GRSP Homepage Archives

		Georgia Rotary Student Program Districts 6900, 6910 and 6920 Rotary International Bringing Nations Together Since 1946 Georgia Rotary Student Program · PO Box 61327, Savannah GA 31420 · Ph: 912.961.1331; FAX: 912.961.1860 · grsp@grsp.org

	GEORGIA ROTARY STUDENT PROGRAM Districts 6900, 6910 & 6920 Rotary International Bringing Nations Together Since 1946



Georgia Rotary Student Program · PO Box 61327, Savannah GA 31420 · Ph: 912.961.1331; FAX: 912.961.1860 · grsp@grsp.org

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GRSP Chair Jim Drake’s report at the GRSP Summer Business Meeting held July 16^th and 17^th at Lake Blackshear The state of the GRSP program is good as we prepare to welcome the 65^th class of students. The GRSP Endowment increased during the past 12 months and reached a significant milestone in excess of $8 million. 146 Georgia Rotary clubs participate in GRSP, which is 71% of the clubs in the state. The 2010-11 class has almost as many students from Iceland (3) as from Colombia (4). As GRSP seeks to promote “Peace through Understanding,” we need to strive to get more students from Middle Eastern countries. While the contributions to the Endowment were down from 7/1/2009 to 6/30/2010, Chairman Drake expressed gratitude for the $395,253 in contributions during a down economy. Chairman Drake recognized the >$12,000 in contributions from the Stephen Ginn Memorial Fund. During the 2009-10 year, there were 93 new Will Watt Fellows and two new Kendall Weisiger Fellows. All Trustees were encouraged to become Sustaining Members by giving $100/year. The GRSP History Project is continuing through the efforts of Jack Pannacoucke, who has traveled to interview a number of alumni. The GRSP Officers for 2010-2011 are: Jim Drake, Chair; Terry Gordon, Vice-Chair; Johnny Dukes, Treasurer; Blake McBurney, Secretary; and Ed Hall, Parliamentarian. The GRSP booth at the RI Convention in Montreal provided excellent exposure for our program. Dozens of Rotarians from around the world stopped by to inquire about GRSP and were amazed to learn what Georgia Rotarians have been doing since 1946 to promote peace. The Annual Student Conclave will be held in Savannah August 27-29 at the Riverfront Marriott Hotel. This will be the first Conclave in Savannah since 1973. The success of GRSP is greatly due to the two full-time staff of Janis Comer and Barbara Lariscy and the 72 volunteers made up of the Trustees and officers. Chairman Drake thanked the GRSP team for helping to make the world a better place by promoting “Peace through Understanding.” (posted 07.26.10)

What a great time we had in Montreal! By: Jim Drake, Chair The GRSP booth provided excellent exposure for our program. Dozens of Rotarians from around the world stopped by to inquire about GRSP and were amazed to learn what Georgia Rotarians have been doing since 1946 to promote peace. The most common response was, “Wow,” followed by, “But how are you able do that?” We spoke with a number of RYLA students as well as Interact students. I fully expect to receive applications from many of them, perhaps as soon as this year. We also spoke with many DGs, PEs, International Service Chairs and just plain Rotarians. As late as 2 p.m. on Wednesday as the work crew was taking up the carpet from in front of our booth, people continued to come by and ask questions. We had alumni from as far back as 1973-74 stop be to say hello. We also had several relatives, including parents, of former students stop by just to say thank you. It was proof positive that GRSP really is for a lifetime, not just one year. We had candid talks with many Africans about the difficulties experienced the past several years getting qualified students from many African nations. Hopefully the information shared will make it possible for us to once again have students from Africa participate in GRSP in significant numbers. I had the pleasure of speaking briefly with outgoing RI Vice President Eric Adamson, a WWF, who asked me to thank everyone involved in GRSP for making this Program possible and encouraged us to continue our efforts to increase its scope throughout the world. Pretty cool! More will be said about our Montreal experience at the upcoming Summer meeting. Thanks to all those who helped staff the booth. Their names are listed below. Thanks especially to PDG Kenan Kern and his wife, Beth, for setting up the booth on Saturday and helping with the take down on Wednesday. PDG Kenan Kern and Beth DG Shane Burr and Donna Dist 6900 Chair Bill and Susan Smith PDG Steve Stanfield DGND Bob Griggers and Brenda DGN Gordon Matthews GRSP Chair Jim Drake (posted 06.29.10)

Students deliver motivating speeches at District 6910 Conference on Jekyll Island April 17 View their presentations on YouTube by clicking the links below their photos. (posted 05.26.10)
Christina Asfour; Beirut, Lebanon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmGuMkqsVQ	Monia Azevedo, Brazil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywRET5HL7xI

Dedicated Rotarians recognized at District 6920 Conference on Jekyll Island (Left photo:) GRSP Chair Jim Drake (on right) recognizes PRIP Cliff Dochterman as a Will Watt Fellow. (Photo right:) GRSP Chair Jim Drake, along with District Governor Clyde Taylor (far right), read a resolution naming Hamsa Thota a GRSP Trustee Emeritus. (posted 05.03.10)

Anna Bencze meets Rotary International President Anna Bencze, GRSP Class of '06-'07 (Hungary), met Rotary International President John Kenny during his March visit to Hungary. Ms. Bencze, an active Rotaractor, helps identify applicants for GRSP in Hungary. Mr. Kenney spent five days in Hungary visiting several regions and clubs. "It was a great honor for us that one of his main interests was meeting young people connected to Rotary," said Ms. Bencze. "I had the chance to talk to him personally when he spent an hour with our Rotaract club's sponsoring Rotary club. He visited the "Touchable invisible" project in the Buda Castle District. During this short walk, I escorted him and other Rotaractors and Rotarians, and we talked about GRSP." (Photo, l-r): Anna Bencze with her friend Jan Prisic from Scotland. These GRSP alumni attended the University of Georgia together. (posted 04.12.10)

Best wishes for an exciting summer to the following Georgia students who won scholarships to study at the University of Oslo, Norway June 26 - August 6: Jennifer Lauren Rivers -- District 6900, RC of Carrollton Sarah Nicolle Nelms, RC of Clayton Rachael Anne Hadden, RC of Augusta (posted 03.05.10)