Rotary District Organizes Friendship Exchanges To Western Turkey, Northern California

Rotary International District 7230, of which we are a part, is delighted to announce two Friendship Exchanges: with Northern California and/or Turkey in April - May 2015.

The Friendship Exchange Program is modeled on the Group Study Exchange program, but is for Rotarians. Instead of visiting a foreign country/city as typical tourists, we would stay with local Rotarians who would show us what’s best in their area, while we also share their home and their family life. This is far more meaningful and fulfilling in terms of cultural understanding, and paves the way for long-term relationships on the individual, Club, and District levels – a great way to enhance international understanding.

The District plans to host, and then send, a team of five Rotarians and an adult companion each, i.e., a maximum of 10 adults. Rotarians will bear their own airfare from/to Northern California/Turkey, and take care of their own visa requirements for Turkey. Volunteers are invited for hosting, for planning, and for accompanying the visiting team. For more information, read Friendship Exchange Handbook. members may choose to spend more time in the host country at their own expense.

Turkey

District 2440, consisting of 67 clubs and 2,100 Rotarians, is located in the western part of Turkey. Encompassing the major cities of Izmir, Bursa, Canakkale, Balikesir, Mugla, Denizli and Aydin, Rotarians will experience the rich cultural legacy from early Greek, Roman, and Ottoman civilizations. Some popular destinations include Istanbul, the Aegean coast and the ancient cities of Ephesus and Troy. Besides historical attractions, the Aegean is known for its magnificent coastal scenery and long stretches of sandy beaches, where pine trees and olive groves clad the hills surrounding popular resorts. Inland, calcium-rich mineral springs surge over the edge of a mountain plateau at Pamukkale form Turkey’s leading mineral spa is one of the most celebrated natural attractions in the area. The city of Izmir, once famous for its figs, is today the modern capital of the region, and a major port and busy commercial centre. Turkey has one of the world’s healthiest cuisines and extremely hospitable people.

Northern California

District 5130 comprises of 46 clubs and about 1,500 Rotarians, encompassing the world famous Sonoma County, with more than 400 wineries, miles of rugged Pacific coastline, towering redwood forests, and its close proximity to San Francisco. While Sonoma County also includes cities such as Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Rohnert Park, it is famous as a traveler’s dream vacation spot in California. Tasting rooms in the world-class Sonoma wine region range from simple and rustic — two wine barrels and a slab of redwood as an outdoor tasting bar; to the wine resort of famed Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola — complete with swimming pool, restaurant, full bar, and movie memorabilia that includes his Oscars, some shooting scripts, the desk from the Godfather, and a Tucker car.

Our District’s last Friendship Exchange was with Bangalore, India in January 2013, and by all accounts, an incomparable experience. Team members were ecstatic. Eva Finkelstein, President of the Scarsdale Rotary who was accompanied by her son Kevin Finkelstein in the Team, said, “My life has been changed by this trip . . . I only want to eat Indian food, I am still on Indian time, and I am so happy to have found a place on Earth that works, for the people, and for life itself.” Janet Walsh, of the Bedford-Armonk Rotary, another member of the Team, said, “Under Kris Chittur’s able guidance, we were provided with a comprehensive introduction to Indian culture, business and Rotary projects. If you have ever wondered what it was like to be a Maharajah, you can experience it first hand at the Rotary Club of Bangalore. Mohan Gurjar, the president, and all the members took time and made as Herculean efforts to ensure that our every need was anticipated and provided for. I particularly enjoyed the business interactions with colleagues in manufacturing, technology, services and retail industries. Their insight and perspective will be mutually beneficial as we expand further into India. The Rotary projects including hospitals, blood bank, dialysis center and school were inspiring. From a cultural perspective, I enjoyed the trip to the Mysore palace and the neon-painted Holstein cows that wander through the city. Bangalore has an exceptional zoo safari park displaying sloth bears, Asiatic lions and tigers and chittral deer in natural settings which is not to be missed!” Kevin Finkelstein agreed. “I could not imagine a more educational, enlightening experience than our recent Friendship Exchange adventure to the Rotary Club of Bangalore,” he said.

The full report of the last year’s Friendship Exchange Team’s visit to Bangalore, India, may be read in the District’s Newsletter of February 2013, which is available in the District’s website (rotary7230.org, click on “District Newsletters” for past issues).

Program

The incoming team from Turkey is scheduled to visit us from April 19, 2015, to April 27, 2015, while the team from from Northern California is scheduled to visit us from April 7, 2015, to April 14, 2015.

Our outgoing Teams to Turkey/Northern California will leave New York on May 9, 2015, and return on May 17, 2015.

If you’d love to enjoy Northern California/Turkey with well-informed, friendly and fun-loving Rotarians, and enjoy the best of Rotarian hospitality, please fill out the application form and send it to RFE Chair Kris Chittur, 340 South State Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510, together with a check for $25 made out to “Rotary District 7230”. If you are unable to go, but would nevertheless like to host and/or accompanying the visiting Rotarians when they’re here, please email kchittur@post.harvard.edu.

All team participants are expected to host, or arrange for hosting, a Rotarian guest couple when the Friendship Exchange team from Northern California/Turkey visits here (please read hosting guidelines). Team members will selected be on a first-come, first served basis. Questions? Email kchittur@post.harvard.edu.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Rtn. Krishnan Chittur

Chair, Friendship Exchange Committee Rotary International District 7230