Organizations within Rotary

 The Origins of Group Study Exchange

Norm Winterbottom

RGHF History Committee

In 1950 a group of six young men from Great Britain under Dr Geoff Morton  and financed by some Rotary clubs in the County of Yorkshire, travelled to  New Zealand.   They were billeted and hosted by Rotarians as they travelled through the country.

In 1955, when New Zealand was divided into only two Districts, Dr Ralph Vernon of the Auckland club, recalling that visit, proposed as a Rotary Jubilee project, the establishment of a Rotary Overseas Travel Award, whereby groups of six young men could travel overseas under the leadership of a Rotarian.  While Rotary Foundation Fellowships provided for university graduates, this programme provided for non-graduates. The scheme was enthusiastically embraced by all clubs in the northern District, (No.39) and was financed by donations of $2.00 per member.

In September, 1956 a team under John Ledgerwood left New Zealand and spent nineteen weeks touring 15 Rotary Districts in Great Britain and one member, Mel Cooper of Kaitaia subsequently became District Governor of District 292 in 1981-82.   Initially the programme was intended for one year only, but it proved so successful that it was continued annually by District 39.  The list of exchanges with the names of the leaders is as follows:-

1956:     To Great Britain  - Sept to Dec (John Ledgerwood)

1957:     To USA Pacific States  - August ((Vic Butler)

1958-59 From USA Pacific States  - (Dr Lyman Partridge)

1960       From India  - Mar to May -(Janshid Italia)

1960       To India & Sri Lanka – Nov - (Les Colgan)

1962       From India & West Pakistan – Feb to Apr - (Dr Nagori)

                To Japan via Australia & Indonesia – June to Sep - (Gordon Parker)

1963       From Japan – Mar to May - (Tamotau Murayama)

1964       To Malaysia & Thailand – Dec ’63 to Feb ’64 – (Bert Dreaver)

In 1959-60 Harold T. Thomas of the Auckland club became RI president and resulting from many favourable comments regarding the value of ROTA, the Board of RI became conscious of the value of the programme.  At this time, more funds were becoming available through the Rotary Foundation.  Ralph Vernon was invited to visit Chicago and discuss the programme with the result that RI assumed control of the programme through the Rotary Foundation under the name of Group Study Exchange, with the first exchanges taking place in 1965.   Because of United States taxation laws, close family members of Rotarians are precluded from participation in GSE

Also see:

“G r o u p   S t u d y   E x c h a n g e”
Rotary Foundation Presentation
by Rotarian Frank Deaver

Provided by RGHF History Committee Member Norm Winterbottom, New Zealand, 27 March 2007