Rotary Friendship Exchange - 2018

A group of twelve visitors from the USA east coast states of Vermont and New Hampshire (District 7850) visited District 1070 from mid May to early June as part of an International Rotary Friendship Exchange. The Exchange programme gives Rotarians and their families the opportunity to experience other cultures first-hand, by participating in reciprocal visits with Rotarians and their families from other countries. This programme aims to advance international understanding and provides Rotarians with the opportunity to make long lasting friendships while exploring different areas of the world. There have been exchanges between our District and New Zealand, Brazil, Australia, India, Canada and Sweden over the past ten years or so.

This particular Exchange involved several clubs from across the District including Market Harborough Rotary Club and the Kibworth & Fleckney Rotary Club locally who worked closely together on this project. Visiting Rotarians and their partners stayed in our area with six Rotary families in the two clubs for four days during their fortnight stay in the UK. Our visitors travelled as far east as the Sandringham Estate and as far west as Bosworth Field over the two weeks.

District Governor Chis Davies and Jim took part in the local events as did President Doug.

Many members from both clubs joined in the local events and visits which included Rockingham and Oakham Castles, the Cooke car collection, Foxton Locks, Barnsdale Gardens, and Rutland Water. The visit ended with an evening garden party in Smeeton Westerby.

In October thirteen of us from across the District will be visiting District 7850 to experience the famous “Fall” leaf season, the local sites of Vermont and New Hampshire as well as learning much more about the work that the clubs there do to help struggling people in the USA and around the world.   

Hosts from our club were Chris and Jim Davies, Hilary Hearnshaw with grandson and myself and Mary Clarkson.

My sincere thanks go to them and all the dozens of hosts from across the district.

Ian Clarkson

District 1070 RFE organiser