Portsmouth Rotary - Group Study Exchange

“To Laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children… to leave the world a better place… to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I was in my teens living in California I adopted this quote as my personal definition of success. After graduating from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK in 1986 where I studied Economics and Marketing, I began a ten year career in Resort Marketing which culminated in my being the International Marketing Director of Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Resorts located in Colorado.

In 1993, I moved to the seacoast of New Hampshire and began a career in Financial Management. In 1993 to 1995, I worked with Banks in Europe and the Middle East as a Institutional Bond Trader. Today I celebrate my 13th year in the Finance Industry and my 9th year working with Merrill Lynch in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I work with individuals and businesses across the United States and Europe as a Wealth Advisor and Money Manager.

In 1999 I joined the Portsmouth, NH Rotary Club which provided an avenue to fulfill my passion of serving my community. Today I sit on the Portsmouth Rotary Board of Directors. Serve as Committee Chairman for the William M. Cash Committee which distributes $30,000 per year to local charities and international relief projects. In addition, for the past six years I have served on the Board of Directors for the local homeless shelter and currently serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 2004 I was humbled and honored to receive “Rotarian of the Year” of our 250 member Rotary Club.

For fun I adore the outdoors. Kayaking, competitive sailing, running, scuba diving, gardening and skiing are among my favorite pastimes.

I fell in love with the people and country of Turkey while hosting the GSE group from Istanbul. I am so excited to experience the spirit, culture and people of their country. I also look forward to studying the economic climate and financial markets of Turkey.

Terrie Anne Bennett

My name is Terrie Anne Bennett. I was born in and raised in Montreal, Canada. My parents still reside in Montreal and have a country home in North Hero, Vermont. I have one brother who lives part time in Brazil and Montréal. I was fortunate to grow up in a multicultural city that provided me with a diverse upbringing. I was married last May 29, 2004 to Dwayne R. Bennett.

I spent all of my grammar school years in French school. I was an exchange student in Mexico in my senior year in high school and attended university in the USA. My educational background is a Master’s degree in business administration and a BA degree in Anthropology from the State University of New York. I am a graduate from the Maine Development Foundation Leadership Maine Program. The year-long experiential program provided me with a statewide perspective of the economy, information to meet the challenges of tomorrow, and encouraged the building of networks to spark collaborative change in Maine.

I am the general manager of Black Mountain of Maine. We are a non for profit community recreational facility in rural Maine. We provide outdoor recreational experiences for those of all economical backgrounds. I enjoy working for non for profits. It is my way of making a positive change in my community and giving back to help others in their development. I have the great opportunity to be able to multi task in my profession. I work in a variety of venues to ensure the safe function of the ski area.

I am an athlete. I love to run, work out at the local gym, play team sports, swim, ski, hike, and kayak and just play outside! I am passionate about recreation; it is what I do for a profession and what I pursue in my personal life.

I look forward to the challenge that the GSE program would bring to me. I wish to represent my Rotary district with a professional, enthusiastic representation as a GSE member.

The following is a quote that I feel best describes me and my passion for life:

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go"

