Southborough – State Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) hosted the Group Study Exchange, a team of Rotary Club representatives from Brazil and Southborough, on a tour of the Massachusetts State House May 29. The team from Brazil spent four weeks visiting Rotary clubs across Massachusetts.
“Through programs like this Group Study Exchange, Southborough's Rotarians bring us closer to the world beyond our borders,” Rep. Dykema said. “It was a pleasure to meet with the group at the State House and learn with them.”
During the tour, Rep. Dykema spoke to the group about the the history and workings of Massachusetts” government. The Brazilian team was comprised of a team leader, Marcel Castro and four team members, Jonatas Silva, Juscelio Frade, Samuel Mendes and Wellington Lima. Accompanying the Brazilian team were Carl Guyer of the Southborough Rotary Club and Dayse Sena of the Brookline Rotary Club.
At the conclusion of the tour, the Brazilian team leader remarked on the professionalism of Rep. Dykema and expressed hope all political leaders in the world exhibited such qualities.? The Rotary Club of Southborough expressed gratitude to Rep. Dykema for taking the time to host their visitors.
The previous day, the Brazilian team, accompanied by Guyer and Central Massachusetts Rotary District Governor Richard Dietz, traveled to Rockaway, N.Y., to see the efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. Rotary clubs in Brazil provided critical funds toward the recovery effort.
According to Gov. Dietz, this type of selfless giving is the heart of the International Rotary's commitment of service above self. In Rockaway, the team met local Rotarians and first responders and toured a number of the homes destroyed by the hurricane.
To learn more about Southborough's Rotary Club, visit its Facebook page. To learn about the Group Study Exchange program, visit www.rotary.org.
