Meeting # 5

January 14, 2009 the USA team met again at the Palatka library.  We turned in our power points for the trip and Sean will compile them into one.  We also turned in our insurance/medical forms.  We discussed a few points about Florida community planning, environment, and criminal justice to list on the back of the brochure we will bring with us to the Netherlands.  Our next meeting is on January 31 when we will travel to Jax Beach Rosemblums to pick up our blazers, finalize our powerpoint, and hopefully work on our Dutch!  We are amazed and excited that we only have less than 4 months until we leave and less than 3 months until the Netherlands team arrives!!

The Rotary 4 Way Test-In Dutch!

Sean, Terri, Sarah, Walther, Jason, and Shane at the Plantation at Ponte Vedra January 3, 2009.

As we met with Walther, as described in the previous post, we additionally solicited him for a translation of the Rotary 4 Way Test into Dutch.  Here it is below:

Met betrekking tot alles wat we denken zeggen of doen, geldt:

1. is het waar?
2. is het billijk voor alle betrokkenen?
3. bevordert het onderling vertrouwen en vriendschap?
4. komt het alle betrokkenen ten goede?

In English:

Of the things we think, say or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Meeting #4 Rosenblums Jacket Fitting and Meeting with Walther at the Plantation at Ponte Vedra

Pictured from L to R: Terri, Shane, Jason, Sean, Fitz, Sarah.

The Netherlands Team met again on Saturday January 3, 2009 and had a nice outing! First stop (well the first stop after getting a bit lost anyways...) was Rosenblums in Jacksonville Beach. We met with Fitz who fitted the guys for our Rotary blazers we will wear on the trip and the girls found our sizes. We then headed down to the Plantatation at Ponte Vedra to meet with Walther from the Ponte Vedra Rotary. Walther is Dutch and has been living in the US since 1978. He graciously volunteered his time on a Saturday to give us a behind the scenes look at the updated Plantation House and the management of this over 500 acre establishment. He also gave us some first hand insight into the Netherlands. Here are some of the things we learned:

-The US through the Marshall Act helped rebuild the Netherlands after World War II. Therefore the Netherlands have a very thankful attitude, but US policy shouldn't push this thankfulness too far.

-Law enforcement is automated there. If you run a red light, the camera will take a photo and you will be mailed a ticket. If you get on the highway, it will mark your time and will mark your time when you exit. If you get off too early for what it should take you for that distance, you will be sent a ticket. Drunk driving accidents are not covered by insurance. Drunk driving accidents are left on the roads for everyone to see on Mondays as a reminder.

-Things are very regulated in the Netherlands including soft drugs.

-Walther gave us some places to visit as side trips such as an amusement park, the newly opened Rotterdam interpretive museum, Belgium and Germany for beer stops (we must find the best beer while we're there, right?), soccer match, and an area where the rivers meet.

-He said that our families will probably want us to get seconds on food so don't get too much the first time and make sure to clear your plate. Sounds like we Southerners will fit right in!

-Tips may be only at 10% which is normal.

-Families like to drink sherry because historically ships used sherry for long voyages as this would preserve longer.

-It is nice to give flowers as gifts when we move to a new home.

-Netherlands phrase-ik ik ik, everyone else can stick it. This means, Netherlanders may like to get ahead for themselves, maybe not wait in line, but push forward. Maybe the nature is a bit competitive there.

-Netherlands phrase-If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much. We hope to say this in our presentations!

-Dutch we learned-

Doie-hip way to say goodbye

Proost-cheers

Bedankt-Thank you

Thank you Walter for spending time with us and for giving us so much interesting insight into the Netherlands!!

Next meeting January 14.

GSE Netherlands Inbound Team Announced!

The Netherlands GSE Coordinator sent the Bios of the Inbound Team! They look like a great group and all work in the field of the theme of the exchange-Community Planning. Here they are:

Team Leader-Peter Van der Tol-58
Regional Development Manager

Elsbeth Raedts-29
Strategic Advisor for Housing and City Networks for the City of Meerlen

Karin Bakker-25
Rural Development Advisor

Nienke Verhagen-30
Planning and Spatial Developments of Housing

Robbin Bouten-30
Economic Feasibility of Urban and Spatial Development

Can't wait to meet you guys!

Netherlands Planning Meeting #3 December 17, 2008

USA GSE Netherlands team meeting to discuss all aspects of Rotary International December 17, 2008. (L to R: Sara Owen Gledhill, Terri Mashour, Laura Massee, Shane Williams, Mr. Bill Griffin, Sean McClendon, Jason Shaw, Shann Puritan. Not pictured, Karen Weiss)

Hello Again,

On December 17, 2008 (wow, that was, like, a year ago!) the USA half of the Netherlands GSE met at a sports restaurant in Palatka, Florida to learn about all things Rotary! Honored and very insightful guests were District Governor, Bill Griffin, Past District Governor, Shan Puritan, GSE Team Coordinator, Karen Weiss, and 2008 GSE Brazil Team Member, Laura Massee. Each member discussed their initial interest in joining Rotary, and how Rotary has changed their interest in the organization. Most of the members concurred that they initially joined due to the networking capabilities Rotary has: due to the high quality of ethics aspired by each member, doing business with members is an honest bet. However, in the process of meeting people, volunteering, and helping others, they remain in Rotary due to the good works of the club. This year's Rotary theme is, "Make Dreams Real." Guests also discussed the many local and international programs of Rotary such as ending polio, water projects in developing countries, and how the experience of an exchange and learning a new culture can help many of the world's problems.

Laura Massee, GSE Brazil Team Member 2008 gave an excited report of her GSE experience. She discussed the late night culture of the Brazil Rotary meetings, the meat she ate, the nice and interesting people she met, and how to pack (lets not bring up undergarments here...). Her experience sounds just like what we are hoping for and she gave us some excitement to take with us!

Thank you to everyone at the meeting! We appreciate your insight and knowledge that will help us on the trip.