RI District 9680 GSE Team to Michigan

Goodbye friends!

2008-05-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

Well, it's difficult to believe that our friends from 9680's time here in 6310 is over. Ian, Camille, Maddy, Katrina, Richard and David were wonderful representatives of their home and their respective professions. Their departure was scattered over a couple of days, however as you can see Yvonne and I were able to catch up with Ian and David as they prepared to depart from our local airport near Midland.

Although their exchange was somewhat different than ours I think that they all had a great time. I know that we all had a great time hosting them! All but Katrina are extending their stay here in the US and will make their way back home in a week or two.

Not exactly sure what illegal contra ban Ian is looking for prior to clearing security, however David does seem a bit concerned???? We always feel safe and secure with Trooper Yvonne near by!

We hope that our Aussie friends will consider this a second home and know that they are welcome to return at any time, just as we feel that now have a home "down under".

Good on ya, mates!!!! It's not goodbye, it's until we see each other again!

Safe travels!

Corunna (and Lansing)

2008-04-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

Christ Evangelical German Lutheran Church at Corunna Historical Village of Shiawassee County

An example of the celebrity treatment we received at the Rotary Club of Corunna meeting at Corunna United Methodist Church

Michigan State Capitol Building, Lansing

Ingham Regional Medical Center "Health on Wheels" bus

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine/American Medical Student Association Healthcare Rally

Camille and Katrinna doing the Cupid Shuffle

Interior of the Capitol dome

Outside Michigan House of Representatives (in session), where we were introduced by Dick Ball

The team and Senator Valde Garcia

Lansing Lugnuts vs Kane County Game (we had suite seats!) at Oldsmobile Park Stadium

Madeleine and Big Lug

Shiawassee County Courthouse

Inside the Courthouse

Madeleine and Kim Williams, the Chief of Police at Corunna Police Department, shortly after a ride in his car

Curwood Castle

Madeleine and host Robin Durepo

Wednesday April 16th

2008-04-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

Madeleine and host Margot Roedel

Katrinna behind bars at Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office

A TASER

Tuscola County Courthouse

Stained glass inside the Courthouse

Owosso Rotary Club Lunch at Memorial Healthcare Auditorium

3D Cerebral Angiography Images from Memorial Healthcare of Owosso

"Out Back" Potluck Dinner and Bonfire (with fireworks!) hosted by Corunna Rotary

Day trip to the Upper Peninsula

2008-04-16T00:08:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday April 15 Sheriff Tom Kern very kindly took the team on a drive from Caro all the way to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, whose inhabitants refer to themselves as ‘da Yoopers’.

The day began at 0800 when Tom picked us all up in his very large automobile, after which we traveled north along the Interstate 75, past the towns of Grayling and Gaylord, and then stopped at Sea Shell City, which is a huge warehouse full of products from the ocean. Katrinna bought a lot of things. There was snow outside and we played with it.

We went over the Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Bridge, which is a toll suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan. The bridge was huge and there was much ice floating in the water.

Once in the Upper Peninsula we drove right up to the Canadian Border in Sault Ste. Marie. There we saw Lake Superior State University and Soo Locks, as well as the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, which spans the St. Marys River between the United States and serves as the northern terminus of Interstate 75. The Soo Locks, which are apparently the busiest in the world, allow ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. By happy coincidence a boat was moving through the locks at the exact moment we went to see them.

We stopped at a souvenir shop (where Katrinna bought more things), and then ate lunch at the Antlers Restaurant, which has the largest collection of taxidermified animals I have ever seen, including a polar bear, a whole family of lions, a huge anaconda, a large collection of native animals and trophies, and a two-headed calf that lived for only 45 minutes. Lunch was appropriately meaty steaks. They did a good cheese spread with beer in it too.

On our way out of Sault Ste. Marie we saw a statue of Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor who created The Four Way Test, a code of ethics adopted by Rotary 11 years later:

Of the things we think, say or do
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

On the way home we stopped for pasties and photos at the Mackinac Bridge near Colonial Michilimackinac, a reconstructed French fur trading village and military outpost that was later occupied by British military and traders. Richard had the opportunity to see some very large old pines when we visited Hartwick Pines State Park. We arrived back in Caro at about 2200.