T. S. Eliot

Jannie Durr

Age 28
University of New England, Biddeford, Maine

I am the youngest child from a small New England Town. My hometown, Dyer Brook, was quite small and didn’t even have a store, a zip code, or a gas station. The area I grew up in was noted for its lumber and potato industry. My favorite memories from my childhood are from the times spent at the lake swimming, canoeing, and watching the sunsets on the lake. After graduating from high school, I attended a prestigious liberal arts college in Southern Maine called Bates College. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, and I am currently working in the field of Student Affairs at the University of New England. I am the Area Coordinator for 4 on-campus residential facilities and 1 off-campus residential apartment. I hire, train, and manage my student staff who live and work in the residence halls. I also live on-campus in a beautiful 2-bedroom apartment in a new suite-style residence hall. I enjoy connecting with my students and helping them grow into critical thinkers. The University of New England is located along the brackish waters of the Saco River and the Atlantic Ocean. The small coastal town of Biddeford, Maine offers many opportunities to seek out the beauty in nature. During the summer months I switch over to the Orientation Program to train and prepare student staff for welcoming incoming first-year students into our programs. I also try to sneak away to the beach when I can! I am involved 20 weeks out of the year in a social bowling league at a local bowling alley. I enjoy going to film festivals, movie theaters, and lectures about film and the film industry. I love reading, writing, scrap booking, and being creative. I collect thimbles from all over the world. I find museums and history to be interesting. I’m an avid card-player and have brought home several cribbage trophies from local championships. I look forward to learning new card games and finding opportunities to connect with other people when playing cards or board games. I also enjoy cooking and trying new foods.

Alec Jarvis

Forest and Resource Engineer/Latin American Timberland Project Leader
Hancock Land Company
Casco, ME 04015

I originally hail from the northern reaches of Michigan in a little town named Petoskey and grew up snowboarding and exploring the hills and forests near my home. I graduated from Miami University (Ohio) in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany. My undergraduate experience was augmented by a semester spent studying at the Center for Tropical Rainforest Management in Queensland Australia. After graduation I distanced myself from academia for a while to teach snowboarding in Michigan, New Zealand, and Utah. I returned to academic life in 1997, enrolling in the Peace Corps Master's International Program in Forestry at Michigan Technological University. As part of this program I worked as an agro forestry extension agent in rural southeastern Paraguay. My work centered on the promotion of improved soil conservation techniques and increased income generation and farm stability realized through tree planting. I continued to work in Paraguay as a technical consultant with an American based integrated pest management firm. In this role I worked with both small-scale Paraguayan cotton producers and government officials involved in the national cotton reactivation program. I also worked as a project coordinator with Project Concern International, a multinational humanitarian aid organization, on their reconstruction efforts in El Salvador after two major earthquakes struck in early 2001. Currently I am responsible for a variety of initiatives within Hancock Land Company, which include non-timber resource exploration, land sales and acquisition (both in New England and Latin America), and general forest operations. I have a twin brother, a younger sister, and an older brother who flies Black Hawk helicopters for the Army as warrant officer in the Special Forces.

I am very excited for the upcoming trip and during my visit to Turkey and Rotary members I would like to visit people involved in such industries as Forestry, agriculture, tourism, and community development.

Lori Beauchesne

Being raised in a small Maine town in the United States, a decedent of French-Canadians, I was fortunate to be exposed to two cultures. My parents, grandparents, and those before them came from Quebec, Canada, so I share many of the Canadian traditions and values combined with those of the United States. I was raised in a small Maine town conveniently located with quick access to the ocean and mountains- my two favorite places to spend time!

My education background includes a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from New Hampshire College. Also, I am a graduate of the University of New England’s Education program, and am currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education.

My desire to travel outside of my small town immediately set in upon graduating high school. My first career was in tourism, which helped me to satisfy my desire to explore. My travels include Switzerland, London, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, many of the Caribbean Islands, and much of the United States. In addition to living in Maine, I have lived in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Hampshire.

Currently I teach 6th grade students at Marshwood Junior High, in Eliot, Maine. I have a passion for reading and writing, so I am fortunate to teach what I enjoy doing. An area of focus for me is working with students that require reading intervention, and I am currently developing and teaching a reading program to help these students strengthen their reading skills. In addition, I am involved in teaching a Literacy Workshop at the University of New Hampshire during the summer.

For fun… I love traveling, snowshoeing, writing (I am currently writing a children’s book) reading (especially mystery and adventure), gardening, foreign coin collecting, and a new hobby I recently began is restoring an old house (I really enjoying the decorating!).

I am excited to be a part of this once in a life time opportunity that builds bridges connecting cultures across the world! I look forward to exploring and learning all about Turkey and the people that live there.

Topkapi Palace

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