Norfolk Sunrise News
Posted by Rudi Atkinson
20 YEARS OF EXCHANGES
The Welshpool, Wales and Norfolk Sunrise Rotary Clubs are celebrating 20 years of uniquely developed exchanges with youth.
The 2017 travel contingent included (pictured left to right) Meg Miller, Sam Smyth, Maddie Burnett, Erica Wilhelmus, Grace Abbey, Julia Samborski, Zack Peck, District 1180 Governor Molly Youd (Wrexham Yale), Rudi Atkinson (chaperone and Norfolk Sunrise Rotarian), Elaine Thomas (chaperone), Welshpool Rotary President Mike Pepper.
While visiting England from March 10-20, 2017, the Norfolk contingent met the Welshpool Rotarian named Pat Lewis who started it all with his cousin, John Blakemore, who is actually a Lion from Norfolk County, Ontario. It all began twenty years ago, with an exchange between students from Welshpool High School and Waterford District High School. The club has developed a very effective vetting process that has seen the program improve over the years and claims many hands have played a part in its success.
The trip this year had Norfolk students visit the Oswestry School in Oswestry, a settlement on the England/Wales border in Shropshire, England. The club will host the UK students in Norfolk in October.
An adult friendship exchange is now being planned with Norfolk Sunrise Rotarians expecting to host the Welshpool Rotarians in September, 2018. The club is excited to have the privilege of extending hospitality to the many friends made over the years.