Day 1 - congratulations

My first blog.

Yesterday my life changed ... again. I appeared before the Rotary District 7120 GSE Selection Committee to interview to become the district Team Leader for our GSE exchange with BRASIL next May. In the previous week I had spent a good deal of time trying to prepare for the interview. I read the online manual for GSE teams. I read the expectations for Team Leaders. I thought about why I wanted to be the team leader. I visualized myself in front of a committee answering questions. But yesterday, as I drove to Rochester, I vowed to clear my mind of all of this preparation and try to focus on the moment with as much candor, honesty and integrity as i could muster. I would listen - to the questions and then to my internal response. And then I would try to voice that internal response. And then I'd leave the outcome to the committee.

I think I did pretty well with the questions and my presentation. As I left, Bob Hunt (committee chair) told me he expected to call me in the evening as the committee's intention was to reach a decision before the end of the day.

I kind of though maybe I'd get a call before I actually reached home - a 2-hour drive. but 5:00 came and no phone call. I went out with a friend to show him my work and construction we have been completing. No call. We went to dinner at the local chinese restaurant - no call. I drove back to my house - and the answering machine was flashing. Bob's voice asking me to call him ... or that he would try to call later. How had I missed his call? Well, it didn't matter - what mattered was calling him back. As I picked up the phone, it rang. And Bob was offering me congratulations.

Wow. I'm going to be the leader of a team of five young professionals who will travel to the opposite side of the equator to embody Rotary's objective of advancing world understanding, good will and peace by living with and sharing the work experience of families and Rotarians in Brasil.

The impact of this commitment is just beginning to solidify for me. How should I best prepare? Can I learn the language with enough proficiency to handle coordinating this experience for a team that will look to me? I've got six months before departing - what should I do and in what order?

Bob has assured me that he and his committee will be available to help me. He will also connect me to prior team leaders so that I can learn from their experience.

I am really excited --- and a bit fearful. But I think that is good. It is a good combination. I've got a lot of work to do. I want to do well ... for my own sense of self ... for my Rotary Team members, for our District, and for the image of Rotary to those with whom we will live and share.

I'll try to use this blog to capture and chronicle the journey for me as this experience unfolds.

It's day 1. I can check the first item on my list of things to do ... I've started my blog.