LEWISTON – Members from France of Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange between District 1520 (France) and District 7790 (Maine-Canada) recently visited the Lewiston-Auburn area completing a four-week educational and fellowship tour of Quebec Province and Maine.

Group Study Exchange is an educational program of the Rotary Foundation wherein Rotary districts in different countries are paired to send and receive professional study groups of four to six non-Rotarians between the ages of 25 and 40 and one Rotarian team leader to travel abroad for four to six weeks, hosted by Rotarians when possible.

The goal is to afford young professionals a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity and to experience life in the homes of hosting Rotarians. The program is designed to develop professional and leadership skills in order to address the needs of their communities and in an increasingly global workplace. GSE participants follow an extensive and rigorous program of international travel and team activities.

The visiting team gave a PowerPoint presentation of France in terms of its architecture, economics, culture and individual customs to members of the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club as well as to visiting members of the Auburn-Lewiston, Winthrop, and Lisbon clubs. The group received a tour of the Franco-American Heritage Center by Rita Dube, its executive director, as well as the Museum L/A and Maine Heritage Weavers. They attended a performance by pianist George Lopez at FAHC, were guests of honor at a formal reception at the Ramada Inn receiving greetings from members of the congressional delegation, received a guided tour of Bates College, enjoyed dinner and live music at the Midnight Blues Café, and brunched at the Munroe Inn.

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