"Dhanyavad" from Nigel, Michael, Shalem, Cristina, and Dave

We begin (as we shall end) with thanks. Our team is enormously grateful to have been chosen to represent Rotary District 5520 on our Group Study Exchange (GSE) to District 3030 in the eastern half of the State of Maharashtra in central India. Governor Mark Glenn, GSE Chair Yale Jones, and the District Leadership, have been supportive innumerable ways. We recognize the financial contributions that all 3,000 District 5520 Rotarians have made to support our Exchange. We look forward to reporting back to them upon our return.

Our soon-to-be hosts, District Governor Sanjay Meshram, GSE Chair Sanjay Arora, and GSE Team Leader, Ajay Narakesari, have already shown us many kindnesses. We look forward to meeting them soon.

Alternate Team Leader Peg Crim (Rotary Club of Alamogordo-White Sands) and Alternate Member Ken Nebel (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Los Alamos) have epitomized the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self."



Left to right: Dave, Nigel, Shalem, Michael, Peg,
Ken and Cristina

Here is the team at The Ranches (or The New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch) where we have held three of our five preparatory meetings. We thank Past District Governor Bobby Wallace, Chris Sandoval and everyone else at The Ranches who made us feel so welcome. We also thank the staff at the NMSU Center in Albuquerque where we held one of our meetings.

 

Many people, including former GSE Team Leader Julie Frendle (in person) and Lizz Bailey, a member of the Australian GSE Team who travelled to District 3030 last year (via Skype), offered valuable insights that helped us prepare for our amazing adventure.

 

Last, but certainly not least, we thank our families, friends and colleagues who have sacrificed in innumerable ways to make our exchange possible.

 

Thank you all for allowing us to serve Rotary and our communities.