Thank you Tom for a fabulous day!

Caro

2008-04-15T23:41:00.002-07:00

Shop, Shop, Shop

2008-04-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Amanda and I took Madeleine, Katrina, and Camille on a serious shopping spree. First, we went to the Prime Outlet Mall in Birch Run. This mall has every store that one can imagine with prices to die for. For example, one of them paid $14 for a genuine pair of Levi jeans. Now, how is that for a bargain? We hit several stores which included the Levi store, The Gap, Nike, Naturalizer Shoes, Claires and discovered the mother load at Perfumania. After shopping there, we had lunch at the Big Boy Restaurant just across the street. The food there is excellent!! When we left Birch Run, we went to the Genessee Valley Center Mall in Flint, Michigan so the girls could get some “Apple Bottom jeans and boots with the fur”. The girls and the rest of the team had enjoyable dinners with their host families that night.

Dinner and Dancing

2008-04-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Craig and I took the team to The Stein Haus, a German restraurant/bar type of establishment. As soon as we walked in the door, Katrina was recognized by a Rotarian that she had met earlier in the week. I ordered everyone a cheeseburger with waffle fries because the Stein Haus has the best cheeseburgers for miles around. Everyone said it was a superb choice. After dinner, we headed to a nightclub in Saginaw. Katrina and William sang karoke while everyone watched in amazement. Then we danced the night away

Bay City

2008-04-12T21:37:00.001-07:00

Pigeon

2008-04-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Detroit

2008-04-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

LA

2008-04-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

Touring educational facilities

2008-04-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

Today David & Katrinna visited Bay City Central High School with Craig (inbound to Australia) we visited many classrooms, students were given the opportunity to ask questions, we also saw vocational class rooms in Auto shop (more like a TAFE training room as there were full auto panel facilities with cars inside) Drama auditorium 1000+ seat capacity, Metal Shop with all welding bays (again like a TAFE room), also spoke with Drama teacher & Careers Counsellor who gave Katrinna a great insite into their vocational programs/work experience & co-op workplacement programs.

We then went to the Bay Arenac Career Centre, this facility was amazing, state of the art again like TAFE I would say even better, having auto shops - doing some community repairs, housing construction - they build a real house & sell it with funds going back into the Centre, all facets of engineering, childcare (fully functioning centre), Nursing, Vet Facilities, Rehab & Occupational Therapy, Forensic & Police facilities, Commercial Cookery, Business Studies, IT, to name a few. This is utilised by 7 local schools where Y11 & Y12 students participate 3 hours per day weekly in vocational studies which lead to careers/apprenticeships or College/Uni. They get both High School & College credit for their passing participation. They also participate in workplacements in their in Y12.

Tonight is a team dinner in Saginaw - Craig & Yvonne are taking us there.

Tried american mashed potato - so so so much better it was yellow but yum!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic & very informative day.

2008-04-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

I told you that those Aussies were doing it...John, how do you explain this? As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!!!! Seems David may have slipped the cuffs and tried to escape. To his surprise, the car was equipped with child protective locks.

Bay City Rollers...

2008-04-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Today we have been to Bay City Town Hall and then to Sterling Standish High School....Eagle Chippawah Indian Reservationa, plus presentations at 2 Rotary Meetings and Bay City Museum as well as a shopping trip to Meijers - a huge department store......and then a Potluck dinner.......VERY busy day but in firt week of GSE trip. Thanks to District 6310 and 9680 for organising and working together for this visit.

Your faithfully
Camille

welcome to USA

2008-04-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, it is great to be in the USA hosted by our Rotary families, this has been fantastic so far & I am sure it can only get better.

so much to see, so little time, the vocational interests have been very interesting & we are sure to continue to learn more.

Food is great to experience some "american" food we only see in Australia on TV.

thanks to everyone who has participated in allowing us to travel to Michigan, shall post more soon. x

Moo!!!

2008-04-08T18:51:00.001-07:00

The team had a great day touring highlights of the Pigeon area today. They began with a tour of Huron Castings, a local manufacturing plant that pours molten steel into molds making a variety of parts for companies like Caterpillar, Kenworth, the US Military, etc. Afterwards the team joined the Rotary Club of Sebewaing for their lunch meeting and many laughs. Then in the afternoon we toured the Zwemmer Dairy Farm where 4700 cows are milked 3 times daily!

