Rotary International District 5170

We are extremely pleased with the choice of members for our Outbound Team. Under the leadership of Team Leader Roy Russell (San Jose), they have been working through orientations of Rotary and Vietnam. Roy is the perfect person to lead this team, as he has had extensive experience there, having visited 14 times since he served in the military.

Sue McKinney has been hard at work also, doing the work of FOUR Districts, as she consults with the government and local business people, arranges the itinerary, accommodations, PLUS is in charge of picking the teams and training them.

As a reminder there are 4 teams going to and coming from Vietnam simultaneously; our district plus three more to the north. Since there is no Rotary (yet) in Vietnam, our Teams have to know more about Rotary than is usual, because they will be expected to tell their hosts about us.

The teams had a special reception with RI President Bhichai Rattakul just prior to the multidistrict dinner that was held in Monterey last month. The President took an extraordinary amount of time to talk with the Teams, explain some of the things to expect, what to study before going and what he wanted them to accomplish. Everyone was grateful and pleased with his interest.

The outbound team flies out Sunday night, March 2, stopping first at a multi-district meeting in Bangkok, then on a few days later to Vietnam.

The inbound team from Vietnam has been selected and are processing their visas. They are scheduled to arrive April 7, departing May 5. Inbound Coordinator David Campbell (Capitola/Aptos), has a committee and is arranging for their visitations and home stay. If you would like to volunteer to help in any way, including tours, transportation or home hosting, please contact David.

Sam Bishop, District GSE Chairman

Rotary Districts Participating in this Simultaneous Exchange

Our District has partnered with three other West Coast Districts to simultaneously lead four, full teams to and from Vietnam. Our team's emphasis will be Technology.

Since there are currently no Rotary Clubs in Vietnam, Sue McKinney, a member of the Rotary Club of Oakland Sunrise, who resides in Vietnam will aide in the selection of the Vietnamese teams and coordinate events in Vietnam for our teams. A GSE Team consists of one Rotarian Team Leader and four non-Rotarian Team Members.