Please join Gail and me on a Rotary team visiting India on a Rotary Friendship Exchange. In March 2025, our team will visit Rotary District 3040, mainly Madhya Pradesh State, India. We will be hosted in Rotarians’ homes in three different cities. Our hosts will show us the cultural and historic sights and we will see how Rotary works in District 3040 with visits to Rotary clubs and service projects.
Friendship Exchange is a program of Rotary International that can broaden international understanding; build enduring friendships; gain opportunities for active project involvement; learn about a region’s people, food, languages, customs and history; find partners for grants; and establish a foundation for peace and service.
OUTBOUND TEAM IN INDIA MARCH 3 TO 15
Our visit will begin Monday, March 3, in Indore, the state educational and commercial capital. It will end with a visit to famous historic sites such as Chittorgarh and Udaipur in Rajasthan. Departure will be from Udaipur on Saturday, March 15. Some of our team may wish to extend their stay in India by booking an optional but highly recommended Golden Triangle tour of Jaipur, Agra and Delhi. This can be easily done from Udaipur.
INBOUND TEAM IN DISTRICT 5330 JUNE 4 TO 16
In turn, our district will host a team from District 3040 in our homes in June, 2025. The current plan will require hosts for our Indian visitors in the Riverside/San Bernardino area June 4 through 7, The Coachella Valley June 8 through 11, and the Temecula area June 12 through 15. Departure will be June 16 Hosting may need to be adjusted depending on the availability of hosts in the different areas. If any of our guests or hosts wish to attend the RI Convention in Calgary, there will be five days between the hosting and the convention, which starts June 21.
ABOUT ROTARY DISTRICT 3040
District 3040 has 111 Rotary clubs and 2477 Rotarians spread across most of Madhya Pradesh and part of Gujarat. Indore is its largest city and is an industrial center with a “blissful blend of the past and future.” Bhopal, the state capital, has an old city with fine old mosques and palaces and an equally impressive new city. Other cities of note include Sanchi, Nagda, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Mandu.
HOW IT WORKS
Gail and I will lead a team of up to five Rotarians and their partners in March 2025. Almost certainly there will be space for single Rotarians if there are fewer than five couples. If space allows, adult family and friends can join the team. All will be hosted by Indian Rotarians in their homes. The hosts will provide lodging and meals at home. All other expenses will be paid by the participants. No funds from Rotary International or the Rotary Foundation will be used.
We expect to host five couples from District 3040 in June 2025.Host will provide lodging and meals at home including breakfasts and most dinners. most days. hosts will bring their guests to a nearby meeting point. There will be no additional financial contribution from hosts.
If you are interested in joining our team in India, would like to host, or would like more information, please contact me via email at ladd.g.seekins@gmail .com or call 909-800-3911.