Rotary District 7390 Exchange with District 1460

Thursday May 13, 2010

2010-05-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

Today we left our Host families in Klaipeda and headed for our first stop - LCC University in Klaipeda. We received a brief tour of the University, an overview, and discussion with the University President. He happens to be from Colorado so language was no problem. LCC is rather new, has an enrollment of 600 students, 21 of whom are from different countries. The faculty is volunteer or "borrowed" from other institutions and typically stay no more than 1 year. This is a different concept. Students live in dorms and cook for one another rather than go to a dining hall. Courses are taught in english. There is 1 classroom bldg., 1 dorm on campus and 1 off campus, and a recreation hall, with plans to build more facilities. By coincidence we ran into a staff member and her husband who are from Lancaster Co., Pa. They are from the same town, Manheim, as some of our Team members. Small world!!!!
We then went a short distance to Master Foods, also known as MARS, Inc. where they make pet food. We received a detailed overview of the history of the plant in Klaipeda, the Co. philosophy and operations. They have been trained extensively in "Lean process" and the work of Demming, and are implementing those principles with help of people from Toyota. We were impressed with their knowledge of process management and implementation of an open plant philosophy. We got a tour of the plant where several varieties of the foods are made - mostly cat food. Due to the heat, smell, and visual effects we cut our tour a bit short.
On to the Pazaislis Camaldolese Monestery just east of Kaunas. It is a beautiful old monestery originally built by monks but now inhabited by the Sisters of St. Casimir. We received a tour and history of the buildings and yard. It is in the process of being restored. See http://www.pazaislis.org/ for more details.

Next we went to a nice restaurant/conference center part way between Kaunas and Vilnius to meet the Dipolis Rotary Club for dinner and presentation. They are a new Club, made up of very young men - probably the youngest average age anywhere in the world.. It grew out of a Rotaract Club, and is the first CLub to have done so. Very nice dinner, good conversation, presentation and exchange of banners. They exude an energy rare in most Rotary Clubs. They have several initiatives underway, one of which is a Leadership Project for young people. I received some written information on it and may seek cooperative relationships with them on this project when I get back home.

After dinner we left in separate cars for our host homes in and around Vilnius. It has been a long day with alot of driving but worthwhile experiences!

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

2010-05-18T09:42:00.000-04:00

Saturday, May 15, 2010

2010-05-18T09:41:00.001-04:00

District Conference Day!
We met in Vilnius to organize for the one hour drive to Kaunas and the Conference. We arrived at Hotel Royale in time for lunch. While the conference participants started their lunch, we quickly set up our presentation and put our favors (Snyders pretzel and snack bags) on their chairs. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and went up for last minute instructions before our presentation. The presentation went well and we received positive comments about it from several participants.
After the presentation, the ladies on the Team and some of our hosts went downtown to see what shops might be open. They say some historical sights and took some great photos. The conference was well organized and run. Many of the slides were in English so I could follow the gist of what was going on.
On to dinner at 6:00 pm with live music. By chance, we ran into a Foreign Exchange Student from Jacksonville, Fl. She was so excited to speak to Americans that we invited her to join us for dinner. She'll be going home in 3 months but has had a really good experience in Lithuania.
After dinner we left for the Castle at Krakai - a beautiful old castle in the middle of a lake. It is pictured on almost all PR materials from Lithuania. It is beautiful! We were even able to get a few night photos to turn out! The mosquitoes and late hour forced us to leave for our host homes.
On to the airport tomorrow and home. Saying goodbye will be a little sad for us.

Submitted by Warren

Wednesday May 12th

2010-05-12T12:18:00.001-04:00

Our day started out with a tour around the city of Klaipeda. We got to see many historic buildings and some small shops. Pictured in the background is an old warehouse.

From there we visited the Kursiu Nerijos National Park, one of 5 parks in the country, and the Curonian Spit. The Curonian Split is located along the Baltic Sea, half the split belongs to Lithuania and the remainder to Russia. We visited the Great Sand Dunes, the Dunes are made up of spectacular ravines formed by strong winds and sand, grassy flora, and the old fragments of the forest soil.

We then walked around the city of Nida (located on the Curonian Split), stopping for lunch along the way.

Our final destination was the Beach, which according to some is the second most beautiful beach in the world. Here we enjoyed walking in the Baltic water and looking for small pieces of Amber.

-Krystal-

Tuesday May 11, 2010

2010-05-11T18:06:00.001-04:00

Our second day in Lithuania! It will be hard to top last night's dinner and water park.
After breakfast with our host families we went to a place called Grutas Park near Druskininkai. The park ws created by a private individual to tell the story of the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. Statues and various artifacts from all over Lithuania were brought here to help describe this tragic time in Lithuanian history. We took a self-guided tour using an audio device that explained what was involved in each display. There were statues of Marx, Lenin, Stalin and many Soviet leaders who dramatically affected the lives of so many Lithuanians for years to come. The various displays told about the period leading to the occupation, life under Soviet rule, indoctrination of the Lithuanian people, deportation of thousands to Siberian work and re-education camps, and the killing of hundreds of thousands of people who did not bend to Soviet rule.
The museum was criticized by a few people, but is the most widely visited museum in Lithuania. It is intended to factually tell the story of that period of history, and it left a dramatic impression on all of us. We learned alot about life in Lithuania during those times.

Our Interpreter who spent a day and a half with us. She is a 12th year student who is studying for her final exams.

We said goodbye to our host families and after lunch took off on a very luxurious bus to the city of Klaipida on the Baltic Sea. It is a beautiful seaside city of about 200,000 people. We arrived at the Rotary Club meeting place just in time for dinner. Three area Rotary Clubs were represented as well as the Rotaract Club. One of the Rotary Clubs here is made up of women only and the other two are men only. They are cooperating on several projects now which demonstrates true Rotary spirit. We gave our presentation with the aid of an interpreter, exchanged banners and gifts and enjoyed yet another delicious dinner.

Guess who is in this picture!

We met our host families and went off to get acquainted and ready for a great day at the beach tomorrow.

Submitted by Warren

Monday May 10th

2010-05-11T17:42:00.001-04:00

It is off to Lithuania and time to begin our last week of our GSE adventure. We have learned alot about Denmark, it's culture and people in the short time we've been here and have enjoyed it thoroughly.

After a relatively uneventful (though Megan wouldn't necessarily agree as her checked luggage was a wee bit too heavy - Darn where is that scale??) train ride and flight we arrived in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. We were met by the Rotary Club members led by Simonas Petrulis and a bus was waiting to take us to our first city - Druskininkai. It took about an hour and a half to get there. We discovered that this city was established as a spa area many years ago due to the mineral water found there. It was believed to have medicinal powers and thus was sought after by many european people. We enjoyed a delicious meal of beef or fish and the great company of our Rotary Club hosts.

