There are many professionals working in
middle management roles (aged 30 to 55) who would benefit
from an intensive familiarisation visit to learn more about
their vocation in another part of the world. These
professionals have the necessary attributes to become senior
managers and leaders, and their career progression could be
enhanced by participation in a Vocational Study Team. Also,
they would be ideal candidates for membership of Rotary.
Rotary eClub One will provide the project
design, management structure and coordination to offer this
vocational opportunity to worthy candidates.
TOP
Identify individuals who will benefit from
joining a Rotary VST to gather information that is relevant
to their vocation, adding value to their role in their
business or profession.
Encourage the sharing of vocational
experiences within a team so that each member grows through
the giving and receiving of information and ideas.
Demonstrate Rotary’s commitment to vocational
excellence as an avenue of service, and encourage
participants to join Rotary after their VST experience.
TOP
This is a Vocational Service program in which
a small group of four or five outstanding professionals of
the same vocation will comprise a VST to travel to a host
Rotary Club for the specific purpose of developing their
vocational knowledge. This differs from Group Study
Exchange in significant ways. Please refer to
the explanatory notes at the end of this
paper for a summary of the differences.
A team must consist of participants who all
share the same vocation
A team member must not be a Rotarian
A team member must not be the son or daughter
of a Rotarian
Each team member must come from a different
Rotary Club, and preferably from a different Rotary
District.
A Rotary Club that is prepared to fund the
transportation component and provide travel insurance may
nominate a candidate
Nominations for the pilot project to be
forwarded to Rotary eClub One, using an application form
available on the eClub One website.
Rotary eClub One to select four or five
successful candidates chosen on merit
A host Rotary Club will coordinate the visit,
guide and support the team, provide a team mentor to
undertake this task, and arrange home hosting for the VST.
The mentor will be a member of the host
Rotary Club, or a Rotarian of another Rotary Club in the
same District as the host Club in which the visit is to take
place. The mentor must have the same vocation as the team
members.
The host Rotary Club must nominate a reserve mentor who can
assume responsibility for the VST and ensure continuity
should the primary mentor withdraw from the program.
Team briefings and preparation will commence on-line at
least one month prior to commencement of travel to the host
Rotary Club. The team mentor will lead this preparation,
supported by other Rotarians as required.
Each successful candidate must attend a meeting of his/her
sponsoring Rotary Club prior to commencement of travel to
the host Rotary Club.
The mentor will develop a program of
vocational visits, professional briefings and round table
discussions specific to the common vocation of the team
The mentor will accompany the team throughout
its visit to the host Rotary Club.
There will be a strong primary emphasis on
vocational activities. Secondary activities will be cultural
and social.
Vocational visits to enterprises and
institutions will be as a team, not as individuals
Upon arrival at the host Rotary Club, the VST
participants will undergo two days of intensive team
building and preparation, led by the mentor
The total visit will not exceed 15 days
including travel time (many brilliant GSE candidates have
had to withdraw in recent years because employers consider 4
to 6 weeks to be too long away from the workplace)
Each team member will speak about his/her
vocational role in a presentation at a meeting of the host
Rotary Club and to other Rotary Clubs as arranged.
Each team member will contribute to an
on-line VST diary to be hosted on the Rotary eClub One
website. The diary will provide a daily update of team
activities and will be available for viewing in the public
access area of the site.
Members of the host Rotary Club will home
host team members.
Team members will not be required to wear a
team uniform, however they will be required to adhere to an
acceptable standard of dress for vocational visits and
attendance at meetings of Rotary Clubs.
On the second last day of the visit, the team
will participate in a half-day moderated round table
conference and debrief. This meeting will include a team
evaluation of the project and discussion on program
relevance.
Upon return home, each team member will be
required to attend a meeting of his/her sponsoring Rotary
Club and speak about the VST experience.
Within 30 days of return home, each team member will be
required to submit a VST report on-line, including comments
on key benefits and suggestions for modifications that would
enhance VST for future participants.
Team members will be encouraged to
communicate with each other on-line, sharing ideas and
mutual support, for a minimum period of six months following
conclusion of the visit.