Maddy can be seen here giving things a go in the parlor with each of the rest of the team taking their turn as well. Some with more luck than others coaxing the girls to give milk!

We'll be sorry to see our mates leave us tommorow as they are great fun but know that they will be well looked after by the crew in Bay City.

Physically here!!!

2008-04-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

The team arrived here at our local airport in Michigan this morning at 9:45 a.m. They were met by District Governor, Pam Harkema, Rotarians; Hratch Badmadjian, scott Meyersieck and Jeff Leipprandt. Also there to welcome the team were returning GSE members Yvonne Brantley and Rusty Laurenz along with son Cramer.

In the process of arriving Katrina seemed to have broken some sort of law. Oh yes, it's the law of sleep. Seems she had been awake for nearly 40 hours (way too long) and our State Trooper, Yvonne was forced to place her in handcuffs! We trust this will be the only time in handcuffs while in 6310!

From MBS, the team was wisked off to Pigeon for their noon meeting and to hear Yvonne, Rusty and Jeff give our return GSE presentation to Jeff's home club of Pigeon. If that didn't put them to sleep not sure what will! Then Ian and his team were in for a special treat of our rendition of "Waltzing Matilda". Finally after many decades of singing this song, Ian was able to share with us the meanings of things like, billibong, jumpbuck, tucker bag, etc. Ian even took the liberties of correcting our song leader in regards to the tempo! Must have been the sleep deprivation?

After a bit of unpacking the team finally made it to their host homes to freshen up a bit. This evening the team will be in for a good ole American barbecue and social time with the Pigeon and Sebewaing Rotary Clubs and spouses.

... and yes, we're still on our way to Saginaw!!

2008-04-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

Oh dear!!

Ian writes to Jeff Leipprandt in Saginaw . . . Sunday 6th April . . .
"We are en route, but delays have meant we missed our connection at LAX, and we are laid over until 10:00 p.m. tonight. We have taken day rooms in the LAX Hilton. We have just had lunch, and I will take the team off on a half day LA tour this afternoon.
We will be leaving LA tonight, flying Northwestern NW338 departing at 10:00 p.m., and arriving into Detroit at 5:17 a.m., Monday 7 April 2008, thence Mesaba Airlines NW3400 into Saginaw on Monday 7 April 2008, departing at 8:57 a.m. and arriving at 9:47 a.m.."
and . . .
Jeff Leipprandt to John Cameron . . . just now - 1130 Sydney time . . .
Still awaiting the teams arrival. We certainly had good intentions with a welcoming party at the airport this afternoon. Oh well, we will plan to meet the team in the morning and keep you posted.

Oh, Yes! We really are headed for Michigan!!

2008-04-06T04:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks Maxine!

2008-04-04T22:52:00.000-07:00

Before we leave I just wanted to say a big thank you to my local member The Hon Maxine McKew MP, Member for Bennelong, who has very kindly provided us with an Australian National Flag, a book on the Australian Flag and National Symbols and a DVD on the National Anthem to use on our trip, and gives us her best wishes for the exchange.

Thank you so much for these gifts, they are much appreciated and will certainly come in handy!

Now seeing as we are leaving tomorrow morning I'd best get back to packing...

The Eagle has Landed

2008-03-29T02:53:00.000-07:00

Rehearsals

2008-02-20T20:31:00.001-08:00

The D9680 GSE team to Michigan went through the rehearsal for our district conference presentation last night. Our counterpart Outbound GSE team, who are off to D7500 in New Jersey in a few weeks, were also present. We each have an eight minutes slot during the conference dinner, followed by the Inbound D6310 GSE team who have to try to explain Michigan to us in eighteen mintes or less!