We were then treated to a visit to the indoor water park and spa located there. It is an amazing multi-level complex of pools, slides, tubes, wave pools, steam rooms, saunas, spas, etc, etc, etc. A true aqua playground for kids and adults alike. A year-round ski area is in the process of being built so this is fast becoming a major resort for all of Europe. We certainly enjoyed our time there!

submitted by Warren

Sunday May 9th

2010-05-11T17:26:00.001-04:00

Today was another day that we did individaul activities. In Denmark, many shops and activities are closed on Sunday except those open primarily for tourists. You could find some shops and cafes and restaurants that we serving customers.

We met as a Team for breakfast to discuss plans for taking the train to the airport the next morning, getting our flight, last minute baggage weight checks, etc. (Someone carried their hand scale all the way from home then went to share it with the group and discovered it was left in our last host home!!! Gee Warren, I wonder who did that??!!)

Some of the Team went to Tivoli after hearing about it from their Teammates who went yesterday. At least one person spent the day reading and resting and getting some individual time. Another pair traveled around sightseeing in different areas.

After arranging our seats for tomorrow's flight, I grabbed the camera and headed to the Kastellette - Fortress nearby. Then on to the dock area and saw the Royal Yacht with the Danish flag flying indicating that the Royal family was aboard. Finding your way Copenhagen is easy by foot, or bike and there are beautiful old buildings to photograph. Also, as other Team members discovered, there are lovely parks like the botanical gardens and Kings Garden to discover. It is easy to see why people like living in and visiting Copenhagen.

Submitted by Warren

Copenhagen- Saturday May 8

2010-05-09T06:10:00.000-04:00

Today we all did individual activities. Some of us went to see castles, many of us went to the lovely shops, all of us rested at least a litle bit, and we did a lot of walking. Warren also watched a special parade.

Megan, Jenny, Krystal, and I went to the Prince's castle and watched the "changing of the guards" at noon. Warren actually waited in line for 2 hours and went inside the Prince's castle that they're renovating.

Then we walked to the Marble Church and its huge dome and looked around inside- boy was it beautiful!

We also saw some really fancy gelati while we were walking on the pedestrian street

and some really cool fountains.

Megan and I also went to Rosenborg Castle and the castle gardens. This castle houses the Royal Danish collections.

In the evening, while everyone else rested, Megan and I took the train into Copenhagen and went to Tivoli, their amusement park.

We went at a good time because we were able to see the park both during the day and the gorgeous lights at night. There were some really cool rides (but it was pay per ride), beautiful gardens (which are found just about everywhere in Denmark) ,shops, and tons of restaurants.

We also saw a small statue of the Little Mermaid on the pond even though the real one is currently in ShangHi.

-Heather

Thursday May 6th

2010-05-06T18:43:00.000-04:00

This is our last full day in Odense. We started with a tour of TV2, one of 2 Danish TV stations. The other is called DR (Danish Radio). TV2 is located in an old cattle building in Odense. It has been refurbished and is now very big and nice looking. We saw the TV studio, the news room, the library and several research, programming and business offices. We also saw a video presentation about the station and watched some of the shows they aired.

Danish TV is funded in part by the Government, and the government sets some priorities related to what % of air time can go for different types of programming, what must be aired like Royal ceremonies and some sports events, etc. Compared to the US, Danish tv news is unbiased and the government does not dictate content. Some shows are produced locally and some is purchased from other european countries and the US. Also, Danish TV is not censored so you can see some things that would be considered risque in the US.

We then went our separate ways in town. Some mailing packages home, some shopping and all getting something to eat and drink.

We were invited to meet at a Rotary members home nearby for refreshments before we went to dinner. He and his wife were most hospitable and showed us wonderful pictures of their wedding last August.

Then we walked to the restaurant Marco Polo for a very nice meal provided by the Rotary Club.

Then it was off to the Koncert (Concert) Hall where we were guests of the Rotary Club for a performance by the Odense Symfoniorkester (Symphony Orchestrra). They were very good and featured a flojte (flute) player by the name of Lucia Klonner.

Home to pack and get ready to leave for Copenhagen in the moring by train.

Submitted by Warren

Vocational Day in Odense

2010-05-05T10:19:00.000-04:00

It's mid week in Odense and we've been lucky to have good weather this week. Today was our vocational day in the city. I had the opportunity to visit the Danish Railway Museum. The curator, Jørgen Larsen, gave me a tour of the various engines and passenger cars they have on display at the Museum. The Danish Railway Museum is one of the largest of its kind in the area and sees about 90,000 visitors each year. They just had a Thomas the Tank Engine event which was a big success, which reminded me of the Strasburg Railroad!

After a morning of specific vocational time, we went on a walking tour of the city. Our guide, Anna Sophia, pointed out some of the city's sculptures which were inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tales.

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

2010-05-04T13:47:00.000-04:00

Today we started off our day by listening to a presentation about the Danish higher education system at Syddansk University. We learned more about the secondary school system as well as the Bachelor and Masters programs that are offered and the recent changes that the school system has undergone.

From the University we took taxis to the local Sydbank branch were we watched a video about the growth of the bank, it's mission and vision. Sydbank is the 4th largest bank in Denmark with 110 branches in Denmark as well as 3 in Germany and a subsidiary bank in Switzerland.

After the bank presentation we walked to the museum of Hans Christian Anderson where we were able to tour the writers birthplace and learn more about his childhood and adult life.

To complete our day before heading home to our host families we had time to walk around the 'old town' of Odense.

Megan Balmer

Sunday in Odense

2010-05-02T15:22:00.000-04:00

We arrived in Odense on Saturday night. Today we took a ferry ride to the zoo! We had a alot of time on our own in the zoo, then watched the seal show and had a more guided tour. In the guided tour, we were able to go behind the scences of the lion cages. It was really neat, and we learned that they use perfume to attract lions back into the cages. After the zoo, we made a short walk home to eat "cripsy pork" with our host family. It was delicious! Below are some pictures from the zoo and the ferry to the zoo.

megan and heather on the ferry

spider moneys- We were able to get very close to them!

My favorite the zebra!!!

-Melissa

Saturday May 1, 2010

2010-05-01T18:38:00.000-04:00

Saturday - moving day once again! We spent time with our host families today doing a variety of things.

Ulrich took me to Egeskov castle. This a castle that has been in his family for generations. His cousin lives there now with his family. It is HUGE! and built on oak pilings in the middle of a lake. As long as the water level is kept at a certain level, the oak will never weaken. Much care is taken to monitor the water levels. I believe it dates back to the 1500's or earlier. The castle has been opened to the public as well as the grounds, beautiful gardens, and outbuildings. The past several owners have begun collecting a number of antique items which are on display in the outbuildings - automobiles, motorcycles, emergency vehicles, horse drawn carriages, an old time grocery store, etc. There is also a play yard for children. Many rooms in the castle are open for viewing and period furnishings are on display. This is still a working farm too.

We then drove up north on Langeland to vistle Tronakaer Castle where Ulrich and his older brother lived from the age of 10 years old in traditionally royal style. Ulrich's nephew now lives in the Castle with his family. It sit imposingly on top of a hill.

