Third Group Meeting - Saturday 13th February 2010

With the weeks counting down fast it was time for our third meeting as a group. Many thanks to Ray Dixon (GSE Chairman) and his wife Jenny for kindly hosting the meeting; Jenny thank you for such a lovely lunch and all the tea and coffee!

We were keen to go through the progress we had made since our previous meeting; this included our paperwork, visas, progress on our team clothing, leaflets and business cards.

Ruth presented us all with our handmade neck scarves; Richard assured us that he did not feel left out even when Ray modelled one. Excellent job Ruth and very creative!

We went through the development of our presentation in detail and set actions for the next meeting.

Ruth also confirmed details from Raymond Area Rotary Club regarding our first 3 days in our host District 7870. We are all intrigued and excited by our welcome cookout kindly hosted by Steve Puderbaugh!

9 Weeks to go!!!

Ruth Portway - Team Leader

Ruth Portway

Lives: Higham, Kent

I have been a member of RC Rochester for 8 years but have had about 20 years insight into Rotary as my husband is a member of RC Gravesend and also editor of RSE.
RC Rochester is a very active Club and I was very proud to be President in 2007/08; I am currently a member of the Community and Vocational Committee. I am also a member of the Inner Wheel of Gravesend.

I was one of Noel Tatt's Humanitarian Volunteers to West Bengal in 2004 and have had several roles in District ever since ranging from Simplified and Matching Grants Officer (Foundation), Emergency Response (International) and ShelterBox (District Chairman/Coordinator). In each of these 'jobs' I have had the opportunity to visit many clubs and give presentations, also giving talks on the Jubilee Sailing Trust and my position as Relief Medical/Purser and fundraiser. I can thoroughly recommend attending as many other clubs as possible as each has its own character and qualities.

Throughout much of that time I have been involved with GSE as a host and in helping to plan programmes when the Teams were visiting our locality in the North of The District. I am delighted to have been selected as the Team Leader for our visit to District 7870 in New Hampshire and South Vermont USA and feel privileged to lead such a great team.

My background is nursing, with some health service management thrown in for good measure, and my experience has been concentrated in treating people in the community and enabling them to be cared for in their own homes. I currently work with MedOCC, which deals with urgent primary care problems when GP surgeries are closed or no appointments are available. Using this as my focus I have indicated that my vocational requests are:
Seeing how the role of nurses has developed, to what level they work as part of a team and how autonomously.
Seeing where direct care is provided to people in their own homes and in the community.
Visiting family doctors offices and outreach clinics, but also see where care is provided when those offices are closed whether this is in ERs or other facilities.
It would be interesting to see where a mix of income groups, get their medical care and cover and any initiatives to encourage people to be self sufficient in maintaining their good health and managing their chronic diseases.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the impact that the new Health Reform Bill is expected to make.

We have been very busy planning and making preparations for our visit and now the weeks are really counting down.

Abi Buxton

Age: 27
Lives: Canterbury, Kent

I have been working as a physiotherapist for the NHS in Kent for over 6 years. I started out at a hospital in Canterbury where I completed my junior rotations and since 2005 I have been working in an outpatient department in Herne Bay, for Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT. As well treating patients with musculoskeletal problems, I am a practice educator for students training to join the profession and a work place steward for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
In my free time I enjoy pilates, tennis, swimming, music, theatre, film and travelling. My family are mainly based in Brussels which means that whenever I get the chance, I can either be found on the ferry or Eurostar!

Taking part in this Group Study Exchange is an opportunity of a lifetime. During the exchange, I am hoping to:
· Get greater insight into Rotary and the humanitarian work that they do, by spending time at different clubs across the district.
· Learn more about the American Health Care System, in particular the physiotherapist’s role within it.
· Find out more about the training of physiotherapists in Higher Education.
· Have the opportunity to meet new people, spend time with families and club members and discover more about New Hampshire and Vermont.

Richard Smith

Age: 26
Lives: Bexhill, East Sussex

I work for a company called Maybo that strives to reduce the risk of conflict and violence in workplaces. I joined Maybo in 2006 and my role is now Head of Operations.

This GSE programme represents a unique experience that I hope will significantly improve my knowledge and understanding of my profession and US/UK cultural differences. By spending time experiencing similar professions to mine in a range of US organisations I hope to gain new perspectives, have the opportunity to share my learning with US peers and most importantly benefit from sharing their learning.

The exchange is a really important step in my professional development and advancement. I need to gain a broader understanding and experience of business management although I am very committed to my current employer and so I am actively seeking opportunities to diversify my experience whilst remaining in my current organisation. This GSE programme provides a unique opportunity for me to achieve this.

I am confident that participating in this programme will directly improve my ability to excel in my job and the insight I will gain into US professional culture will also be specifically useful to my employer as Maybo implements its strategy for expansion into North America.
I had little prior knowledge of Rotary International and I’m looking forward to being more involved with the organisation and the great work they do as part of this trip and in the future.

Hayley Richardson

Hayley Richardson
Age: 26
Lives: Maidstone, Kent

After joining Demelza Hospice Care for Children in January 2009 I finally feel I have found my niche in life; this is what I am meant to do. I had been searching for “that job”, the one that makes you jump out of bed, even on a rainy Monday morning, and I have found it!!

Every day I come into contact with individuals, from all walks of like, from all age groups, organisations and social groups. I hear stories of the most amazing people doing the most spectacular things in aid of Demelza to improve the lives of children they may never meet, for families they will never know.

The Group Study Exchange Programme will offer me many opportunities to develop both personally and professionally. I will be looking to:-

• take my experience as a fundraiser and look at building upon this with the experiences and expertise of the people that I will be lucky enough to meet on the exchange




• gain an understanding of fundraising activity within local charities and Rotary Clubs; how the economic climate is changing the fundraising activity in America




• having the opportunity to spend time with families and club members learning about the differences in our cultures




• maybe even building a long term link between two charities across the Atlantic
  

I will no doubt return with a head full of ideas, heaps of experience which will enable me to progress my career within the charity sector. I also hope to gain a greater understanding of Rotary International and use the experience to work closer with the clubs in my district on my return.

Charlotte Jones

Charlotte Jones
Age: 29
Lives: Whitstable, Kent

I work in Extended Services for Kent County Council. This involves supporting schools in developing extra services that will benefit the children and their families such as after-school clubs and adult education classes. I enjoy spending time with friends and family. My main hobby is a martial art called taekwon-do.

The Group Study Exchange Programme will offer me a wealth of opportunities to develop both personally and professionally. I hope that the experience will provide the following:

• a good insight into the education system in New Hampshire and Vermont, with particular focus on Extended Services




• an understanding of the issues faced by schools, families and communities and the systems for tackling these issues




• a knowledge of what agencies that work together and how new initiatives are implemented, both in terms of strategy development and funding




• the opportunity to spend time with local people, discovering their hobbies and interests and getting to know their way of life.

I hope to be inspired, surprised, and to come back with something I had not foreseen. I anticipate that this trip will be the opportunity of a life time, not only in terms of the potential for career development, but also for the friendships I hope to make as a global citizen, creating lasting links with another part of the world.