Rotary Seeking Young Business People For 2008 Study Trip

Newtown Rotary Club is seeking to sponsor two young (25–40 years old) business people for a four-week Team Study to Mexico or the Philippines in 2008.

Each year Rotary District 7980, comprised of the four lower counties of Connecticut, organizes two five-person teams to spend four weeks in a foreign country to learn about the people, culture, history, political and business status of the country. Rotary’s theme of “World Peace Through Understanding” believes that the more people know about each other, the better they will be able to live in peace.

Each team will spend a month in either Mexico (April 28 to May 25) or the Philippines (February 16 to March 15). While in these countries the members will live with at least four Rotarian families in different parts of the area being visited. They will visit many special places, including schools, factories, government offices, and monuments and each week, each member will spend a day with people of their own profession exchanging ideas on how that profession is handled in each country.

Each team is made up of five members. The team leader is a Rotarian and the members must be employed full time, with a minimum of two years in a recognized business or profession, and they must be citizens of the United States. The team member cannot be a lineal descendant of a living Rotarian.

They must obtain permission from their employer to spend one month away from their job and be is good physical condition.

After their study abroad, they are expected to speak about their experiences at Rotary meetings and other civic functions.

The travel expense is handled by Rotary International and the room and board by the local Rotary Club and hosts. The only cost for team members is for personal items needed during the trip.

Anyone interested in this program should call Chris Hoeffel at 648-6518.