Then down to Rudboking to meet our new hosts. The team gathered to say farewell to our host families and friends from Rudboking RC and meet the folks from Odense International Club. We learned that there are many members of this club who are not Danish but who hail from other countries. Thus the term international in their club title. We went to a mamber's home where we were treated to a most welcome dinner of soup, nacho's and cheese, hamburger, baked potatoes, and three scrumptous desserts from which to choose. We like Danish food, but it was also nice to get a "taste of home" as well. Lena, the youngest daughter in their family just returned from a trip through the States. We were anxious to hear where she went and what her reactions were. A great time was had by all and we then went to Odense to temporary host homes due to confirmations and this holiday weekend. We'll be with our new families tomorrow.

Submitted by Warren

Goodbye Rudkøebing - Saturday

2010-05-01T18:11:00.003-04:00

It was yet another emotional day preparing to leave our lovely host families in Rudkøebing. We started the day with breakfast at our houses as well as doing individual activities with our host families such as relaxing, shopping, hanging out at the beach, and packing.
With my family, I went shopping in Svendburg, went on a horse drawn carriage ride (it totally felt like home) and had a delicious lunch. Then I went home and packed my belongings and prepared to meet the group at 4PM to head to Odense.
We all said farewell to the wonderful people we met on the islands and loaded up to head to Odense (with one car totally full of luggage).
After a short 45 minute drive through dreary weather we went to Birthe's house and met her family. We were able to relax and rest before dinner. She made an incredible dinner for us that included ham, baked potatoes, salad, soup, bread, chili nachos (with homemade guacamole that her daughter made), desserts (several of them which were all yummy), and much more. It was delightful! We sat around and shared stories with them and got to know a little bit about the town.
Afterwards we departed and dropped Megan and Jenni off at a Hostel for the evening. Melissa, Amanda, Krystal, Warren and I all came to Ida's house for the night.

Heather

Friday April 30,2010

2010-05-01T18:06:00.000-04:00

Friday is a special holiday in Denmark. There were three 1/2 days break and they were consolidated into one full holiday. Thus this is a holiday where business, banks, etc. all close down for a nice three day holiday. In addition, tomorrow, Saturday is May 1. Some years ago there were demonstrations, parades and speeches by blue collar workers on May 1st. There are no longer clashes between workers and the gov't but it is a day which many young people use as an excuse to "party" and there are parades in a few towns. As has been the case since we arrived, Sunday is a day where conformations are celebrated in many areas. Consequently this is a busy weekend and not many things are open as normal.

Friday was spent with our host families visiting sights on Langeland, going to Egslav Castle, shopping, or chilling out. The weather has turned cooler overcast with sprinkles of rain. Ulrich and I visited a local artist studio -Ulla Keramik near Bagenkop so see her works of art. She creates many pieces in clay then paints decorations on them - many scenes of Langeland. We then went to the harbor area of Bagenkop to view the commercial and recreational vessels docked there. This is a popular summer vacation spot for sailing, fishing, and boating of all kinds. The waters are good for sailing and there are many small harbors within easy travel by boat. There is also an Efterskole located here which emphasizes navigation.

We then went to a birthday party for a friend of Ulrich's who just turned 75. 16 people gathered at Christian and Else's house for a wonderful traditional Danish meal including a variety of snaps.

We returned to a relatively new restaurant near Bagenkop for our farewell dinner. We enjoyed a tasty dinner, buffet-style, lively conversation, and words of appreciation for the week's stay. We especially commended Leif for an outstanding job coordinating the week's activities, and our host families for housing us this week. We have come to expect that these farewell dinners are bittersweet since we say goodbye to many new friends and get ready to move on to our new "home". Odense here we come!

Submitted by Warren

Thursday April 29, 2010

2010-04-30T04:25:00.002-04:00

We started our day with a walking trip around Rudkøbing. We got to see the German headquarters during World War II, a local art gallery, one of the oldest streets in the town, and the old square. There is a joke that it is the largest square in Denmark because if you stand in the middle, on one side of the square is a sign that says "Scandinavia" and on the opposite corner is a sign that says "Washington".

From there we took the ferry to Ærø and got to see and learn a little about the town of Marstal. We went to visit the solar power plant (Marstal FJernvarme A.M.B.A.). The total area covered by the solar panels is 18,365 square meters. At present it is the largest in the world. The solar collector system covers about 30% of Marstal's heating requirements for approximately 1,450 customers. Each year Marstal saves a consumption of approximately 820,000 liters of oil. This equals 2,200 tons of CO2 annually. Window cleaning is not necessary because the panels are cleaned by the rain. When the panels become too hot it is necessary to cover them with a white paste so that the water does not boil over.

We also visited the art gallery of Rita Lund where we were able to relax in the garden and enjoy some coffee and strawberry cake. From there we moved on to the Søfartsmuseum (Maritime Museum). The museum is home to approximately 250 ship models, which tell about the history of seafaring from its origins in sailing boats to today's modern coaster fleet. We also got to see the wheelhouse and skippers saloon from a Marstalcoaster. The museum also houses many pictures by the well known marine painter Carl Rasmussen.

The day ended with giving a small presentation to and eating with the members of the Marstal Rotary Club.

-Krystal-

The Danish Court System

2010-04-28T11:12:00.000-04:00

We spent Tuesday in Svendborg learing about the Danish Court System. We began our day at the Svendborg Courthouse where we were educated on the structure and function of the court system by a judge and prosecutor. The Danish court system consists of 3 levels the city courts, appeals courts and supreme court. We also learned that the role of the prosector is to remain neutral and to determine what happened then to recommend a sentence as low as possible approriate to the severity of the crime. The goal of the defense and prosecuting attorney is to ensure that justice is served...not necessarily to win the case.

While at the courthouse we toured the cells in which prisoners are held while they await trial. We also observed a trial. Within 30 minutes a petty theft suspect, who had been apprehended on Monday, was tried, convicted, sentenced and taken to prison. What an efficient system!

Following our visit to the courthouse we traveled to the Svendborg police station. There we talked to police officers, the prosecutor and a defense attorney about crime in Denmark. We were all interested to learn that police officers do not always carry guns and that private citizens are not permitted to carry pepper spray. We visited a holding cell and the fingerprinting/mug shot room and looked at a surviellance monitor and a two way mirror.

We ended our day with a visit to a hgih security, closed prison. The goal of the prison is to make life as normal as possible for the prisoners. Women and men are kept in the same prison and dating is not prohibited. Additionally, women are allowed to keep their children in the prison with them if they receive permission from the court, until the child is 3 years old. Prisoners have access to the outdoors from each of their rooms from 7am to 9pm and cook their own meals. There are no bars on the windows or barbed wire to keep the prisoners contained. There is a wall and while the system is vastly different from what we are used to it seem to work in Denmark.

