Buckhead welcomes Catherina from Denmark. Her cousin Mathilde (below) was welcomed by her Dunwoody host families and trustee

Atlanta West End, Atlanta Airport, Senoia and Newnan welcome Alexandre from France. While there, they met Alisha, a GRSP alumni from Jamaica (below) who was quick to share that GRSP changed her life

Many of you welcomed new students into your homes this month and moved them into their dorm rooms already. They will be attending Conclave hosted by District 6910 in Brasstown Bald this year the weekend of August 24-26, 2018.

The Conclave allows all of the GRSP students to come together and meet one another for the first time. It's also a great weekend for GRSP host families, past and present, to share experiences. During Conclave, students attend educational sessions that are designed to help them adjust to life in the United States and to become part of their host families, clubs and schools. Host families attend a great orientation session on that Saturday morning that helps them better understand their roles and responsibilities and how to get the most out of their host experience. GRSP Trustees also attend to receive valuable program updates and training.

GRSP liaisons from Rotary clubs across the state are strongly encouraged to attend to gain a better understanding of GRSP and each club's integral role in the experience. All Rotarians are invited to come enjoy the fun and fellowship at the evening functions throughout the weekend to support the students, particularly on Saturday night where the students sing, act in skits, recite poetry that they’ve written, ply musical instruments or dance – whatever their talent.

Please contact your GRSP Trustee for specific information on the Conclave and/or register at www.grsp.org

Plans are already being made by several of our clubs to host the students on several weekends during the year. Unfortunately, the first weekend that District 6900 usually hosts will not take place because the facility is being totally revamped. Savannah again will host the students for the weekend of October 12-14. The North Fulton rotary clubs will be hosting a weekend usually held in November, but to be announced. These weekends allow the students to learn more about what it means to be living in a global society and how they can impact the world. They will be participating in team building activities and networking between themselves and Rotarians. These are great bonding experiences for all who involve themselves and not just weekends for fun and games.

ENDOWMENT NEWS

This year 18 of our clubs gave more than $50 per capita to the GRSP Endowment and will be receiving either an incentive check or a credit, depending on whether or not they are hosting a student this year. The original purpose of the incentive program was to encourage clubs to host a student and to give to the endowment. The Endowment Trustees do not believe that this program has encouraged any additional giving, but the Trustees as a whole believe that it has and voted to continue the program again; however, the Trustees also voted to allow a credit to those clubs that are not hosting a student for the following year to be held in perpetuity until the club decides to host a student. Fortunately for our district, all clubs that qualified for an incentive check are hosting a student this year, so all 18 clubs will receive an incentive check soon. Because this is an endowment, we have complicated rules from the IRS; hence, we have complicated rules on the incentive rebate. I do have a copy of the rules and will be happy to furnish it to you upon request.

A committee will be meeting in November to determine how much the Endowment will be able to give to assist with tuition for next year. Representatives from our District always push for higher assistance than the financial representatives advise, as we believe that it will enhance giving and participation, if the Endowment gives back what it should.