The Back Story

Just over two weeks before we head out! Thought I'd give a little more background on what this trip is and why I'm taking it. In November of last year, I received an e-mail from the director of Leadership Fort Worth (I was going through the training class at that time). She was forwarding information sent to her by a woman on the Rotary Group Study Exchange selection committee for District 5790. They were looking for interested candidates to travel to Siberia, representing Texas and the Rotary District, and learning about their vocations in another country.

Not knowing much about Rotary, or Russia, I did some research. I had a vague idea about what Rotary was and stood for (I'd been a "Rotary Student of the Month" in high school), but I was very impressed with what I learned. According to the Rotary International website, Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in 168 countries. The organization has a long history of involvement with world issues, most notably its commitment to immunize children around the world against polio. Much more than a social club, Rotary is an organization with members truly concerned about making a difference.

While I love to travel, Russia had never been a country at the top of my "must see" list. Mostly because it just seemed so far away, and I didn't have a lot of personal connections to the country. I decided, though, that this was in a once in a lifetime chance - an opportunity to visit another nation and take my knowledge of Texas and Fort Worth (two of my great loves) to the other side of the world. To serve as an ambassador for Rotary, and gain an entirely new world perspective. I mentioned the opportunity to a friend over Thanksgiving, and she almost came out of her seat with excitement. She had done a GSE to Australia a few years before, and there was NOTHING that compared to it. She stressed how the experience still makes a difference in how she acts and relates to her world every day. I had to apply, she said - it would change my life.

With an endorsement like that, what was I to do? I submitted my application, and nervously awaited news on whether or not I would be selected for an interview. Not long after, I received the word I needed to schedule a time on a Saturday to meet the team leader and selection committee. Garett and I were planning to go out of town that weekend, so I requested the earliest appointment. I was excited and nervous as I headed to UTA. What exactly would they want to know? Would I be the kind of team member they were looking for? I knew absolutely zero Russian. Would that preclude me from being chosen? Everyone on the committe was very nice - they asked about my interests, my job, why I was interested in taking the trip, what I knew about Rotary and Russia. I was as honest as I could be, and tried to show that if I was chosen, I would be willing to commit whatever time and effort was required to be an oustanding team member.

Later that day, I got the call - I had been chosen as an alternate for the team, which consisted of the team leader and four team members - two women and two men. Honestly, I was ecstatic. I was afraid with my limited knowledge of Russia and the Russian language, I wouldn't be considered at all. Even being chosen as an alternate was thrilling - there would still be a chance I could go, and if not, I was being given the opportunity to learn more intensively about Russia and Siberia than I ever would have been otherwise.

A few weeks later, I met the rest of the team. It turned out that one of the girls going was in my Leadership Fort Worth class, so I already knew her. Not long after that, one of the men who had been selected had a job opportunity out of state come up, so I was moved into the active status. Woo hoo!!! To make a long story short (too late?), the folks you see below will be leaving May 25 on what I truly believe to be the adventure of a lifetime. Hopefully I can convey at least a small percentage of what we experience through this medium, and you can live vicariously through me!


(left to right) Me, Tracy Delce, Mark Moore, Ora Asheton, and Bill Burhans (our fearless leader)