Greetings from District 5130

Northern California District 5130
To Argentina District 4850

October 25 to November 22, 2005


GREETINGS FROM DISTRICT 5130

Dear friends in Rotary District 4850:We are very excited about the exchange of professionals between our two Districts. My district has, several times, hosted and sponsored Rotary Youth Exchange students with Argentina. These relationships have always been friendly, productive, and valuable.This year, we begin a new type of relationship, with Group Study Exchange. Yet the basis remains the same - to bring us closer to the goals of Rotary International: World Peace and International Understanding. We do this by providing opportunities for our team members to share with - and learn from - your District Rotarians and friends. We will share our respective cultures and history, family life, and our goals and dreams, both personally and professionally.Our District chose Affordable Housing as the focus of our Group Study Exchange. We have heard that your country has local and national policies about this theme. Our team members are dedicated to that topic in their professions, and they are eager to learn about your programs.With your help, our team will return home with increased knowledge for their own careers and with a greater understanding of Argentina and your people.

Sincerely,
Charlie Kelly
2005-06 District Governor 5130

ABOUT GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE

One of the most popular and rewarding programs of The Rotary Foundation is Group Study Exchange (GSE). This program offers a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunities for young business and professional men and women. Since the first exchange between districts in California and Japan in 1965, the program has provided educational experiences for over 35,000 business and professional men and women who have served on 6,500 teams. Since 1965, almost US $59 million has been allocated for GSE by the Rotary Foundation.

One of the most important features is the opportunity for team members to meet, talk and live with Rotarians and their families in a warm spirit of friendship and hospitality. The team members are given a chance to study another country, its people, language and institutions. This program promotes an appreciation of cultural diversity worldwide. Observing vocations as practiced in another country benefits team members’ careers through discussion and reciprocal exchange of ideas.

This year's District 5130 GSE team has chosen a vocational focus of "affordable housing." Our team hopes to learn and share knowledge and expertise with Rotarians, government officials and private sector developers who are committed to providing housing that improves the quality of life for all citizens. Specific goals include:
. Understand how different Argentine people approach affordable housing needs
. Understand how Argentina's government is working with the private sector to increase affordable housing
. Share our experience in building, financing and maintaining affordable housing
. Establish relationships that will further our personal, cultural and professional understanding of our countries

About Rotary District 5130

District 5130 is located north of San Francisco and is composed of the six northwest counties of California, from south to north, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt and Del Norte. From south to north the district is nearly 300 miles long and at its greatest width a little less than 100 miles. Rotarians in District 5130 are very proud of their international programs and projects as well as those in our immediate backyard.

We have 43 clubs in our district.
Our Rotary membership is over 2600.
Our smallest club in the district is Middletown with 17 members.
Our largest club in the district is Santa Rosa with 168 members.
We have chartered two clubs in the past five years.
We have 42 student interact clubs.
We have two Rotoract clubs.
We raised $ 120,000 for Tsunami Relief in 2005.