Date: Fri 15-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Swedish-Rotary-exchange

Full Text:

Swedish Group Study Exchange

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

It was not the Swedish bikini team of beer commercial renown. First Selectman

Herb Rosenthal got a more realistic view of Scandinavia earlier this week when

a group of young professionals from Sweden stopped by his office.

The Swedes were in town as part of a group study exchange through Rotary

International. Some of them are staying in Newtown through the week before

heading back to their homes in Malmo, Sweden's third largest city, located in

the southern part of the country.

The study group includes a pharmacist, a chemical engineer, a business

consultant, and an information manager.

As part of their visit, they met with the first selectman to learn more about

the management of a small New England town.

The group began its tour in eastern Connecticut and slowly made its way across

the state (Rotary District 7980). Since arriving in the Danbury area this past

weekend, the group has visited Stew Leonard's, Taunton Press, McLaughlin

Vineyard, and Curtis Packaging.

This week, Christina Hansson, a chemical engineer for Nestle, is staying in

Newtown with her hosts, Duane and Dot Baumert on Huntingtown Road.

Group leader, Hans Fransson, is living with Ed and Marge Osterman on Webster

Place.

The group also includes Christina Axelsson, Helena Bargiel and Annika

Malmgren. The group heads back to Sweden next week.

The GSE team hails from Rotary District 2390, which includes most of the

province of Scania, located near Sweden's southernmost point.

Also in the area this month is a group of professionals from France.