Howdy From GSE in USA

This is a recent email to Richard Groom & David Rush from Andrew Wood (from the MFB) whom we sponsored to be a member of the d9800 GSE team to the USA.  Rotary in Action!

I thought I would send you a bit of an update as to what we have been up to so far on our trip.

Our first week has been nothing short of wonderful.

Some of the things we've done: toured through the unique and abundant Salinas Valley; spoken with winemaker Mike Einer; toured with Rotarian Andy Matsui through his orchid gardens (he has 74 acres under greenhouse) which have, in the last 14 years, grown to be the largest orchid growing business in the US (world); explored a huge fishing vessel; visited Taylor Farms plant, the largest salad producing enterprise in the US; toured the Steinbeck Center (John Steinbeck having been a Salinas/Monterey local); honoured Anzac Day at a dinner with host families and friends (Greg sang "And the band played waltzing matilda'); had a comprehensive visit to the Salinas Police Station, including seeing their impressive mobile CSI unit; visited Rancho Cielo, a wonderful evolving project to help needy and often endangered young people develop life skills; a visit to Silicon Valley, including Apple headquarters and a tour (courtesy of a friend of Adam's) through Synaptics, where intellect and research are highly valued, and cutting edge technology (much of it through touch) is their everyday workplace.

On the vocational day I went with the Fire Chief to Monterey County Rural Fire District and had a great tour of all their fire stations, equipment and some great conversations about similarities and differences of our departments.

We have been doing some painting at Closter Park in the La Plaza Rotario project. This is a massive community project being undertaken by the five Salinas Rotary clubs (around $350,000 budget) which includes building a large meeting area for the mainly Hispanic people in the area. There will be a significant bandstand/rotunda as the centrepiece, and the idea is to make what is currently an area of gang activity (a real and often lethal problem there) into a family gathering place.

Adam and I headed to San Francisco to watch the Giants play a game of baseball, we got in a game of golf and tonight I will be part of a team racing a Yacht around Monterey Bay.

I don't know how we are going to be able to keep up this pace for the next four weeks however we are all very excited and are all doing well.

Speak soon

Andrew