The host Rotary Club will have the automatic
right to provide a team member for the next year's team,
subject to that nominee meeting the team membership
requirements. This competitive advantage is a benefit that
acknowledges the contribution of the host Rotary Club.
TOP
A Rotary Club that nominates a successful
team member will be required to fund transportation and
travel insurance.
Home hosts will provide accommodation,
breakfasts and evening meals
Rotary Clubs will provide meals when the team
visits them.
Lunches, snacks, telephone calls, laundry,
entertainment and personal expenses will be the
responsibility of each team member.
TOP
Interested applicants may download a VST
application form from the Rotary eClub One website.
Each applicant must have his/her candidacy
endorsed by a Rotary Club in the district where the
applicant works or lives. There will be a section of the
form for completion and sign-off by the Vocational Service
Director and the President of the sponsoring Rotary Club.
An applicant who is selected will be required
to participate in the VST under terms and conditions
specified by Rotary eClub One. This will include a
requirement for each applicant to sign an indemnity release
agreement.
TOP
Each VST member must:
-
be between the ages of 30 and 55;
-
be employed full-time in a middle to upper
management position in the VST profession nominated by
Rotary eClub One;
-
not be a Rotarian, honorary Rotarian, the
son or daughter of a Rotarian, or the spouse of a son or
daughter of a Rotarian;
-
not be the spouse of a Rotarian or the
spouse of another VST member;
-
not be an ex-Rotarian who resigned less
than 36 months before the time of application.
TOP
Required attributes are:
-
between the ages of 30 and 55;
-
employed full-time in middle to upper
management in the profession nominated by Rotary eClub
One;
-
interested in and clearly enthusiastic
about their chosen vocation and in possession of
outstanding vocational skills;
-
career oriented with an intention to
progress to a more senior role;
-
of a sound educational background pertinent
to their vocation;
-
a citizen of the country in which they
reside;
-
comfortable working as part of a team with
a demanding schedule;
-
commitment to maintain a cooperative
professional relationship with others in the team for 6
months after conclusion of the visit;
-
proficient in the major language of the
host club/district;
-
able to express themselves clearly and
logically one-to-one or to an audience;
-
tolerant, flexible and prepared to adapt to
a variety of home hosting accommodations;
-
neat in appearance;
-
in good health.
TOP
Explanatory
Notes
- Key Differences Between
VST and GSE
VST: A Vocational Service program
of an individual Rotary club
GSE: An International Service program
of Rotary International
VST: Emphasis on vocational development to
assist career advancement
GSE: A broad mix of cultural, social and
vocational experiences to enrich participants
VST: Team members aged between 30 and 55 and
likely to be senior managers
GSE: Team members aged between 25 and 39 at
any level of an organization
VST: Multiple clubs send a team to a host
Rotary Club with no return exchange
GSE: District to district team exchange
VST: A mentor from the host club accompanies
the team throughout its visit
GSE: A team leader from the sending district
accompanies and manages the team
VST: Travel funded by a club that nominates a
candidate selected for the team
GSE: Travel funded by Rotary Foundation
VST: 15 days maximum, including travel time
GSE: 42 days maximum, plus travel time
VST: Team comprised of participants from
different clubs/districts/countries
GSE: Team members must live or work in a
single sending district
VST: Team preparation on-line followed by
team building upon arrival at host club
GSE: Team preparation with face-to-face
training in the sending district
VST: No team uniform, but dress standards do
apply
GSE: Team uniform supplied by sending
district
VST: Home hosting in close proximity to
vocational activities
GSE: Home hosting throughout receiving
district to promote a range of experiences
VST: Team members to speak at their
sponsoring Rotary Club upon return home
GSE: Team to speak at the District Conference
of their sponsoring district
VST: Participation in a half day round table
debrief prior to return home
GSE: No requirement for a debrief in host
district
VST: Six-month peer-to-peer support program
for team members upon return home
GSE: No requirement for team to meet again
(applies to most Rotary districts)
TOP
Rotary eClub One
District 5450
|