Our conference presentation is in two parts: the first being introduction of the team members; and the second being a Q & A about Michigan from an Australian perspective. So we cover topics such as musicians (Madonna, Bob Seeger, Alice Cooper, Motown, Eminem), the automobile industry, wolverines, and cherry pit spitting. Bathtub gin gets a mention, as do Tom Selleck and Steven Seagall, . . . and Santa Claus Parades and Thanksgiving. The Michiganians will probably find our foreign interpretations quite bizarre! (By the way, did you know the only jurisdiction in Australia that celebrates Thanksgiving is Norfolk Island, as a consequence of Yankee whalers jumping ship and staying with the descendants of the Bounty Mutiny on Pitcairn Island, and keeping up some of the traditions of home.) The scripting for our talk has me encountering a couple of tongue twisters, or unfamiliar phrases, such as "our special subject of Michigan" (try saying that without making a schloshing sound), and the term Michiganian (where I am tempted to continue on with the "ganian-ginian-inian", sounds).

Judging from the D6310 GSE team's blogspot, they are having a truly great time . . . wait until they get up to the Central Coast next week, with all of the national parks, the lakes and waterways, and the beaches, let alone all of the vocational visits and inspections.

So we are pretty excited and looking forward to seeing our itinerary to see what is in store for us!

See yorle morla (Norfolk English for goodbye)

2008-02-13T01:18:00.001-08:00

eight weeks to go!

Welcome to Inbound Michigan Team

2008-02-13T01:08:00.000-08:00

At our team meeting this evening we discussed with anticipation the arrival of the inbound GSE team from Michigan, who are arriving next week. We have seen their program of visits and inspections, and it sure looks fabulous. They are going to have such a good time.

Arrangements are in place for the teams to meet, both informally and at a District dinner. We look forward to introducing our Michigan friends to a wide range of Australian beers and wines.

Michigan here we come!

2008-02-11T22:01:00.000-08:00

See link below a map of the "handshake state" ready to be populated with locations and data for our upcoming visit--keep you posted!

Map Link

Glad to be aboard!

2008-02-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

I was excited to have been invited to post to the 9680 team's Blog. Our time here in Michigan is growing short and we are indeed looking forward to the "green grass" of 9680. By the time the team from down under arrives in Michigan we should begin seeing green grass here once again after a long winter.

We will look forward to reading about all of the preparations of the 9680 team and will eventually look forward to meeting the team in person.

G'day mates!

2008-02-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been raining cats and dogs here in Sydney, with more than the average February rainfall in just two or three days. Just the summer weather we have been waiting for, but gosh is everything so green!

Today, I have extended invitations to our colleagues in Michigan to join the blog: Governor Pam (DG Pam Harkema, D6310), the D6130 GSE co-ordinator for our team, Charlotte Davis, and the D6130 GSE team leader who is coming over to visit us, Jeff Leipprandt. For those readers who do not know about the D6130 GSE team who are coming to Sydney, you can read all about them at: http://6310gse.blogspot.com/

Judging from their recent blogs, the D6130 GSE team who are coming to Sydney have been practising beachwear in expectation of gorgeous days of sun and surf on the Northern Beaches or at the Central Coast. I presume it is something to do with long days spent at minus temperatures, cabin fever and mid-winter madness.

I have also asked some of my D9680 colleagues to join us. Ian Cameron is the D9680 GSE co-ordinator for the incoming Michigan team, and he features prominently on their blog (he knows how to do stuff). DGN John Cameron (no relation, but also a member of our Wahroonga club) is the D9680 GSE Chairman, and he will hopefully come on board as well.

D9680 GSE Team to Michigan in 2008

2008-01-09T04:14:00.001-08:00

The first blog to introduce you to the Group Study Exchange Team from Rotary District 9680 in northern Sydney and the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, travelling to Michigan, Rotary District 6310, in April 2008. The Team comprises Ian Faulks as the team leader, and Camille Smith, Katrinna Madden, Richard Hanly, Madeleine Maguire, and David Owens, as members. It is about three months to departure, and the organisation of the study tour is well underway. A comprehensive list containing biographies, background information, current interests and requests for vocational, cultural and social experiences has been compiled for each team member and forwarded to the District 6310 GSE Committee. We are now working on a range of presentations to reflect District 9680, our sponsoring Rotary clubs, and our personal and vocational achievements, as well as the more mundane (but equally important) tasks of uniforms, fundraising, club liaison, etc..