Dear Friends in D 5320,

Week 13 of 2011 has begun. In week 16 we will meet each other! Finally!

Last Saturday our GSE team was guest at the District Conference of D 1590 in Emmen. More than 200 Rotarians were there together.

Our team members presented themselves on stage and told frankly and clearly about their motivations and intentions going to Orange and LA County for nearly a month. They met a lot of ‘admiration’ of the ‘congregation’ and at lunchtime there was a vivid get-together with lots of questions and good wishes and also … warnings. Don’t – for instance - say ‘kilo’, because Americans then abusively think you’re talking about … hard drugs… Things like that! Enjoy the lovely climate in California and don’t eat too much at the hospitable barbecues they will offer you there… We experienced a lot of sympathy.

The young professionals are indeed quite clear and convincing in what they want to experience and learn. The young pediatrician told for instance about violence in families and how (not like here) in the USA doctors are obliged to tell the police if they have the suspicion that there is abuse or violence around children. How do doctors handle this double function: and gaining and keeping the trust of their patients and their responsibility towards society and the child… The pedagogical social worker and the psychiatric nurse (each in their own way) wonder how in America forced separation in (psychiatric) clinics functions and how they –workers and patients- feel about it.  Are they looking for more human methods? Are there new and interesting teaching methods to be found in LA or at the University of California / Chapman? How do American industries handle logistics and how many conflicts arise there between planning and practice? If not everybody has an insurance for medical help, how do doctors handle their oath of Hippocrates to help everybody? And so on and so on…

Be sure that our 5 young GSE members are very well prepared for their visit with you and that the focus on conflict management and peace studies functions already quite inspiring!

After lunch we had the opportunity to speak with our DG Onno te Nuyl who met your DG Mrs. Johrita Solari last year in San Diego. He promised us a warm welcome and told us that Americans are always very interested in other people and peoples and their cultures. This again motivates us to prepare real interesting presentations for the clubs we will visit in April and May…

In the mean time we arranged a website: www.gse2011.com Visit it if you wish. Now it is still quiet and seeking its way, in the weeks that follow it will be filled with all the exciting experiences we hope to live once we are with you over there! Via this website you also can follow each personal blog of the GSE 2011 team!

Wow. We’ll see you soon. In the mean time: PAX ET BONUM (Peace and all the best!)

Thom van der Goot

Team leader GSE 2011: D’s 1590/5320 Rotary International

THE MEMBERS OF THE GSE TEAM 2011

ELLEN KINKEL

was born on April 14, 1983 in Assen.  In 2006 Ellen became a bachelor in Social Work. In her last year at Hanze University she did her internship at the Child Protection Board in Groningen as an investigator of criminal cases. After graduating she started her professional career as a social worker with a family group for young adolescents.

In 2008 Ellen started working at a Clinical group.

Apart from being a social worker she is also a trainer in ‘Equip’ (peer-group therapy), she gives in-service training ‘Social Competent Model’  (Competency based residential youth care) and ‘Pedagogic Home Help’ (practical tips for patients and for families to raise and handle children with a psychological disorder). From 1999 Ellen has worked with clients who manage a government supplied budget with which they can employ a care worker of their own choosing. She is an occupational therapist and teaches clients social skills.

In her free time Ellen likes to dance, read, listen and be inspired by music and running.  She lives in Groningen with her partner Johnny, who is a sergeant in the air assault brigade of the Dutch armed forces.

RICHARD TOUBER was born on April 12th 1975 in Stiens, Friesland. In 2000 he graduated in business studies / Leeuwarden University of applied sciences. During his work at Moffet (lift trucks) he got interested in material management.   Here he took part in several projects like lean manufacturing.  In 2007 Hiab organisation (owner of Moffet) closed the factory.  Richard found a new job, where he installed a new production line.  At this moment Richard works at “Mannen van Staal”, a steel construction company.

Beside his work he was a semi-professional speed skater for 11 years. He skated in different countries like Canada and Japan. At the moment he is a speed skating coach for children in the age of 13 till 16. Beside sports Richard likes to travel. He likes to see different places, meet people and learn about other cultures.

His girl friend Rianne is 28 years old and is a grammar school teacher.  Richard and Rianne like to go wall climbing.

LAURA SNABILIÉ was born on october 8, 1982 in Groningen. After graduating from ‘pedagogical academy’, she started working with refugees, teaching them Dutch and helping them integrate in The Netherlands. One of the highlights was the complete organization and control of the summer school for 200 refugees, which she did on her own at 21. When the number of refugees shrank, she started working as a teacher in vocational education. Besides she was also active as a training coordinator, training supervisor and study supervisor. After 4 years she started working for an educational publisher: Edu’Actief. In the beginning she did project coordination and editing. After a year she became educational trainer and consultant. She helps schools / teachers in vision development, the implementation of methods and educational innovations.

In her free time, Laura loves to do sports, acting and reading books. She lives together in Groningen with her partner Sybren Jansma, who studies Nature and Environmental science and is an Olympic bobsledder.

LINDA VAN DER MEULEN was born on October 30th 1982 in Bolsward, Friesland. In 2007 she got a bachelor degree in nursing. In her final year at college Linda worked as a trainee nurse at a mental health hospital in a closed ward. Linda works now with people that suffer from different psychiatric disorders. Some patients are staying there in consequence of an involuntary commitment. The closed ward of the hospital has two separation rooms. In the Netherlands separating is still common practice, much to Linda’s dislike. Linda participates now in a project to seek for better ways of separating or rather, prevent separation.

In 2009 Linda moved to Leeuwarden and bought a house there with her boyfriend Jeroen. In her spare time she loves to go horseback riding. She has two horses of her own. When she’s not riding her horse, she likes to hang around with her friend

MICHEL VAN VLIET is born at October 30^th 1979 in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands.  In 1998 he started to study medicine, which he finished in 2004. Ever since, he has been working he has been working as a pediatric resident in the University Medical Center Groningen and in the Isala Hospital Zwolle.

In 2010 he received his PhD. In his dissertation he discussed the relationship between fecal micro biota, chemotherapy-induced intestinal damage and fever, in pediatric patients with cancer. He published articles in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Infectious Diseases, PLOS Pathogens, Pediatric Blood and Cancer and Supportive Care in Cancer.

In 2000, he first met his wife, Annemieke.  Annemieke is also a resident in pediatrics. Their son, who is named Hasse, is born in 2008. In his spare time Michel likes playing volleyball, reading Dutch (teen)literature and watching both Dutch and American movies.



some pictures of the netherlands / prejudices?

The Netherlands is the European part of the kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a constitutional monarchy (Queen Beatrix), located in north-western Europe. It is to the north and the west bordered by the North Sea, to the east by Germany and to the south by Belgium / Flanders. It has about 16.500.000 inhabitants. The Netherlands is often referred to as HOLLAND… This is not correct! North and South Holland are only two provinces in the western part of the country, with Amsterdam (the capital), The Hague (the seat of government and parliament and the Queen) as main cities. The US Embassy is in The Hague, as is also the seat of the UN Court of Justice.

The Netherlands (low countries) lies for the most part below sea level! It is popularly known for its necessary windmills, dikes, tulips, clogs (wooden shoes) and millions of bicycles…