Jagdip Ahluwalia, GSE Team Leader, Report on Indian Trip

I am writing to thank all of you for the opportunity to serve as the team leader of the RD 5890 GSE Team to RD 3202 (Southern India)

It was a wonderful experience and I was proud to lead one of the best teams our district has ever selected (Thank you for your selection)

We flew Continental Airlines, arriving into India at a decent time and after an overnight stay in Mumbai took the flight to the entry point into one of the two States we were visiting called Tamil Nadu. The town (Coimbatore) is no longer part of 3202 (was part of the undivided 3200) but we were met by a host of Rotarians and sent off to a beautiful coconut plantation cum resort within the district to overcome our jet lag.

After the rest we were ready for our experience-and what an experience it was for the team.  We visited several small towns in the two states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, experienced the best of what their cities/areas were famous for and enjoyed the warmth and home hospitality that the GSE program is famous for.

We shared the lives of the people and visited the places they are proud of. We also had a chance to visit several Rotary projects and one of our members Sonia Azad (Channel 13 TV reporter) has made small clips of some of these projects to be shared with fellow Rotarians.  We were the third of 3 GSE teams from the USA traveling across RD 3202 and caught up with the other two teams at the District Conference.

We addressed 9 Rotary meetings, attended the 3202 District conference and attended a special meeting co-hosted by RD 3202 and 3201 at Coimbatore with 5 inbound and 5 outbound GSE teams hosted by the 3201 and 3202 GSE Alumni.

We spoke to Interact Clubs, Rotaract Clubs and College students.  The best times, as always, were the time spent with our host families and their friends.

During Vocational days, we each interacted with people for our vocations.  I addressed several Chambers of Commerce leaders and our team will share our experience with you all at our visits to the sponsoring clubs and at the District Conference.

The team remembers the food, the spirituality, the closeness of the family ties and the love and affection their Rotary family shared with them.  They departed as Ambassadors of RD 5890 and return as Ambassadors of Southern India

I was honored to lead such a great team to India

Our own Chris Schneider will be riding his motorcyle in Rotary's Ride to End Polio Now.  YOU are invited to be a rider or a sponsor, too. 

The ride occurs on Saturday November 21st from 8:30am to 12:30pm.  The bikers will be starting at the Bass Pro Shop located at Hwy 288 and Beltway.  They will end with lunch at 12:30pm at George Bush Park off of Westheimer.  At that time, they will have a ceremony presenting the raised funds to End Polio Now!  

Chris said each biker should bring a minimum $100 in sponsorships per bike.  There is a sponsorship form available from Chris or Ute via email.  Your donation to this event is eligible for credit in your Rotarians RI account. Checks should be made out to "The Rotary Foundation" with End Polio Now in the note section. 

Deadline to register for this ride is November 7th, 2015.  To register please contact Ute Schneider at 713-503-9292 or e-mail at ute.a.schneider@gmail.com.  Please give her your name, club, amount you plan to raise and skill level as indicated on the attached form.

The goal is to raise at least $5,000.00 with this ride and - most importantly - to follow the Fifth Principal:  HAVE FUN!!!