Vocational Day in Rudkøbing

2010-04-28T10:55:00.000-04:00

It is an absolutely gorgeous day in Rudkøbing today! It's amazing to see the change in the seasons in just two short weeks. It's also hard to believe that we're at the half way point of our GSE exchange!

I had the opportunity to tour the collections of the Langelands Museum. Their office in the town houses artifacts not on display at the Cold War Museum, as well as their archeological, historical and natural history specimens. The current focus of the Langelands Museum is to expand the exhibits at the Cold War Museum, and they have just recently obtained a fairly extensive collection World War II and Cold War artifacts from Germany. I learned that as a country, Germany is still hesitant to talk about and display artifacts from World War II and the Cold War, so this was a great find for the Langelands Museum. I also got to see their cooling chamber, where they freeze all incoming collections before they are housed in storage. They do this to kill any bugs, mold or creepy crawlies that could infest other pieces in their museum.

After lunch, I toured the countryside and visited a few of the local churches, including a Catholic Chapel. There are very few people in Denmark who practice Catholicim, so this was very special for me. Masses are at the chapel held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month.

In the afternoon I visited the local archives, and see how the town's history is preserved in writing. I got the chance to see old church records from the 1800's as well as old photos and maps of the former railroad on Langelands. Tonight we'll present to the Rudkøbing Rotary Club, wish us luck!

Amanda Eckinger

Monday, April 26th

2010-04-26T12:37:00.000-04:00

Today we had the opportunity to visit a former fortress during the Cold War that has been turned into a museum called Koldrigsmuseum Langelslandsfort. The fortress was built in 1953 and contained very high tech equipment for it's time. Today the grounds are maintained by a group of Museum Friends and personal investors and include the command bunker, antiaircraft guns, two jet fighters and a submarine. Many of the pieces on the grounds have been given as gifts by other countries. The fortress was last used in 1993

After the museum we had the opportunity to visit an old manor house on the island that was purchased by someone in Copenhagen five years ago and is in the process of being renovated to how it looked when it was built. Whenever possible original materials are being used and if they are not, new are made to match exactly what the old looked like. By 2014 all renovations will be completed and the grounds will be opened as a luxury bed and breakfast.

- Megan Balmer

Sunday in Rudkøbing

2010-04-25T14:44:00.000-04:00

Hello! The GSE Team is now in Rudkøbing on the island of Langelands. We started out our program here in Rudkøbing on the golf course at the Langelands Country Club. We got a few pointers at the driving range from the golf pro at the country club. After we practiced driving, we got to play three or four holes of golf. We had a lot of fun and some of us have found our new talent. =)

After golfing, we went back to spend the afternoon with our host families. Since Amanda´s host lives close to mine, she joined me and my host for a walk through the town of Rudkøbing. Since most shops were closed, we could only window shop. However, we did learn quite a bit about the town, including Hans Christian Ørsted-the person who discovered electromagnetism, is from the town. There is a nice statue of him in town. We also learned about how many artists have galleries in Rudkøbing as well as authors. Below are pictures from the walk.

We then had a relaxing afternoon sitting in the sun on the deck and talking with my host. The weather has been nicer and we are glad to enjoy the sunshine! The town of Rudkøbing also has a very nice harbor, which helps provide brighter sunlight because of it reflecting from the water.

Melissa

Bye Bye Fredericia - Saturday

2010-04-24T17:04:00.000-04:00

Today we packed up, did some shopping, caught up on some much needed sleep, and met for lunch in the town of Fredericia. After saying farewell to our host families and all of the wonderful people who've helped us this week, we boarded a bus to Rudkoebing. There was hardly any room for us on the bus because our luggage has grown! We crossed many islands and saw beautiful waterways along the way.

We met our host families about 1 1/2 hours later at their rotary club, right by the water. We found our new welcoming families because they were holding signs with our names on them :)

We each went our own separate way and discovered our new houses and met the rest of our families. Most of us went to our new home, unpacked, had dinner, and went for a walk with our new host family.

I live far away from everyone, in a town near Svendborg. I went into town with my host dad Egon for dinner at a beautiful restaurant and then walked around afterwards. We went to the harbor and saw some amazing ships. When we got back to the house, his wife Hannne came home from work and we all shared stories and got to know each other.

Heather

Legos & Billund- Friday

2010-04-23T16:36:00.000-04:00

Today we traveled from Fredericia to Billund, where we started the day by learning all about the history of Legos. Lego is a family owned company that sells about 120 million boxes per year, with very high sales right before Christmas. Ole Kirk Christiansen was a carpenter in Denmark who began making wooden toys in 1932, then began producing plastic toys in 1940. The company got its name from the Danish words "leg godt," which means "play well". In 1960 a fire destroyed the wood department so Lego decided to stick with plastic Legos.

Then we went to Billund airport where we had a tour and learned some interesting facts. Billund airport has 40 direct international routes and has a lot of chartered flights, roughly 35 percent. Billund airport is marketing themselves with Legoland (theme park) and Lailand (water park) as a resort. They also pump up ground water to cool the airport! We also saw the special rooms for the Queen and other famous people when they come to the airport. They even have a place for their dog to have fresh air outside!

the Queen's dogs outside area

Afterwords, we went to Legoland! We learned more about the history of Legos with a timeline at the hotel. Then we were able to explore! We split up into groups and went on various rides. We all went on one that was like the Kissing Tower at Hersheypark. Most of us went on the Monorail and Train so that we could see everything around the park. There were so many things made out of Legos there, including the Statue of Liberty, houses, boats, airplanes, farms, and much more. We also had ice cream (even though it was freezing and raining out) and it was delicious!!

Heather & Amanda

We then got ready for our farewell dinner. All of our host families and people who helped out throughout the week were there to celebrate with us and say goodbye. They gave us books about Fredericia so that we can take them home and share them with our families and friends!

Megan & family Heather & family

<3 Heather

Thursday April 22, 2010

2010-04-22T16:09:00.001-04:00

In the morning we visited a Danish military base where we learned a little bit about the Danish military. It is structured much like ours is with four different branches, the Army, Navy, Airforce, and the Civilian Unit (which as far as I understand is like our Coast Guard). Much of the setup mimics the U.S. However it was noted that basic traning for all branches only last for four months, and that all military personnel are part of a labor union. But perhaps the most shocking difference is that when we entered the base there was no security. We were free to go in and just drive around. We did't need to show any type of ID or have the vehicle searched.

We had free time in the afternoon, which some spent shopping and others spent time relaxing. Warren and I went with my host family to the Island of Fyn where they have their summer house. While touring around the city of Bogense we had the privilage of running into Karsten Leth. Karsten is considered the godfather of all the rotary clubs in Lithuania. He worked for 12 years to establish the varous rotary clubs there. Although he lived in Denmark he would often be in Lithuania for 6 to 8 months each year. Warren and I both felt privilated to meet him and hope to see him at the district conference in Lithuania.

The evening ended with Dinner at my host family's summer house, Warren's host also joined us. The meal was delicious. Perhaps my favorite part was the pork wraped in bacon that was cooked on the grill. Below is a picture of there summer home. It is a typical summer house (vacation home) in Denmark.

