GSE Team Travels to Brazil in 2012

GSE Committee Chair Sharron Newton announces that our outgoing Group Study Exchange Team will be traveling to Brazil (District 4640) May 11 - June 10, 2012. Bob Perkins, Rotary Club of Slidell Northshore, is the GSE Team Leader. Team members are Giovana Giarelli, John Moore, and Kaitlin Tymrak. For more information, contact Sharron at (415)710-7347 or snewton0959@earthlink.net.

The GSE Team that recently returned from England is full of enthusiasm. They want to share their experiences with local Rotary clubs. Contact Al Tomsic at (504)881-7669 or atomsic@prodigy.net to set up a time with one of the team participants.

Hi, this is Al Tomsic.  I have been honored to have been selected as the GSE team leader to  District 1260 in England.  The team leaves for England on May 27. I was born and raised in Ohio and moved to the New Orleans area in 1980.  I am a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Slidell.  I am married to my wife Janis and have two children and three grandchildren.  I have been employed by the IBM Corporation for the past 43 years in various capacities, currently working as a Senior Client Manager.  My outside interests are playing golf, reading, and working on Rotary projects.

My name is Amelia Puffer.  I am the only Mississippi member of the team, sponsored by the Ocean Springs Rotary Club.  I live in Pass Christian, 39 years old and the mother of two.  My son Brody is 15 years old; my daughter Landyn is 12.  I am employed as a community and facility advocate for Disability Rights MS. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the Univ of Southern MS.  I started my career as a case manager for adults with serious mental illnesses.  I worked as a case manager for 7 years helping adults with mental illness learn to become more self-sufficient and have better daily living skills.  I then took a position after Katrina assisting individuals with disabilities with their hurricane recovery needs. As a community/facility advocate I ensure fair treatment and protect the rights of those disabled. I like to travel.  I enjoy painting, sewing, working on house projects to re-do/update my home, and spending time with family and friends.  I am a very active in my church and various professional organizations within my community.

My name is Ayobamidele (Ayo) G. Bello. I am a junior Chemical and Environmental Engineer with Camp Dresser and McKee Inc. My experience includes wastewater collection, treatment and evaluation, water supply design, solid waste permit application, environmental assessments, hurricane infrastructure repairs and hazard mitigation, hurricane debris removal and home demolition. I hold a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering, another in Environmental Science with a concentration in Chemistry and a Masters of Science in Engineering Management with a concentration in environmental Engineering. I am proud to be sponsored by the Rotary Club of New Orleans. I live in New Orleans with my wife, Rosalind.

Hi all! My name is Anika Muslawski – I am a 26 years old, originally from Sarasota, Florida and have been living in New Orleans since 2003. I am being sponsored for the 2011 Group Study Exchange by the Rotary Club of New Orleans Riverbend. After graduating from Tulane University in 2007, I began working as an Environmental Engineer at CH2M Hill. As a member of the Environmental Services group, my work consists of monitoring groundwater, waste water and soil at industrial and federal facilities, investigating areas of potential environmental concern and developing and implementing remedial strategies to mitigate threats to human health and the environment. In my free time I like to exercise, garden and enjoy the New Orleans festivals!

My name is Dr. Sarah K. Mack. I am experienced in the environmental and public health field with specialization in water resource management, environmental toxicology, emergency management, and governmental relations.  I have focused on innovative approaches to address the global challenges of climate change, urbanization, and pollution through wetland management including extensive research on the carbon sequestration potential of Louisiana’s wetlands. I am the Managing Member of Tierra Resources LLC, a consulting firm that provides technical analysis on carbon impacts of wetland restoration, sustainable infrastructure, and climate change adaptation.  Previously I was the Technical Administrator of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans where I was also the Emergency Liaison between the S&WB and other agencies responsible for the initial response and later recovery of sewer, water, and drainage infrastructure during the 2005 hurricane season. I am proud to be sponsored by the St. Bernard Rotary Club.