and 11th February 2012, the GSE team attended the District Conference at Chandigarh.

Reception of GSE team on arrival at Chandigarh

GSE Team being received by RC Chandigarh Martin Kavanagh along with Ann Shashi (host) during his visit to Rose Garden-Chandigarh

C) 15th to 22nd February 2012 - NAHAN, PAONTA SAHIB, MUSSORIE, HARDWAR AND ROORKEE

In this period the Team visited club projects, vocational tours, attended club meetings and dinners.

At Roorkee, the Team also visited following vocational / projects .

1. Patanjali University in Patanjali Yogapeeth founded by Swami Ramdev.

2. Deaf School

3. IIT Roorkee

4. Sugar Mill & Gur Charkhas

D) 23rd to 29th February 2012 - YAMUNANAGAR, PARWANOO, SHIMLA AND KASAULI

In this period the Team visited club projects, vocational tours, attended club meetings and dinners.

Exchanging Rotary Flags in Yamunanagar Rtn. Kapil Gupta greeting Ms Holly McNeil

Ms Ashira Perera is being welcomed at Club Dinner

GSE Team Members with one of the Hosts

A) 1 st March to 6th March 2012 -

ROOPNAGAR, AMRITSAR, CHANDIGARH AND PANIPAT

With students of Gurukul Global School. Planting Saplings in the compound of the school

At Panchkula the Team visited following Projects / Vocational Centers

1. Cactus Garden Panchkula, wherein one of the member Ms.Holy McNeil is a Horticulturist took very keen interest

2. Gurukul Global School3. Historical Pinjore Garden

The GSE Team deviated from their original schedule to visit Amritsar on account of PETS and SETS held on 2nd to 4th March 2012. The Team visited Golden Temple and Wagah Border.

It is difficult to encapsulate a month long trip into a few short words. There were so many activities undertaken and so many kind Rotarians who opened their homes and their hearts to the Team. They welcomed them as their friends and as colleagues. The meals were always sumptuous and long and with high formality. The whole Team was highly emotional by the hospitality extended to them. I thank all those who were associated in contributing to the successful GSE program

The Team left on 6th March 2012 in the afternoon with a heavy heart .They were wished bon voyage by Rtn. Vijay Jawa at the Airport when they were leaving fortheir country.