Meeting 5.

WOW! Time has really flown by for our GSE team since we began preparing for our incredible journey back in May. On the morning of Saturday, August 11, 2007, the team once again convened at Sumter Family Health Center, in Sumter, SC for its 5th meeting; only one more meeting to go before departure!
After our opening and prayer by Dr. Smith, we had the pleasure of receiving some “Words of Wisdom” from Past District Governor Bernie Riedel; or “PDG Bernie” as Dr. Smith likes to call him! J What a man of strong character and incredible knowledge! The team squirmed a little as PDG Bernie began to quiz us on many, many facts about Rotary International, District 7770, and the significant programs in which District 7770 is involved, including, but not limited to, C.A.R.T; Gift of Life; Dictionary Project; Youth Exchange; and Adopt-a-Club.
Following PDG Bernie’s charismatic educational session, the team received additional insight and guidance from past GSE team leaders Garry Powers (Australia), Bob Montgomery (India), and Rick Melton (Wales). GSE team member to India, Heather Hornsby was also present to offer suggestions and further wisdom about the GSE experience. We all learned a wealth of information from our invited guests and we are so very thankful that they took the time to meet with us! What a pleasure to have met each and every one of them. BIG THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND GREAT JOB!!
Then...it was “show time”, so with our audience set, we enlightened our invited guests with our GSE South Africa Team Presentation. Helpful comments and critiques were received about how to make the presentation the absolute best that it can be. As a team, we continued to work diligently through the early afternoon placing the final details on our presentation and practicing; WE’VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY!
Prior to concluding our “next to the last” meeting, we reviewed our packing lists, BLOG information, host family gifts, airline itinerary, departure plans, packets of information for our families and final reports. GSE team meeting #5 was busy, but we got it done! Five meetings down and only one to go; watch out South Africa, here we come!
-Annie GeddingsGSE South Africa Team MemberDistrict 7770