Applications are now being accepted for the District 5840 Group Study Exchange Team, which this year will visit District 3212 located in the south of India in the state of Tamil Nadu. District Governor Lisa Herring announced that the team will leave for India on Dec. 26, 2012, and return on Jan. 27, 2013. A team from India will visit District 5840 later in the spring of 2013.

The district is looking for the right person to lead the team. The Team Leader must be an experienced Rotarian, especially in the area of international service, and must be able to spend time with team members before the exchange as well as after the trip.

Team Members should be outstanding young non-Rotarians, aged 25 to 40, who are employed full-time in a recognized business or profession. Applicants must be U. S. citizens who live or work in District 5840.

Applications for Team Leader and Team Members are available on the District 5840 website in the Downloads section on the right side of the home page. A brochure explaining the GSE program to employers is also available. All these documents are also available on all club websites using Club Runner.

The purpose of a Group Study Exchange is to promote international understanding and goodwill through person-to-person contact. While abroad, team members stay in Rotarians' homes and have the opportunity to meet their professional counterparts. During the four-week visit, team members share their personal knowledge of their own country and experience the customs, vocations and lifestyles of the host country. The team will also give presentations to Rotary clubs and other groups about their life and work in Texas. The Rotary Foundation provides round-trip airfare, and hosting Rotarians provide meals, lodging and group travel. Team members are responsible for their personal and incidental expenses.

Interviews for Team Leader are scheduled for Wednesday, August 29 in San Antonio. Applicants will be advised of the exact time and location once their application is received. Team Members will be interviewed on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Rails Event Center, 615 Schreiner Street, Kerrville. Interview times will be assigned when applications are received.

For questions, please contact GSE Subcommittee Chair, PDG Sherri Muniz, at scmuniz@msn.com or (210) 639-0295. Applications may be scanned and emailed to PDG Sherri, faxed to her at (210) 568-1982, or mailed to her at 5602 US Highway 87 E #2, San Antonio, TX 78222.