Osterman To Lead Rotary Team To South Africa

Ed Osterman of Newtown has been selected to lead a Rotary group study exchange team to South Africa for a five-week study of the country. The six participants will experience the social, culture, educational, and vocational life of the people with the aim to further international understanding of another country.

During the five-week period, each member of the team will be hosted by a total of seven different Rotarian families and will gain an insight to the way of life in South Africa. One of Rotary International’s main themes is “World Peace through Understanding,” and this program strongly supports the theme.

The team, consisting of one Rotarian Leader and five young professionals (who cannot be Rotarians or related to a Rotarian), will also take part in a mini safari to Kruger National Park.

Ed Osterman is the fifth Newtowner to take part in such a study exchange but the first as a team leader. Steve Bigham of The Newtown Bee spent six weeks in the Birmingham area of England in 1994, Michael Meyers went to Eastern Germany and the Rev Steve Gordon to India in 1996. Linda Vitrella traveled to Germany just last year.

Every year the Southern Connecticut Rotary District 7980, covering the four lower counties of Connecticut, sends two teams to foreign countries and in turn receives teams from the same respective countries. There is an exchange planned with London in October of this year and an exchange with Taipei, Taiwan, in April of the year 2001. Any young professional or business person who might be interested in this “all paid” type of experience is urged to contact their local Rotary Club for further information.