Guest Speaker. Paul Daly on the recent Police GSE to the USA.
Paul was Team leader on a recent Rotary Group Study Exchange to the North East of the USA.
They were away for 36 days, spending 24 hours flight time getting there. They did 15 presentations, attended a District Conference, attended countless Rotary family social functions and had a great time. Paul noted that the pace of the trip was gruelling at times and not a ‘trivial’ exercise.
Being a single vocation GSE (policing) they were keen to have as much ‘connect’ time as possible with the various law enforcement agencies in Virginia (their host area). They got to see ‘behind the scenes’ at various facilities including the Behavioural Science Unit at the FBI, advanced Driver Training and a number of ‘ride alongs’ with various police units.
The group experience included the rich history of Virginia as well as time in New York getting acquainted with Leroy and friends in the Bronx, recovering vital possessions left behind in a baseball stadium, a sprinkling of life in NE USA and the warm hospitality of Rotarians and families everywhere they went.
At a professional level, Paul made the point that a single vocation GSE seems the ideal way to go, but the program needs to be designed by an industry ‘insider’, not by a Rotary outsider. The real benefits of a vocation specific GSE can only be appreciated by somebody inside the vocation. While their program was beneficial it would have been enhanced had it been designed by a policeman. A point to note for future GSE.