During the month of May 2001, I was part of a team of five professionals chosen to tour the western half of the state of Parana, Brazil. We were sponsored by Rotary International through their Group Study Exchange program. While in Brazil we shared our culture with host families and Rotary Club members from southern Brazil. We saw many sights that related to our professions, as well as visiting local points of interest.
The members of the GSE 6060 team were:
Danielle Mangonga, St. Louis, MO. Danielle is an attorney with the Bryan Cave Law Firm in St. Louis;
Deborah Powell, Ferguson, MO. Deborah is the library director for St. Louis Christian College, Florissant, MO.
Stephanie Buchholz, O'Fallon, MO. Stephanie is a nursing professor at East Central College, Union, MO
Kevin Dixon (me!!!), Union, MO. I am an Associate Professor of Biology at East Central College, Union, MO.
In order to qualify for inclusion in the group, team members:
-must be 25-40 in age;
-be a full-time employee
-cannot have an affiliation with Rotary.
Each GSE team is led by a Rotary member. Our team leader was:
Dr. Lowe "Sandy" Maclean, Clayton, MO. Sandy is a retired Vice-Chancellor of Students at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Sandy is a 30-year member of Rotary.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer heartfelt thanks to:
- My wife, Melanie, and my daughters, Bethany and Casi. Their sacrifice will always be special to me.
- The Rotary Clubs of Union, MO, and Sullivan, MO, for providing monetary support.
- East Central College and Dr. Karen Herzog, who nominated me for the trip and allowed me to take the time off.
- The East Central College Foundation and Brenda
Bouse, Foundation Director, who provided monetary support
and gifts for my host
families.
- My fellow team members. It was a pleasure traveling with you and getting to know you!
I took both digital and print cameras with me on the trip. During the 30 days I shot about 350 digital pictures and filled about a dozen rolls of film. Below are links to some of my digital pictures. Enjoy!