March International Connections/Service STAR Gathering 2018 March International Connections/Service

People of Action Rotary programs are developing the next generation of leaders, providing funding to make the world a better place, and making peace a priority. Each year, Rotary selects up to 100 professionals from around the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at our Rotary Peace Centers Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time. Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. Each year, our district invites groups of Rotarians from around the world to visit our area – and sends area Rotarians and friends back to take turns hosting one another in our homes and clubs in Friendship Exchanges. Groups of Rotarians who share a profession travel abroad to learn more about their profession or to teach local professionals about a particular field.

La Crosse Area Rotary Clubs Holmen La Crescent La Crosse After-Hours La Crosse Downtown La Crosse East La Crosse Valley View Onalaska Onalaska Hilltopper … Don’t Forget Caledonia! 

Rotary Peace Centers A dynamic and ambitious project of The Rotary Foundation, identifies highly qualified professionals and trains them to become agents of peace. Since 2002, Rotary Peace Centers have trained over 1,100 Rotary Peace Fellows who are now working as leaders in government, nongovernmental organizations, the military, law enforcement, education, humanitarian assistance, restorative justice, and international governance organizations. Each year, up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellows are selected to receive full funding to earn either a professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies or a master’s degree in any range of disciplines related to peace and security. Six Rotary Peace Centers operate in partnership with seven premier universities in six countries. United States – Duke University, University of North Carolina Thailand – Chulalongkorn University Japan – International Christian University – Tokyo England – University of Bradford Australia – University of Queensland – Brisbane Sweden – Uppsala University

Rotary Youth Exchange Our District offers both Short Term and Long Term Exchanges for our High School Juniors and Seniors. Short Term exchanges last from a few weeks to a few months. They normally take place in the summer – normally the child of the family you stay with will return to stay with you. Long Term Exchanges students spend a year in another country living with different host families and attending classes at the local school. We are sending out 19 Americans this year in August for long-term and 16 American for Short Term this summer.

Rotary Youth Exchange Our District also hosts inbound students from around the world to spend a year in our cities and schools. This year we will welcome 22 foreign students to D6250. Students arrive in August/September, and spend a total of 11 months. Each student normally “lives” with a family for 3-4 months. The family is responsible for room & board. A Rotary club that commits to hosting a student is responsible for school costs, allowance, lunch funds, and other costs. Normally these run approximately $4,000. In the La Crosse area, the La Crosse Downtown, Holmen, Valley-View, Onalaska Hilltopper, La Crescent, and After Hours Clubs have hosted regularly. This year, it is known so far that we will have a student living in our area from Finland (Holmen), Spain (Downtown), Poland (After-Hours), Valley-View (?), and La Crescent (?) “You can’t go to war with a friend.”

Rotary Friendship Exchanges Gives Rotarians (including Spouse or significant other) the opportunity to host and visit Rotarians from around the world. Not only do you experience other cultures and make lasting friendships, an exchange provides a strong foundation for carrying out other international activities and service projects. Normal costs are getting yourself there and back, perhaps a hotel room at the beginning and end of the exchange, expenses such as gifts, a few meals. In other words… quite a value!  Trips are normally 10-14 days, and are limited in size to 8-12 people. Upcoming Friendship Exchanges – August 10-24, 2018 – Riga, Latvia and Kalmar, Sweden (8-10 people). They visit us from May 10-24. October 6-18 – Argentina (Buenos Aires, Mar De Plata, Bahia Blanca, Iguazu Falls). No larger than 8 people. They will visit us from June 6-22. Normally two-three are offered each year. FANTASTIC way to meet people and learn new cultures!

Rotary Vocational Training Teams (VTT) Similar to Friendship Exchanges, except with a stronger vocational element. The participants normally are all within one field (think medical, education, agriculture, dairy farming, etc.). The teams increase the capacity of the host community to solve problems and improve the quality of life. At times these are connected to larger Global Grant projects. Unlike Friendship Exchanges, one is interviewed and if chosen, all costs (including travel costs) are paid by the Rotary Foundation.

That is a lot of doing good! Last meeting we talked about how we change our communities with our efforts. We also mentioned how we impact the world with our International Club Projects. Hopefully today you’ve been introduced how Rotary brings peace to the world – thru training tomorrows peace and conflict resolution specialists, to changing the way you and our children view the rest of the world, to being part of that culture change yourself by being part of a Friendship Exchange or Vocational Training Team Be part of change– get involved in one of these areas, or suggest a new one! https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-GB/App/Baskets/Basket/GetBasketDownload?&basketName=What%20We%20See%20Video&externalBasketId=7827&creatorsUsername=%2577%2569%256C%256C%2569%2561%256D%252Ea%252E%2570%2572%2569%2574%2563%2568a%2572%2564%2540%2573%2574i%2566%2565%256C%252E%2563%256F%256D