-Krystal Smeak

2010-04-21T17:46:00.000-04:00

Today was our second vocational day. Some had the opportunity to visit the local tourist bureau to discuss the areas efforts to promote itself as a destination for weekend getaways. The tourist bureau is situated in an old jail with offices in jail cells. Another one of the group visited Energi.dk to learn about the infrastructure and trading of Danish electricity. Two members of our group visited a school for the blind and I visited a school for social workers and nursing assistants, a senior center and a nursing home.
The Social and Sundhedsskolen school in Espjerg prepares students for careers in medical assisting, social work and child care. I was able to observe the students taking their practical exams and talked with several of the staff regarding the curriculum for each of the programs. Interestingly, the medical assistants complete 6 months of didactic education at the school followed by one year of clinical education where the instructors are supervisory nursing staff and not educators employee by the school.

Following my visit to the school I headed back to Fredericia to a senior center. The senior center made me look forward to being a senior citizen! I saw the exercise class, cooking class, gardening area and visited with some wonderful ladies in the ceramics room.   There I learned that the senior center is a great place to go to take up a new hobby or just social with other retirees. The cost to join the senior center is about $15 annually and covers any activity a person wishes to participate in.

After an excellent visit to the senior center, which by the way is staffed almost entirely be volunteers, I was off to a nursing home to visit the Parkinson's and dementia section. To my surprise, there is no mechanism by which to keep patients in the area except for the diligent staff. This nursing home is an old building that was recently renovated and the combination of old brick building with modern steel beams and a roof made completely out of glass is extraordinary. Combined with it's panoramic views of the sea this nursing home provides a fantastic environment for its residents.

April 20, 2010 - A snowy day in Denmark!

2010-04-20T18:29:00.001-04:00

We started our day at Danish Oil and Natural Gas (DONG), one of Northern Europe's leading energy companies. Denmark has strong reputation for their focus and innovation in renewable energy, and the vision of DONG is to provide reliable energy without CO2 emissions. They have aggressive goals to for the upcoming years to lower their own CO2 emissions, and are looking to fuel their own power plants with unconventional sources. DONG has developed methods to use straw to create biofuels, and and now looking to trash (that's right!) as the next source for biofuel. It was very interesting to hear about the business culture in Denmark, and some of the challenges of being an international company. So what the next big innovation in alternative energy? new developments in solar power, tidal energy, fission energy, and electric car power (having the ability to harness the energy you create when driving electric cars so that power companies would buy that energy back).

After lunch at DONG, we headed to Koldinghus, a castle built in the 13th century. The snow began to fall (we felt like we were back home in February!) After we learned about the history of the castle, we could tour the othe exhibit areas, including medieval church art, and a collection of fine Danish silver. You could also trek up the162-step circular staircase to the top of the Giant's Tower for a great view of the city.

We returned to Fredericia and had a bit of time to relax before we gave our presentation to the Rotary Club. Despite some technical difficulties, the presentation went smoothly, and we had some engaging discussion with the club members. We were lucky enough to meet the Mayor of Fredericia, who happens to be the youngest mayor in the country! We then boarded a bus for a tour of the town's plant for several new industrial parks, and was great to see so many growth opportunities planned for the city. - Amanda Eckinger

April 19th, 2010

2010-04-19T17:47:00.002-04:00

Today we started off by visiting the local community sports facility. It is the oldest facility of its type in all of Denmark. There are four separate open courts or gyms, weight rooms, a 50 meter pool with a divider to make it two 25 meter pools, a full size bowling alley, a separate area for Duck Pin Bowling, a boxing area and much much more. The facility is right beside the stadium of the local soccer team, who after winning their game on Sunday is now #2 in their league and may move up to the next playing level.

Close the sports center is an area where a miniature version of Fredericia is being built. Each winter some of the elderly people in the city build 5 to 10 new buildings. The 'city' is an exact 25% percent ratio of the real city as it was back when it was first built. During the summer months the area is open for families and children to walk around.

After we left the sports facility we received a guided tour of historical sights throughout the city such as the White Water Tower (which we climbed to see views of the entire city), the French Reformed Church, the Jewish burial ground and the statue of the Unknown Solider that stands in front of the Queen's gate among many others.

After having dinner with our host families, the women in the group as well as the wives of the host families were treated to a 'wellness' night that included a laughter seminar or class as well as enjoying the sauna at the spa facility in the sports center.

Megan Balmer

Monday April 19, 2010

2010-04-19T14:48:00.000-04:00

FIC - Federicia Idraetscenter (Sports Center)
We started the day at the FIC(Sportscenter) with a tour and explanation by Torben Pederson, one of the administrators.It began in 1969 with one gym and a pool was added in 1976. Approximately 1 million people go through the doors each year. 93% of all Danes belong to a Club of some sort. On the tour, we saw:
Gym - ther are several which can be set up for several purposes depending upon the activity - badminton, basketball, team handball, large group activities, etc.
Fitness studio - pingpong, aerobic/dance classes
Bowling Centers - both ten pin and duckpin(our terminology) lanes. At the time there were many "seniors" coming in to bowl (Of course the ladies thought it was perfect for me!!!).
Badminton courts -
Kindergarten Center is located on the site - it was filled with kids from 3 to 6 yrs running and playing.
Mini-town - On site they have built a miniature town of Fredericia as it looked in the 1860's. It is built to perfect scale (1:24) and are exact replicas of each building and feature. Looking down on it from the hill top, we could see the whole town complete with the walls and ramparts of the fortress all around it. The streets are perfectly laid out. They make each brick and roof tile individually and many of the building are complete with thatched roofs. The building looked to be about 2-3 feet high and a person could walk through the streets.
Youth Hostel
Football (soccer) Stadium - beautiful facility. Their team plays in the 2nd level (semi-pro)
Golf Course
Conference rooms
Restaurant/cafe - privately operated

In front of the FIC (Fitness Center)

Michael Soendarskev, Chairman of the Board of the federation of sports clubs then explained the organizational structure and funding of the facility and sports system. Most sports clubs in the area, regardless if they use this center or not, are members of the sports federation. Other Clubs include BMX, sailing, shooting, etc. It oversees the money management and coordinates the sports activities. The Federicia Kommune owns and operates the facility with tax $$. The federation pays rent to use the faciloity. Some money is also raised by soliciting companies in the area. The idea is to provide a place for seniors to come and be active, to keep youth off the streets and to encourage people to be healthy.
There are also private fitness centers in the area like we have at home.

After a wonderful lunch at the restaurant/cafe where we got to order off the menu(very exciting), we started on our guided tour of Federicia, especially the part inside the ramparts. Our guide was a retired military officer who was intimate with the details of the history of the town. He gave us a brief overview of the struggles with Sweden and Germany from 1618- mid 1800's. In 1917 the area was made a national monument and 80% of it is still there. We saw:
2 powder magazines, Trimtatis church (1689), Denmark Bastian(July 6, 1849 victory over the Germans), Statue of the Unknown Soldier, Jewish cemetery, and Saint Michael's Church.

