Bogalusa Rotary Club President Scott Cantalanatto announces that other presidents of Southeast Louisiana and South and Central Mississippi are seeking outstanding professionals to visit the southern tip of India, Rotary District 3202, Feb. 15 through March 15, 2013, as part of the Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange program.

Through the program, teams of young professionals from two different countries exchange visits. For four weeks, team members experience the way of life, customs and vocational practices of another country, while sharing information about their home country.

The purpose of the Group Study Exchange program is to promote international understanding and goodwill through personal connection. While abroad, team members stay in Rotarians’ homes and have the opportunity to meet their professional counterparts. They also give presentations to Rotary clubs and other groups about their home country.

Rotary pays for round-trip airfare, and Rotary club members in the host country provide meals, lodging and group travel in their district. Team members pay for personal and incidental expenses.

Young adults between the ages of 25 and 40 who are interested in applying should be employed full time in a business or profession. Applicants must live within or be employed within the boundaries of Rotary District 6840, which includes southeast Louisiana and south and central Mississippi. The focus of the exchange will be to study levees. Although not limited to these persons, preference will be given to persons with engineering and geology experience and training.

For more information and a copy of the application, visit the GSE page at www.rotary6840.org or visit www.rotary.org. Those interested can also contact Merlin Duke, former GSE member and later GSE team leader, at merlinduke@aol.com for more information.

Applications are due by Sept. 8, and should be mailed to Bogalusa Rotary, P.O. Box 52, Bogalusa, LA 70429.

Mark Allen Spicer of the Ocean Springs, Miss. Rotary club has been chosen as the leader for the 2013 trip to India.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotary members in some 31,000 Rotary clubs in more than 165 countries.