Back Row: Chris Paustian, Mitchell, Team Leader; Dave Stevens, Mitchell, Alt. Team Leader; Ryan Jensen, Mitchell, Team Member; Front Row: Kim Anderson, Rapid City, Team Member; Jackie Scoular, Sioux Falls, Team Member; Macy Martinson, Sioux Falls, Team Member; Kathy TeSlaa, Sioux Falls, Alt. Team Member.
"We have met the team and they is us." (With apologies to Pogo) The Rotary District 5610 GSE team met for the first time in November and since then it's been a whirlwind courtship. Some might say more 'whirl' than wind, but we think we're headed in the right direction and we have our eyes on a magic day in March when all this will come together and we'll find ourselves wending our way to Victoria, Australia and spending a month learning about the sights, sounds, and events being planned for us by District 9790.
We've had several communiques from our contact in District, 9790, Don Hamilton, who is coordinating thevisit to Victoria and New South Wales. He is so well organized that we have even received a tentative schedule of the cities and clubs that we'll be visiting. Starting in Melbourne (pronounced Melbin) on Victoria's Labor Day we head northeast, making some visits along the way and have an opportunity to visit a couple of clubs in New South Wales. After making a 'grand' sweep we'll head south again just in time to attend the district's convention in Geelong...a long stone's throw southwest of Melbourne. A visit to this district's website at www.rotary9790.org.au gives a great overview of their activities, the various clubs and of course all the Rotarians who are working to make this visit a success.
Some information about the team: Team leader, Chris Paustian is a retired educator, most recently serving as President of the Mitchell Technical Institute. the past twenty-three years. He is a past President of the Mitchell Rotary Club and he and his wife, Sandi, are Paul Harris Fellows. Dave Stevens is currently the Executive Director of the Mitchell United Way. A thirty year member of Rotary, Dave moved to Mitchell from Sioux Falls a few years ago and has also been a past Rotary Club President. Ryan Jensen is a business banker at First Dakota Bank in Mitchell. He and his wife have a small child. Kim Anderson is an occupational therapist in Rapid City, is single, but has a significant other. Jackie Scoular is a middle school teacher in Sioux Falls. Macy Martinson is an operations manager for a Hyvee Grocery Store and is also from Sioux Falls where she resides with her husband. Alternate team member, Kathy TeSlaa, is an exercise and training specialist in Sioux Falls. In future blogs you'll be able to learn more about each individual team member.
The team's next meeting is January 10th in Mitchell. Team members have been busy working on individual assignments that can be shared at this meeting. Starting with a long 'to do' list that includes selecting uniforms and securing the Australian Electronic Travel Authorities to learning about Australia's economic, education, and government structures to learning about the organization that makes this all possible, Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation, and even learning the words to their 'unofficial' national anthem, Waltzing Matilda, the team is not wanting for something to keep them busy as they prepare for this experience. In between meetings, the team has a conference call every Wednesday evening.
The guiding hand of District 5610 GSE Chair, Bert Olson of Sioux Falls, is appreciated and ever present. He's assisted by David Mah, also from Sioux Fall. Former Team Leader, Kate Campbell, who traveled to Korea a couple of years ago, is invaluable with her willingness to give sound advice and help when asked.
That completes the team's first blog. Brevity is obviously not my strong suit. Next time....more pictures, less talk. I can be reached at paustianc@mit.midco.net or 605-996-1075