Statue of Unknown Soldier - "Brave Good Soldier"

St. Michaelis Kirke (Church)

In the evening, all the ladies on the team went to a 30 min class on the positive power of laughter (like they need help with that !), then on to the Spa treatment with their host Moms at the FIC.

Welcome to Fredericia

2010-04-18T12:30:00.001-04:00

Hej! We have all made it to Fredericia safely last night! We all had individual activities with our host families yesterday and today. My new host family is wonderful. Johannes is an electrical engineer and Else is a laughter coach. Their house is beautiful and they have been very welcoming.

Last night we went to a restaurant that overlooked the harbor area. It was really great and the food was delicious. But before that, they took me to an area that Hans Christen Andersen wrote a fairytale at. It was very peaceful and it was easy to see how he could write such a creative story using this beautiful place as an inspiration. Here is a picture of me and Johannes in front of the hut that Hans Christen Andersen wrote in.

Today, Else and Johannes took me to an island that is special to them because it is where their family is from. The island is called Fanø and the only way to access the island is through the ferry. They showed me all parts of the island including German bunkers, the beach, the family houses, family members, and the shops. On the beach we found some amber pieces!

Being on this island with my host family, made me realize how much the Danish value their family and where their family is from. I also noticed this in Tønder, but really noticed it more when Johannes and Else were very passionate about the island, telling me this is where their children first learned how to ride their bikes or go on their first shopping trip without their parents. I could tell this held a special place in their hearts, and was very grateful that I got to experience this island with them. Here is a picture of me and Else in front of one of the family houses.

Here are some other pictures of the beach and the German bunkers from WW II.

I am learning so much about the Danish culture, business culture, and much much more. I am trying to take it on all in and am so grateful for how welcoming everyone has been! If you would like to see more pictures, I have posted many on my twitter. twitter.com/misslilstar324

-melissa

After a leisurly morning, Jesper took Krystal and Warren on a tour. We first went to Ravning Bridge. Built in 979 AD it was 800m long, 5m wide, and took 1800 poles of oak to build. It is hard to believe they could build a structure so straight and sturdy with crude tools, that parts of it remain to this day.
We then went to Bindle Balle which dates to 1896. It is a grocery store/museum showing how the store functioned back in early days. it is filled with household items that would have been sold in times past.
Next on the tour was Toerskind Park. This is an outdoor sculpture park showing the works of famous artist Robert Jacobsen. His works are made of massive steel and wood balanced in intersting positions.
Finally we visited Jelling Stones and museum. This is probably the most important site in Danish history because it signifies the establishment of christianity in Denmark and Denmark as a country. There are huge burial mounds erected by Harold Bluetooth (Gorm's son) for King Gorm the Old and Queen Thyra. The Jelling Stones stand alongside and can be touched by visitors. They are thousands of years old.

Warren and Krystal

Last day in Tønder (Saturday)

2010-04-17T13:24:00.000-04:00

Saturday morning we each had individual activities with our host families before we departed in the afternoon. Inga and I went for a ride on her motor bike! She made me put all of Chresten's gear on so that I would be safe!

Then we went over to Melissa's host families house and had brunch with them.

We had fresh baked goodies(that were sweet), bread, cheese, eggs, pancakes, juice, and much more. It was delicious!

Then I went back and packed my belongings and met some of the girls who came over before lunch. We said good-bye to our host families from Tonder around noon and got ready for lunch. We walked to a pizza shop right on the main street in Tonder and enjoyed lunch! It was nice to compare their pizza to our pizza back home (they're both delicious).

Then some of us did some last minute shopping whíle others went back to relax before departing to Fredericia.

At 2:30 we met Mogens, Johannes, and Jesper who joined us for some coffee and tea before loading us up to travel about an hour to Fredericia.

Megan and I rode together and I met her host family. Then I met my new host family, Joergen and Elin. He is an optometrist, she is a nurse. They are very nice. We chatted for a while, I shared some pictures with them, and then we went over to Megan's host families house for dinner. Dinner was delicious! We had chicken, ribs, baked potatoes, salad, italian bread and homemade ice cream for dessert.

Heather

Friday April 16, 2010

2010-04-16T15:53:00.003-04:00

Friday was another busy day for us.

We started off with a visit to the German School in Tonder. - Nordschleswig
The Director of the school explained the history of the Danish-German border including the vote in 1920, German occupation in 1940, and Danish control of all German property in 1945. The Germans in Denmark had to start over in 1945 to re-establish their school system. There are 15,000 people making up the German minority in Denmark, and 45,000 Danes living in Germany on the other side of the border. 30 years ago the division between Danes and Germans was very well defined and separate. Now there is complete integration. Many groups from other nations visit this area and school in particular because it is a very successful example of positive cooperation and integration.
This German school is a private school, with 75% of the costs paid by Danish gov't, almost 24% paid by Germany and perhaps 1% paid by the parents of the students. The school educates about 130 students in kndg thru 10th grades with 18 teachers, and an average of 15 students per class. Their school year runs 200 days(40 weeks) from August till June.
The 8th grade class gave us an excellent ppt presentation IN ENGLISH that they had researched and developed explaining the school, the history of relations with Germans, and their educational program. The school operates under the authority of the Danish Education Ministry and follows their regulations. The students broke us up into groups and took us on a tour of their school speaking English the whole time. We returned to the conference room and enjoyed coffee and bruschetta that the students had prepared for us.

Then it was on the Legumcluster and the adult school. Schools like this in Denmark were developed following the principles of the philosopher Grundtvig. The school provides an "informal/unformal" education - UD/DANNEISE. The program is geared to helping you explore who you are and where you are going in life. The school currently houses 51 students 18 yrs and older, taught in a variety of disciplines by 10 staff members. Typically when Danes finish Gymnasium after the 9th grade many take a break for a year before entering their next phase of education or work. The 10th grade year is optional. The school is funded about 25% with State funds and the rest is paid by the student. It is an expensive program in which to participate. Subjects being presented include Theology, Religion, Chinese, Music, Art, Voice, Journalism, Media, Psychology, Team Building and International Politics. Degrees are not earned and grades are not given on student work. There are students from all over the world there, many who have l;ittle or no resources.
We were treated to a fine lunch at the school and several students showed us around their campus.
We then took off for the city of RIBE to learn a bit about Danish History and see the Viking museum there.
A guided tour of the museum was provided complete with a "ride" on a Viking ship. The Vikings did not wear helmets with horns on them as depicted in most of our literature and the Minnesota Football Team!! Many artifacts unearthed over years give us a view of life in Viking times. The museum guide led us on a tour of the city of Ribe where we saw very beautiful structures dating back thousands of years.

