Local lady on Rotary Exchange visit to Romania

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ascot, Sunningdale girl Oonagh McCarthy (29) will be one of a team of three young professionals from the Thames Valley who are starting a four-week exchange visit to Romania and the Republic of Moldova this week. Accompanied by their team leader, Rotarian Mike Cannon from the Rotary Club of Marlow-Thames, the team will be undertaking vocational visits to various organisations to exchange ideas with people following similar professions in Romania. During their visit they will be hosted at the homes of Rotarians in Romania and Moldova, who will also arrange a programme of cultural activities for the team.

Ascot Rotarians with the GSE Team and District Governor Tony Bacon

Their visit follows a visit to the Thames Valley by a team of four young professionals from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, who have been staying with local Rotarians over the last four weeks and carrying out similar visits to businesses and cultural events in the UK. A “Farewell Rally” was held at the Holiday Inn, Maidenhead, to say goodbye to the returning Romanian team and to wish good luck to our outward bound team.

The programme of “Group Study Exchanges” has been operated by Rotary International for a number of years, with each district making its own arrangements with an overseas partner district for the exchange visit. Rotary District Governor for the Thames Valley clubs, Tony Bacon, said “We are very pleased this year to be making our exchange with an Eastern European country, and it is particularly appropriate to be visiting Romania and the Republic of Moldova following their recent admission into the European Union.”

The next Thames Valley Group Study exchange will take place in May 2009 and will be with the District of British Columbia, Canada. Applications to be considered for participation can be made by young professionals who live or work in the Thames Valley, initially by contacting their local Rotary Club.