Rotary Friendship Exchange

 
Would you like to be here on a Rotary Friendship Exchange?
Well we can’t make it for Christmas but you could be there next summer (June 2015) and hosted by friendly Rotarians and their families from USA and Canada and in return we will host them in our district during the Australian summer as part of the exchange.
 
We are currently seeking Expression of Interest from D9685 Rotarians for an RFE with District 5020. Please contact Shankar Sankaran (North Ryde, 0406 137 325, shankarandgita@gmail.com) or Graeme Davies (Kincumber, 0416 275 363, gradav@ozemamil.com.au) for more information and to register your interest by mid January 2015 for us to know the numbers and help  you to book the tickets.
 
About RFE This exchange program gives Rotarians and their families the opportunity to experience other cultures first hand by participating in reciprocal visits with Rotarians from other countries. You would be responsible for travel costs and personal spending whilst your hosts are expected to provide housing, meals, and sight-seeing opportunities – the same courtesies that would be extended to a visiting friend.
 
The approximate cost of a return airfare to Seattle via Vancouver is A$ 1,850 but we have to book early to secure this rate.
 
Insights from Shankar talking about Seattle and Vancouver
 
Both Seattle and Vancouver are great places to visit and there is much to see. The Rotarians are very hospitable as well.
Please check out the following sites:
 
 
I visited Seattle and Vancouver two years ago and was looked after by PP Steve Garfein and Cindy Garfein of Polusbo Rotary Club (http://poulsborotary.org/) and we took a buggy ride through town driven by a horse and spent considerable time in the Pike Market which is a must see. I also saw the famous Space Needle which was built in1962 and the new freeway. Seattle is the home town of Boeing and Microsoft and you can visit the flight museum. In Vancouver I saw the art gallery, the sites where the Olympics were held, walked around Stanley Park and saw one of the oldest Chinatowns in the West. As I had limited time I went on the hop on hop off tour. I went to beautiful Victoria in British Columbia (as I had some work there) and travelled by a speed boat to Seattle and took a train back to Vancouver. The view of the snow capped mountains from both Vancouver and Victoria is breathtaking.   Don't miss it!