Back to Tonder!
After a short time to relax, our Team and host parents assembled at Hagges Pub for a farewell dinner and Folk Festival. Members of District 1460 GSE Committee were present as well several Rotary Club members. Each August Tonder offers a Folk Festival which draws 20,000 people to the town. Many famous artists come to play their music - i.e. Arlo Guthrie. Pictures on the walls of the Pub depict musicians who have come to perform in the past. They are very proud of their festival, and rightly so! We received CDs of last year's performances.

Additionally, a video of the Black Sun phenomena and various bird species from the area was shown and we received a copy as a gift. We enjoyed a delicious dinner of typical Danish fare, experienced a "drink" called "Gammel Dansk" and expressed our appreciation for everything that the Tonder Club had done to make the week so successful and enjoyable for us.

Warren

Thursday

2010-04-15T19:34:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, we started our day by visiting a daycare and kindergarten school. Children typically attend daycare un. til they are 3 and then attend kindergarten from ages 3 - 6. One thing that was surprising to us was that the young children take their afternoon naps outside, no matter what the weather is like. If it's snowing or raining, they cover their carriages with a tarp, and in the summer with a bug net.

Next we made our way to the local nursing home. We were given a tour and an explanation of the care the elderly receive . We were surprised to learn that nurses actually receive lower salaries than teachers in Denmark.

After lunch, we went to Møgeltønder to see Schackenborg caste, the home of Prince Joachim and his wife, Princess Marie. Unfortunately the Prince was not home at the tíme; he was in Copenhagen celebrating the Queen's 70th birthday.

We then took a drive through the countryside visiting the Trøberg ruins, a Protestant Church and monastary, and the border between Denmark and Germany. We could stand in two countries at once!

The day ended with seeing "The Black Sun", an event where up to a million starlings visit the marshes in search of food and rest for the night. So many flock at once that they can actually black out the sun. The event can be seen every spring and autumn, and we were lucky enough to see them on the last possible day. Our guide estimated that there were about 13,000 to 16,000 starling birds out tonight. Despite the fact that we were freezing (temperature was about 45 degrees, but extremely windy), it was worth going to see.

- Krystal Smeak

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

2010-04-14T16:47:00.000-04:00

Today everyone in the group had their first vocational day. I had the opportunity to sit with the manager of the local daily newspaper in Tonder, learn it's history and a little bit about Danish media in general. The newspaper called JydskeVestkysten, got its name when two newspapers joined together - Jydske & Vestkysten - on January 15th, 1991. The newspaper has a circulation of 75,000, with 9 different local sections depending on where people live. The paper is the 5th in all of Denmark for the number that subscribe. Compared to the US, it is expensive to have the newspaper delivered to your home, costing $2 each day. There are 33 different newspapers in Denmark, over 40 TV stations and 80 different radio stations

After talking to the manager, I joined a local reporter who I shadowed for the next few hours on the island of Romo. He was interviewing two Park Rangers about a new project. Near the beaches there are large grassy areas where numerous species of meadow birds live. The grasses are now growing too tall for the birds. The Rangers are building a fence around a large portion of the meadow and inside the fence they are going to place sheep that they hope will eat the tall grasses allowing the small birds to return. The project is part of a larger initiative called EU 20000.

Next I followed the local photographer to another place on the island to take photographs for a story about the financial crisis and how it has affected island life. We went to a development that was started by two men in Tonder, but then sold to a German developer. The project went bankrupt halfway through the building phase, leaving only the concrete bases of the homes and some pipes sticking out of the ground. For the same article, photos were also taken to show the different building styles that can be found on the island.

Tomorrow the group will be back together again for our next adventure that includes visiting the local castle.

Megan Balmer

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

2010-04-13T17:42:00.001-04:00

Today we were fortunate to have another sunny day for our visit to a dairy farm. The farm is in pristine condition and is owned by a family committed to animal welfare and educating visitor on the workings of their farm and agriculture in general. The farm consisted of 400 cows. The dairy operations are fully automated so the farm is able to operate with only 5 total employees. Danish farmers are prohibited from administering antibiotics to the cow prophylactically and use of hormones is also prohibited. There are standard dairy production farms and ecological ones. The ecological farms are required to grass feed the cows and may not use antibiotics even in cases of illness. We enjoyed coffee and tea with the farmer and his wife and heard from a retired veterinarian on the subject of animal welfare.
We left the farm and headed to a local college for a wonderful lunch followed by a tour of a local bank. Interestingly, we were not at the bank to learn about financial matters, but rather the view the bank's substantial art collection. Danish industry recognized that art in the workplace is conducive to a productive work environment. After viewing the fantastic artwork at the bank we drove a few miles across the border to Germany to visit the Emil Nolde museum. The museum contained three floors or extraordinary artwork. Following out tour of the museum we returned to Denmark for a culinary experience of a lifetime dining at the famous Stig's restaurant. We are very fortunate to have experienced what we did today and look forward to another eventful day tomorrow when each of us will participate in our first vocational day of the trip.

Touring Tonder

2010-04-12T17:53:00.003-04:00

We had a BEAUTIFUL day in Tønder! We started the morning with a tour of the town and the town hall. While at the town hall, we had the opportunity to learn more about the structure of the national and local government. The town hall was recently restored to its original condition and was absolutely gorgeous. It's amazing this think that this building is about as old as the United States!

We then were able to tour Hydro, a major manufacturer of aluminum products used in air conditioning systems, primarily in cars. We looked so stylish in our steel toe boots, safety glasses, and neon yellow vests! The plant was imbeccably clean, and we had the chance to see the aluminum go from the billets (the "raw" aluminum alloy in large bullet like bricks) to the massive rolls of aluminum tubing.

We continued our tour of Tønder with a visit to the Water Tower, an old water resevoir converted into a museum and observation deck. What a view! We could see the entire town, with all of it's terra cotta roofs and old world brick buildings. We briefly visited the art museum (we'll be back there later in the week), but had the opportunity to see the work of famous Danish furniture maker, Hans Wengers. We then walked to Christ Church. The steeple of the church overlooks the town and was built high as a signal for the incoming sailors. The inside of the church was absolutely breathtaking. I can understand why the town is so proud of it. The detailed woodcarved plaques and the massive pipe organ.

We had some free time to walk through the town and do some shopping. Some of us relaxed at the local cafe with a capuccino or chai latte, but we couldn't rest too long, we had a presentation to give for the local Rotary club! We were treated to an excellent meal of chicken, roasted potatoes, and various salads. We then gave our first presentation to the club about our lives in Central PA. It was a relief to get the first presentation done, just so we know what to expect in the future. - Amanda

tønder/rømø

2010-04-11T14:56:00.002-04:00

Hello everybody! We made it to Denmark and we were greeted very nicely at the airport by people from our first host club! We went to the island of Rømø and had a great time on the beach and enjoying a wide array of different types of fish for lunch! We made our way back to the our first town of Tønder! We met our host families who are all very nice and welcoming. My host family is extremely nice and both are school teachers. It is very nice because they have two daughters who are very similar to me and my sister in both age and character. We went for a walk so I could see that tonder had both rural areas and town areas, almost like York. I enjoyed a very nice salmon and veggie dish prepared by Palle. I am learning a lot from the family about Danish culture and also about their travels abroad as well. I am excited to tour the town some more tomorrow!

http://tweetphoto.com/18027542 - our arrival pic in Denmark!

