The Rotary Friendship Exchange program, introduced in 1984, allows Rotarians the opportunity to experience another culture or geographic area first hand, in another country  or a different part of the USA.  The goals of the program are to advance human understanding, goodwill, and peace through person-to-person contact across national and regional boundaries.  A Friendship Exchange differs from most tourist experiences in two notable ways: team members stay in the homes of Rotarians, and they are guided during their stay in a given locale by their hosts and other local Rotarians.  Rotary Friendship Exchange is funded entirely by the program participants, and exchanges are carried out at no expense to Rotary International.
 
Exchanges are reciprocal, meaning that we send a team to another Rotary district (outbound) and that district, in return, sends a team to visit us here in District 5340 (inbound).  Each visit to the other district lasts about two weeks.   Given District 5340's interest in service, we strive to share and involve inbound team members in the delivery of local services.  We encourage our outbound teams to seek service opportunities in the districts they are visiting.
 
Be a part of this unique program, either as a member of an outgoing team or by hosting an inbound team.  Trips are forming for 2020.  Check out the District 5340 RFE page or send an email to our RFE chair at d5340rfe@gmail.com.