Rotary ace no 41 jun2016

International Tennis Fellowship of Rotarians

Rotary Ace Score an ace with Rotary… for a winning service !

Monday, 27th June, 2016

Newsletter No. 41

Rotary was founded on fellowship. Rotarians come together from different countries around the world to share common interests and become friends.

12th ITFR World Championship Dear Fellows, I want you remind that our 12.World Championship is very close, it will take place from 21st-28th August in Albena, Bulgaria.

13th ITFR World Championship

Plan your trip to Albena resort and join us at biggest and most important ITFR annual event!

Come to meet friends, participate in tennis tournament, attend to Annual General Meeting, have a great time at discovering cultural and natural attractions, make memories that will last a lifetime.

For program details please visit ITFR website www.itfr.org and register for the Championship! Our Bulgarian hosts are delighted to welcome you!

2017

See you in Albena!

Will be held in

Mladen Novakovic

Buenos Aires

ARGENTINA !

Do you want to organize

14. ITFR World Championship 2018?

Please send your application not later than 21st August 2016 to: tomislav@MITSoftware.hr

ITFR Chairman

ITFR – Ten Years Later If you expected from title, that ITFR has something with British band performing on Woodstock in1969 - you are wrong.

ITFR is not that old  But it looks like that I am so old that our Chairman Mladen asked me to write few words (because we can’t concentrate on reading to much) about the early days of ITFR. I am hoping that he didn’t ask me because I am so old, but because I am so young that I have attended all eleven ITFR World Championships and still remember it  So, our story started during Rotary Convention in Osaka, Japan (May, 2004) where Mladen and I realized that there are tons of Rotary Fellowships - but no tennis fellowship. We agreed after few

beers that we’ll try to start it (that probably the reason why we are still addicted to beer  ) After starting formal application with RI, we realized that Philip Merritt (RC Mabalacat D3790) had similar idea - so we joined our forces and made together paperwork for application. At the same time we started our mailing group and ITFR web site.

Finally, on Dec 15, 2004 RI confirmed that they have received our application.

At that time we had 59 prospective members from 6 countries (Croatia, Mexico, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Turkey and USA) and the first Board was: 1. Chairman - Tomislav Maravic, RC Zagreb Centar, D1910 2. Vice Chairman - Philip Merritt, RC Mabalacat, D3790 3. World Tour Director - Mladen Novakovic, RC Zagreb Centar, D1910 4. Secretary - Sinisa Varga, RC Zagreb Centar, D1910 5. Treasurer - Aleksandar Starcevic, RC Zagreb, D1910 6. Tour Director Americas - Letizia Parra, RC Bellavista Atizapan, D4170 7. Tour Director Asia - Nalin Fernando, RC Colombo, D3220 8. Tour Director Europe - Boris Brkljacic, RC Zagreb Centar, D1910 While we were waiting for RI approval, unfortunately few countries were seriously struck by tsunami on Dec 26, 2004.

One of those countries was Sri Lanka (where we had members) and ITFR Tour Director for Asia (Nalin Fernando) was from Sri Lanka as well - so we decided to help immediately.

My club, RC Zagreb Centar sent $5.000 on Dec 31, 2004 and our small ITFR team also decided that we’ll raise money for tsunami victims during the first ITFR

Tournament Zagreb Open (February 2005, 47 players)so we did it and sent additional $10.000 to Colombo.

Colombo

Anyway, on March 8, 2005 The RI Board of Directors approved our application for recognition of ITFR & our official history started !

Maybe RI anticipated how will look our future tennis game by choosing date (March 8), which is International Women Day  . But that’s just insane theory  .

The same year ITFR was present at the RI Convention in Chicago and we had our first ITFR World Championship in Rovinj, Croatia. Some money raised in Rovinj were donated to victims of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

From that time our Fellowship has grown quite a lot and today we have 1.526 members from 72 countries.

We had 3 ITFR Chairmen: Tomislav Maravic, 2005-2008 Marco Marinaro, 2008-2012 Mladen Novakovic, 2012-2016 And from July 1, 2016 we’ll have a new one: Eugene McNease. We finally discovered America  All together, we had 110 ITFR Tournaments, including 11 World Championships: 2005 – Rovinj, Croatia 2006 – Colombo, Sri Lanka 2007 – Salerno, Italy 2008 – Barcelona, Spain 2009 – Vienna, Austria 2010 – Pugnochiuso, Italy 2011 – Bol, Croatia 2012 – Guarapari, Brazil 2013 – Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2014 – San Benedetto, Italy 2015 – Thomasville, GA, USA

Salerno

We raised $338.594 for various Rotary projects, TRF and Polio Plus Fund…. Of course we can all be proud on those figures, but for me, the biggest value is friendship we have built during all those years.

Thank you all for that & I am sure that we’ll continue to have fun and Score the Ace with Rotary…for Winning Service !

