Germany's District 1940 exchange group has recently arrived in Colorado and I had the opportunity to meet them. The exchange group is on an intense work/study program for a month where learn how their professions are done in Colorado. The incoming sponsor is District 5450. The group is led by Dr. Richard Pyritz- a veterinarian. Richard is a tall man, 68 years of age, with a kind smile and white beard. He leads three men and three women. Of the men, Dr. Thomas Koch is a scientific assistant at the Technical University in Cottbus, Jens Kruggel does handcrafting on motorcars and Carsten Wagner is a spokesman and PR manager in the Association of German Public Sector Banks. Carsten explained to me that the Public Sector Banks are a different system of banking than we have in America. Of the women, Irene Patzug is a sculpture artist, Thurid Rathke is a physician in gynaecology and midwifery and Nadine Rossman works in Brussels as a legal advisor to the Federation of German Industries. The team speaks excellent English and has a flair of properness that is exemplary of German posture. Most of the group has been to America before but on this trip they are on a tight schedule of sightseeing, work exchange and Rotary clubs. They come to the Summit County Chapter next week, April 22nd, and then head to Vail for the District conference, April 25-27. Although their schedule is very intense, they get a few days of rest and relaxation up here in Summit County. We hope to take them shooting, after all this is the Wild West to them, and Germans, in general, have a fascination with the American Western; it is also true that Germans are not allowed to carry handguns. They had also asked if they could pan for gold, unfortunately our rivers are still mostly frozen! |