Melissa

Departure

2010-04-10T14:12:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!
We're at the Harrisburg airport getting ready to depart for our amazing 5 week journey! We will miss all of our family, friends, colleagues, and Rotary members! We'll keep you updated as much as possible!
Love,
Heather

http://twitter.com/heather795/status/11948974108

Introduction to the team

2010-03-07T20:12:00.019-05:00

ello! Welcome to the blog of the Group Study Exchange team from Rotary District 7390 (including Adams, Perry, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster, and York Counties in Pennsylvania). The blog will track our journey to District 1460, which covers the southern portion of Denmark and Lithuania. The exchange will include vocational and cultural activities.

Meet the GSE Team:

Megan Balmer

Megan is 27 years old and resides in Mountville, PA.

Work information: Megan is an account executive for Spencer   Advertising & Marketing, a full service advertising agency located in Mountville, Lancaster County. (http://thinkspencer.com/) She works with different clients in the retail, banking, manufactoring, travel and home remodeling industries as well as a local government authority. The agency design newspaper/magazine ads, create and produce tv and radio commericals, design and develope websites, design packaging, signage and anything else a client may need. We also offer public relations and research assistance as well as to develop marketing plans for clients.

Family: Megan's family includes her parents, an older sister, and a younger brother.

Interests: Megan enjoys spending time with family & friends. This occasionally involves roadtrips as many friends from college live a few hours away. She also Enjoys her townhouse that she bought last April and decorating it for the various seasons. Megan also likes to read books, play fast-pitch softball, and actively participate in her church, St. Paul's UCC in Manheim. She also enjoys listening to various genres of music and watching tv.

Jenni Black

Jenni is 36 years old and lives in Manheim, PA.

Work information: Jenni is Chief Administrative Officer for Family First Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing primary medical and dental care and social service programs to the underserved population of York and Adams Counties. Family First Health consists of 5 medical and 3 dental sites and offers social services including the Nurse Family Partnership and Caring Together programs. The Nurse Family Partnership is an evidence based program that matches first time WIC eligible mothers with a home visitation RN and the Caring Together program provides case management to HIV positive patients. Family First Health is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary in 2010.
Family information: Jenni’s family includes her parents, a younger brother and two dogs.
Interests: Jenni’s hobbies include home improvement projects, reading , obedience training and going on outings with her dogs. She also enjoys swimming, gardening and various forms of arts and crafts. Additionally, she plays the piano, is learning yoga, and enjoys most types of music, art and theater.

Amanda Eckinger

Amanda is 30 years old and resides in Mt Joy, PA.

Work Information: Amanda is the Marketing and Membership Coordinator for the North Museum of Natural History & Science in Lancaster, PA. In her job, Amanda works with the local media to promote the museum's exhibits and programs, and also work to encourage families to enjoy the benefits of membership to the North Museum.

Family: Amanda has a close knit family and she enjoys spending time with them.

Interests: Amanda loves exploring the outdoors by hiking and camping. She plays viola in the Elizabethtown College Community Orchestra. Amanda is a huge Philadelphia sports fans, and loves watching and going to Philadelphia Phillies baseball games.

Heather Nace

Heather is 26 years old and resides in Lancaster, PA.

Work Information: Heather is a second grade teacher at Park Elementary School in the small town of Columbia, PA. She teaches reading, writing, math, science, and social studies to children ages 7 and 8. Heather loves utilizing technology in her classroom, such as the Smartboard, and recently completed her Master’s Degree in Classroom Technology from Wilkes University.

Family information: Heather has a big family, including wonderful parents, three brothers, one sister, and three nieces.
Interests: Heather enjoys being outside and working in her garden. She enjoys staying active by walking, running, Zumba, and hiking. Heather also enjoys traveling, the beach, theater, and dancing. She is a mentor for a fourth grade student at her school as well as a child in the community through the program Big Brothers Big Sisters. Heather also volunteers with the ARC of Lancaster County which advocates for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

You can follow Heather on Twitter: twitter.com/heather795

Krystal Smeak

Krystal is 26 years old and resides in Hanover, PA.

Work Information: Krystal works for a regional CPA firm (Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC) mainly doing Pension (401(k) and Defined Benefit Plan) and Not-for-Profit audits.

Family: Her immediate family consists of my parents, two younger brothers, two nieces, and herself. Interests: In her spare time, Krystal likes to decorate cakes, travel, and hang out with friends and family. She is involved in both the Hanover and Gettysburg Chamber of Commerce and is active with the Girl Scouts of the USA. She is the leader of a Daisy Girl Scout troop which consists of nine five and six year olds.

Melissa Stiles

Melissa is 25 years old and resides in York, PA.

Work information: Melissa is a Trade Specialist with the World Trade of Central PA. (http://www.wtccentralpa.org/) The World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania is a membership organization that connects businesses locally and globally to support the growth of international trade in southcentral Pennsylvania. The World Trade Center offers educational and networking programs, up-to-date trade information, practical trade assistance, and research and referral services. The World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania is a member of the World Trade Centers Association, an organization of more than 300 World Trade Centers in over 90 countries with over 750,000 members worldwide, connected to expand global business opportunities.

Family: Melissa's family includes her wonderful parents, as well as a younger sister. Her younger sister is definitely her best friend and she is very close with her family.
Interests: Melissa enjoys watching and attending any type of sporting events, especially basketball, football, and baseball. Melissa also drag races cars at a local track in Reading, PA. She placed 25th in the "Street" category points last year. Her other interests include reading, traveling, cooking/baking, decorating her house, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves listening to music (and dancing!) and watching movies/tv.

You can follow Melissa on Twitter: twitter.com/misslilstar324

Warren Risk, team leader

Warren is 60 years old & resides in Hanover, PA.

Work Information: Warren is retired after a 36 year career educating students with special needs. He began teaching students with moderate mental retardation and learning disabilities and finished the final 12 years of his career as Director of Special Education for the Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12. The Unit provides special education programs and services to children with disabilities from birth through age 21. Warren’s Division was composed of 1800 employees serving 15,000 students per year in 25 school districts in south central Pennsylvania with a budget of $97 million. Warren now works part time completing special projects and services for local school districts.

Family Information: Warren and his wife, Judy will be celebrating their 39th wedding anniversary this June. They have two sons - Andy who lives and works in the Washington, D.C. area and Dennis located just south of Wilmington, Delaware.

Interests: Aside from Rotary activities, Warren volunteers with the local Red Cross chapter. Warren is involved outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and kayaking from early Spring through late Fall. He also enjoys sports cars and belongs to a club for enthusiasts. Warren is nursing a budding interest in photography. Finally, training dogs, especially Chesapeakes, takes up much of his time.