Rotary seeks candidates for program exchange

Local Rotarians are seeking four young professionals to visit Bolivia or Tasmania (near Australia) in March/April, 2011 as part of the Group Study Exchange program of The Rotary Foundation. The program's purpose is to promote international understanding and goodwill through person-to-person contact. This year, this Rotary District exchanged young professionals with Brazil and Thailand.

Through the program, teams of professionals exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. The exchanges involve four- to six-week visits, during which team members share knowledge of their own country and experience the customs, vocations and lifestyles of another. While abroad, team members stay in Rotarians' homes and meet their professional counterparts. They also give presentations to Rotary clubs and other groups.

The Rotary Foundation provides a round-trip air ticket. Local Rotarians in the host country provide meals, lodging and group travel in their district. Team members pay for personal and incidental expenses.

Applicants aged 25 to 40 and employed full-time are encouraged to apply. They must live or work in Rotary District 7570, which includes western Virginia and northeastern Tennessee.

Applications must be received by Oct. 1. Interviews will follow on Sunday, Oct. 17, in Roanoke.

For an application, contact Case Pieterman at 586-8464 or casencobypieterman@verizon.net. For more information, contact Brian Raub at 721-3327.