A Fond Farewell

(Team Leader Mike Carlino kicks off the presentation)

Here we are but hours away from departure.  We are nervous and excited and altogether thrilled that the day has finally come.  Papers have been signed, vaccines administered, and bags carefully packed (at least by this poster).  At 6pm tomorrow, the district 6440 GSE team will be en-route to district 3230, Chennai, India.

It was with great pleasure that we attended a farewell reception this past Sunday at the Makray Memorial Golf Club in Barrington, IL, so generously hosted by the Rotary Club of Lake Zurich.

It provided the group a chance to meet our respective families, give our presentation to the Rotary Clubs of 3230 a test-drive (to some success I might add), and interact with some of the great Rotarians who've helped keep the GSE alive.

Among the speakers were Rotary GSE Chair, Jim Runnfeldt, showing those in attendance how deeply he cares for this program, followed by a kind-hearted, off-the-cuff salutation from our District Governor, Mike Yesner, reminding those of us fretting about 95° weather that the rest of district 6440 will not be feeling sorry for us as they chip their cars out of the ice.  Ada Kahn, Rotary Club of Evanston's President Elect and leader of the 2012 GSE team to District 3480, Taipei, Taiwan, inducted the group into the distinguished ranks of Rotary Alumni.  A place wherein we do not take for granted.

We are continually thankful to be a part of this, the last GSE program as we know it.  We are honored to have already met so many terrific Rotarians and we are sure to meet many, many more before the month is through.

As for now we bid you adieu.  We must fly.

-The Team