Rotary Club of Clearwater Sponsors Philippine Group Study Exchange
(l-r) Harry Lorenzo, Albert Lee, Team Leader, Margaret Clavecilla, Russ Miller, Rotary District Governor, Portia Cadag, Lenna Desuasido, Chuck Warrington, Rotary GSE Committee Chairman, Divine Manlapaz. Rotary International sponsored six young Philippine business and professional women and men in a Group Study Exchange (GSE), as they visited 21 Rotary Clubs in Tampa Bay and West Florida this past month. The typical GSE team consists of five non-Rotarians and a Rotarian leader from a country (Philippines) to tour for one month in another country (Florida, USA). This group consisted of Divine Grace Manlapaz, CPA; Portia Cadag, Preschool Librarian; Margaret Joy Clavecilla, Preschool Teacher; Lenna Desuasido, Marketing Specialist; Harry Ruiz Lorenzo, Police Officer; and the Rotarian team leader, Albert T. Lee, Entrepreneur and Industrial Engineer. These GSE individuals visited occupations similar to their own to observe, learn and understand local practices. They visited 22 Rotary Clubs and presented an excellent audio-visual program at each visit. They were hosted by local Rotarian families, observed local cultural habits and while meeting many people, both hosts and visitors acted as Ambassadors of goodwill. The object of the Group Exchange between countries is to build better understanding, lasting friendships and world peace. Many Group Exchange participants, and Rotary Scholars, ultimately become Rotarians or play an active part in their own countries progress. Rotary International sponsors hundreds of international exchanges each year, in Group Study, Individual Scholarships, Professional Studies, Family Friendship Exchanges, and Matching Funds for projects to serve urgent humanitarian needs throughout the world. Polio has been eliminated from much of the world, due to support by Rotarians around the world. Rotary welcomes individuals who seek to help their community.
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