Tomislav Maravic, PDG ITFR Past Chairman

Barcelona

ITFR World Tour Director

Rovinj

Page 2

Vienna

Pugnochiuso

Bol

Cluj

Guarapari

San Benedetto

Thomasville

Thomasville

Page 3

South America Report 7th Tournament The Tribuna in Santos On 19th September, 2015 in Santos was held another meeting of the ITFR members, who participated in the key Tournament Rotarians A Tribuna de Santos, the biggest tennis event of the North Coast. It was the seventh consecutive time that this tournament was held as nice opportunity to ITFR friends again come together.

At the tournament were 12 participants, Rotarians and guests played a lightning championship double, with a total of 8 matches. At the end mate Felipe Cabrera - RC Santos André South has won the bi-champion together with his partner Marcelo, winning Marcos Franco - RC West Santos and his partner Jorge Sahade in the deciding game.

Part of the collected funds was intended for the Polio Eradication Program, in the total amount of $ 120., The event's promoter was fellow Dueñas, from RC Santos Ponta da Praia, and after the games everyone could enjoy the beautiful sunny day and tasting a special feijoada, with much companionship.

The third ITFR Brazilian in Canela was a success The 3rd ITFR Brazilian - Brasileiro de Tenis para Rotariano, tennis tournament held under the leadership of Federico Kaiser as Tournament Director was happened between 11 and 14 November 2015, in the city of Canela with the participation of 25 players, among them were 8 ladies. At the event there were 56 participants, all suporting very successful ITFR event.

The 42 games were held at the Tennis Canela Club, next to the Grand Hotel de Canela, where also took place the opening and awards dinner.

ITFR tournament with the participation of RC Canela, host club who spared no effort to please visitors and disseminate the event which gave a significant contribution to the Polio Eradication Program of Rotary International.

Frederick Kayser, Ramiro Araujo, RC Porto Alegre Lindoia Passo D'Areia and Marco RC Piazza Porto Alegre, responsible for the organization, were happy and radiant in order to fulfill all the requirements of players in the tournament program and in touristic part of the event as well.

In addition to games, the development of fellowship, everyone could enjoy the great hospitality of the gauchos of Canela, Lawn and wine region.

It was agreed that next tournament, the 4th Brazilian, will be held in Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul and the companion Paulo Cesar will be responsible for the event.

1st I TFR M eeting of the Gauchos in Novo Ham burgo – R S Frederico Kaizer organized the meeting in Novo Hamburgo, in Wallau Tenis, on march 12, 2016, which included 16 participants, 4 companions.

In addition to the fellowship meeting contributed to the Bank of RC Wheelchair Porto Alegre Lindóia Passo D'Areia.

With the accession of new companions Brazil already has more than 200 registered tennis players Rotarians ITFR.

Page 4

4th South America – Santiago - Chile 19 the April 23, 2016 - R C Huelén - D 4340 - Palestinian Stadium

The rain gave a truce to the completion of the tournament.

The sun was a great partner of three days d tournament in 5 blocks in the Palestinian Club, located in Las Condes in Santiago. All were also able to enjoy various tour options, good food and companionship.

The opening was held at the meeting of RC Huelén with the presence of its associates and participants and family of the tournament during a special dinner, led by President

Jessica Diaz Valdes. Again, a part of the obtained financial revenues was intended to campaign to eradicate polio: US1.700.

The closing ceremony was organized in San Bernardo RC seat, first a tribute to all participants, led by tournament director Roberto Perez , with the presence of Governor Clara host district flowers , followed by a gala dinner in honor of

Page 5

4 Countries 9 Districts 14 R Clubs 7 categories 32 games 19 players 34 participants Next South American: 5th I T FR South Am erican will be held in L im a - Peru, Apr 2017 - Contact tournament director Eduardo Sepulveda Marcos A F Franco – South America TD - RC de Santos Oeste – D 4420

Upcoming tournaments:

JUNE is the Fellowship month

August 21-28, 2016

12th ITFR World Championship

If you love tennis & fun come to ITFR.

Albena, Bulgaria

There are several reasons more to join us:

11-15 November, 2016

1. opportunity to make lasting friendships out of your club & country

4º Brasileiro de Tênis para Rorarianos - ITFR

Campo Grande-MS, Brazil

2. travel around the world to discover new countries, different people ,culture, customs and cuisine

ITFR Fact sheet : Currently we have 1526 members

4.contribute to the world understanding and peace 4.explore new opportunities for service

from 72 countries !

ITFR fee for local tournaments : 2-3 days - 100 USD, per player 10 USD 4 and more days – fee 150 USD, per player 10 USD

5. way to attract new members and retain existing ones 6.improve your tennis skill We look forward to seeing you soon !

ITFR World Championship criteria: Every player should have possibility to play at least two matches Consolation category is must at WTC, Players categories should be organized by ages, every match – new balls CTD can propose service projects connected with tennis and ITFR will support it with balance funds

Page 6

By inviting public, our friends and our families members we can show the community that we in Rotary change lives by helping people, supporting young people, improving literacy, making water cleaner, bringing better health to mothers and children, eradicting polio..we are improving the lives of others!

www.itfr.org