Everyone from students to host families (past and present) to Rotarians across Georgia have been part of GRSP's strategic planning study. See the recap in this story.

Eligible Georgia students could enjjoy a scholarship to Oslo next summer!

Students have all finally gotten settled in their dorms and it is not too early to start planning for the holidays. Our GRSP students each year talk about how much they love our Thanksgiving holidays in particular. We don’t think about the fact that we are the only country in the world that has a Thanksgiving holiday. The fact that it is not a religious holiday and yet is about being thankful is something that is hard for others to understand. Only by participating in the holiday can someone who is not born in the US be able to understand that it is about family.

Each year we are asked by host families if GRSP allows to students to return home for the Christmas holidays. Obviously, we cannot stop a student from returning home for the holidays, but we certainly discourage it as the main part of the scholarship is a cultural exchange, which mainly occurs during the holidays after the student has had a chance to digest many of the customs we have. Please encourage your student to stay, as many never return for various reasons, and then you may miss a valuable experience with your student. Remember that the GRSP student handbook says “Your host will define your GRSP responsibilities based on the Club’s expectation of you that are in addition to other items detailed in this section of the Handbook”. Do not burden your student with unrealistic expectations, but do encourage them to take advantage of their year with you and learn what it is like to be American and a Rotarian. Then, we can learn what it is like to be German, Scottish, French, Lebanese or any of the countries that we are sponsoring students from this year. Get your expectations on their calendar early, so there is no misunderstanding.

Student Weekend

Our students have been invited to District 6920 the weekend of October 12-14 for the 11 ^th Annual Hue Thomas Jr. Weekend in Savannah. In Savannah, the students will participate in a Ghost Tour, visit the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum to interactively experience World War II from both the European and American perspectives, then tour the Tybee Island Lighthouse, get a little beach time and experience a Low Country Boil. District 6910 has been kindly supplying a bus for the last several years, which has made it easier for us in the Northern part of the state to get our students to certain weekends. Please be sure to reserve a spot on the bus as quickly as possible, as these seats go quickly. Once the bus is full, your student will have no choice but to find another way to get to Savannah.

Also, it is not too early to start planning your rides for the year, particularly if your club is partnering with other clubs or if your student is attending school with students from other clubs. Remember: Is it fair to all concerned?

Endowment

Many of our clubs this year donated more than $50 per capita to the GRSP Endowment, so the various clubs in District 6900 will be receiving checks from the Endowment to use in whatever way they desire. We are hopeful that those checks will be coming out this month and we will be sure to get these to the proper trustee as soon as possible.

The GRSP Endowment was able to subsidize each student with $5500 towards their tuition. The executive committ ee will be meeting early in November to discuss projected earnings for next year and how much can be given from the endowment for the 2019-2020 year. This requires some educated guesswork from the committee on what the earnings will be from the Endowment for 2018-2019 AND what the increase in costs for the universities will be.

Oslo Scholarship

Information on this most wonderful scholarship for June 22-August 2, 2019 is now up on the GRSP website - www.grsp.org. REMEMBER: Rotarian children and grandchildren can apply!!! Applicants must be recommended by their sponsoring Rotary Club. This is an English-based program, so there is no need for proficiency in Norwegian. It is a full-ride scholarship, including the cost of travel to and from Oslo, Norway.

Strategic Planning

The Strategic Planning Committee, which has several leaders from District 6900 involved, presented our Mission, Vision and Values to the trustee caucus this past summer. They were discussed in detail, massaged and voted on as follows:

Our Mission: GRSP provides scholarships to advance cultural understanding and social experiences through friendship, develops potential global leaders, and expands the ideals of Rotary around the world.

We decided that we wanted our vision to extend 40 years in the future.

Our Vision: To develop leaders who promote understanding and peace around the world.

Our Values:

• Diversity of people, cultures, beliefs and perspectives
• Leadership development locally, nationally and globally
• Integrity and the highest of ethical standards
• Service above self
• Fellowship among all
• Respect of different perspectives
• Peace and understanding among people and nations

The Strategic Planning Committee decided that there were six main goals in GRSP that needed to be addressed for planning purposes and committees were set up for each goal to assure that the strategic planning process would continue:

1. Explore Changes to Program Cost Structure
2. Build Organizational Structure & Operational Capacity
3. Expand Marketing & Communications
4. Improve Training to All Stakeholders
5. Ensure Diverse, Qualified Student Engagement
6. Enhance Student and Club Experience

Many Rotarians from District 6900 are on each of the goal subcommittees and have already met at least once to review strategies for moving forward with the goals. Timetables have been agreed upon and real momentum has begun on this project. We are already seeing some of the issues that we have in our own clubs and our districts coming to the surface: Do we throw out the old traditions, just so we have a brand new club/program? Do we only listen to the under 25 crowd and not consider the traditions of the ones who built the program? What are our pain points and what do we do well? As mentioned in previous newsletter items, the Fanning Institute was commissioned to walk us through the process. The guidelines have been established and some decisions have been made. If you feel you would like to be involved in this process and have a particular proclivity in an area, please call me. This is not just a process for the leadership in GRSP, but it is a Rotary program designed for Rotarians in Georgia. Be a part of the process!!!! You may learn something along with way. I certainly have.