World Fund Award

In their October 2004 meeting, the Trustees rescinded their decision of April 2001 in which districts could apply for World Fund Awards to send Group Study Exchange (GSE) Teams every two years. Based on the financial status of the World Fund pool at this time, all districts in good standing are eligible to apply for World Fund Awards to send a GSE Team every year. The GSE program will return to an every year, every district cycle in which exchanges are carried out in one program year. All changes are in effect starting with the 2005-06 program year.

As a result of these changes, the Foundation has made a one-time exception to postpone the 2005-06 GSE District Application submission date until 1 March 2005. All DGEs have received instructions on how to proceed with their 2005-06 GSE District Application, whether they have already applied to send a 2005-06 GSE team or whether they would like to submit an application at this time due to the change in World Fund availability. GSE pairings will be confirmed by regular mail on a rolling basis up until 1 March 2005. Early submission provides a larger pairing pool for GSE partnerships.

In order to help preserve the World Fund for other educational and humanitarian grant programs of the Foundation, the Trustees continue to encourage districts to utilize District Designated Funds (DDF) to send GSE teams. Districts retain the option of using DDF instead of World Fund Awards to send a GSE team in any given program year (US$11,000 for a standard GSE team, $6,000 for a neighboring country GSE team). Districts may apply to send a maximum of two GSE teams during a given program year: one can be financed through the World Fund, the other must be funded through DDF, a DDF donation from a partner district, or a restricted gift to the Permanent Fund.
For questions about the new GSE policy and 2005-06 application processing, contact your GSE Coordinator at The Rotary Foundation, 847-866-3330.

Funding

World Fund Group Study Exchange

All Rotary districts in good standing are entitled to participate in this program at no cost every other year (expenses are paid through the World Fund). A World Fund award is for a period of two consecutive years, with one team traveling in the first year and the second team traveling the following year. Partnering district governors must work together to determine the years of travel. However, districts may allocate DDF funds to conduct an exchange in the same year, as explained below.

Same Year GSE

To conduct a same year Group Study Exchange, districts are encouraged to allocate US$11,000 of their DDF funds. Districts may split the allocation of DDF funds, with each district contributing US$5,500.

Additional GSE

Districts may apply for a second Group Study Exchange each year, paid through their DDF accounts. A second GSE costs US$11,000, and a Neighboring Country GSE (between districts that share a border or exist within close proximity of one another) costs US$6,000.

Districts also may elect to donate the appropriate DDF funds to a district for an exchange with that district. All costs remain the same.

Other GSE options include additional team members, orientation reimbursement, and additional language training.

Use the SHARE System to allocate GSE funds.

Expenses

For team members, The Rotary Foundation covers:

• the least expensive transportation for each team's travel from a common point of departure within (or nearest to) the sending district to a point of entry within (or nearest to) the host district and return between the same two points
• additional costs that may result from an unavoidable cancellation of tickets for team members or a team leader unable to accompany the team and subsequent reissuing of tickets for alternate team members or an alternate team leader
• hotel accommodations and meals, generally up to US$100 or equivalent per person, for a forced overnight stay when a team travels en route for more than 24 hours, including layovers due to misconnecting flights, and back to the sending district if traveling immediately after the conclusion of the study tour. Payment must be approved by the Foundation in advance of the team's departure. Reimbursements are sent upon completion of the exchange, provided that receipts are included

For districts, The Rotary Foundation covers:

• a language training grant, a district conference subsidy, and an internal travel subsidy;
• program enhancement subsidies based upon a district's eligibility and the allocation of District Designated Funds.

The Rotary Foundation does not cover:

• expenses connected with optional 24-hour stopover en route to the host district;
• personal travel expenses;
• penalties resulting from changes in personal travel arrangements, including optional stopovers or early departure from the host district;
• excess baggage charges, shipping charges, and flight-cancellation insurance;
• increases in airfare due to late or incomplete submission of documents and information or delay in finalizing any travel arrangements;
• transportation to and from airports within the sponsor district;
• visas, passports, or personal insurance.