SEASON 2013-14
ISSUE 10
ROTARACTION CYPRUS ROTARACT NEWSLETTER
District 2452 Armenia|Bahrain|Cyprus|Georgia|Jordan|Lebanon|Palestine|Sudan|United Arab Emirates
SEASON 2013-14
ISSUE 10
ROTARACTION CYPRUS ROTARACT NEWSLETTER
The Team DRR: Vincent Fayad
Dear Rotaractors I have been following your activities this year and I am very proud of what each club and each one of you have achieved.
drr2452@gmail.com
PDRR: Elena Aroti
drrep2450@gmail.com
Cyprus VDRR: Kyriacos Christofides christofidisk@me.com
Cyprus PR Coordinator Chief Editor: Hannah Mortaga
Since last year We suddenly live in a strange economic environment and suddenly Rotary has far greater scope and a far more important Role to play in supporting our ailing community. I find the way you express Service to the Community refreshing and inspiring. I admire the solidarity between your clubs and the support you offer from one club to another. I envy your energy to pursue all the activities and to have new ones scheduled up front, and I look forward to the day that you will join a Rotary club.
hannahmortaga@gmail.com
Creative Advisor Mishel Fayad
contact@mishelfayad.com
District Governor Jamil Mouawad was very happy to have had the opportunity to meet all clubs individually and a lot of Rotaractors and was impressed with you all.
Editorial
Finally when I look at you all I feel nostalgic for the experiences I
shared with my fellow Retractors in my days so many years ago, Some have to say that JanuI feel proud to have served as one and I feel gratified about how ary is the month of empty pockets,(somehow true) but I Rotaract has eventually shaped my life. like more those who say that January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow. Cyprus With these few words I salute you and your vigor and wish PR team is proud to present the isyou all the very best for a meaningful life ahead of you. sue of January. In this issue, we are honored to have Deputy Governor for Cyprus 2013-14, Mrs. Christina CovotWarmest Rotarian Regards sou say a few motivational words, learn about the unforgettable Kalopanagiotis fellowship, have a look at past events of Christina Covotsou-Patroclou each club, and many more. Special thanks DRR 1988-89, District 245 goes to Kyriakos Achilleos for the kind conDeputy Governor for tribution of the cover photo. Enjoy! Cyprus 2013-14, District 2452 | ROTARACTION | ISSUE 10 | 2
ABOUT
RYLA It has come to our attention that some members are not fully aware of what RYLA is and what the benefits of attending a RYLA are. Well, to answer your question, RYLA, which stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership development program run by Rotary. While participants can be any age, most events focus on secondary school students, university students, or young professionals. The interesting thing about RYLA is that it is open to the public and not only to Rotaract or Interact members. RYLA events are typically 3–10 days long and include presentations, activities, and workshops that cover a variety of topics, including: 1. Leadership fundamentals and ethics 2. Communication skills 3. Problem solving and conflict management 4. Community and global citizenship So next time you hear about a RYLA, don’t hesitate to attend.
Did you
know?
2
1
Rotary is made up of three parts: at the heart of Rotary are our clubs, that are supported by Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
In 1978, Rotary introduced the Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants. The first 3-H Grant funded a project to immunize 6 million Philippine children against polio.
3
In 1987, the first peace forums were held, leading to Rotary Peace Fellowships.
The Kalopanagiotis Fellowship
Rotaractors from all over Cyprus gathered for a fellowship weekend at the wonderful village of Kalopanayiotis on the 17th - 19th January 2014.
dancing/singing, and many smaller gatherings around a fireplace for pleasant conversations and exchanging of ideas on various Rotaract issues.
During the weekend many activities were organized such as hiking at St. Ioannis Lampidistis, a monastery under UNESCO Heritage, fun teambuilding games, traditional Cyprus dinner with
The Cyprus Rotaractors had the opportunity to spend time together getting to know the experienced, new or prospective Rotaractors on a friendly level and under a relaxed atmosphere.
| ROTARACTION | ISSUE 10 | 4
The aim of the fellowship weekends is to bring the Rotaractors closer and facilitate future join projects/events as well as supporting other Rotaract Club’s events. A big thank you to the organizing committee were VDRR Kyriakos Christofides, President Charis Michael and President Niovi Georgiades, that managed to organize a beautiful weekend in
the Rotaract spirit. Stay put for another great fellowship beginning of Summer 2014 season‌ ! The Kalopanayiotis fellowship committee
5 | ISSUE 10 | ROTARACTION |
Testimonials It has been a truly relaxing and enjoyable weekend, which gave us the opportunity to get to know each other even better and make new contacts, away from the fuss of the city. Most certainly enjoyed the board games that kept us laughing all Friday night and Saturday afternoon, the amazing spa treatments and last, but certainly not least, the party at “Palio Cinema”. I hope that in the future more fellowship weekends are organised with even more participation than this one, allowing for Rotaract clubs of Cyprus to interact further in order to maintain and expand the strong bonds we already developed.
Thomas Tsolakis RAC Nicosia Ledra Membership Director 2013-14
A meeting with Rotaractors is always a nice experience. A fellowship with Rotaractors is an extravagant experience. Being together for a weekend, enjoying our coffee and a great dinner, with the nice view of Kalopanayiotis was relaxing. We all met at kalopanayiotis and it was nice seeing friends from all the clubs of Cyprus. We had time to discuss and share our news. We spent time laughing, drinking, relaxing and having long promenades in the traditional village Kalopanayiotis. A fellowship is a nice excuse to leave your everyday routine and meet with friends... and new friends. Niovi Georgiade RAC of Nicosia President 2013-14
As a newly formed club the fellowship weekend was something that we have never experienced. In truth, it lived up to our expectations as we had a wonderful time bonding with our fellow Rotaractors from Cyprus. The 18 Rotaractors of Nicosia Ledra that attended were taught a very good lesson on how enjoyable Rotaract can be. We are now looking forward for the next fellowship weekend. Rovertos Hanadjias RAC Nicosia Ledra President 2013-’14
As a newly formed club, this was the first time we had the opportunity to take part in a fellowship weekend. It was an excellent way for us to meet new people as well as to strengthen the bonds with acquaintances from other clubs. Taking place in picturesque Kalopanayiotis Village, the Fellowship Weekend was relaxing, rejuvenating and brought us closer to nature. We are grateful to Alexandros Daskalakis a.k.a. Hercules for making the hike possible by throwing away large tree branches which were blocking the path. The charades game was definitely a highlight and according to the now famous saying “Rovertos’ team always wins”. The weekend was full of fun and adventure and we cannot wait for the next one! Maria Michaelides RAC Nicosia Ledra PR Director 2013-14
The fellowships are events that prove that Rotaract is not only to work hard but also play hard. The Kalopanagioti event was a great way for Rotaractors from clubs all over Cyprus to get together, bond, dance, sing and have lots of fun. If you wanna know how Rotaractos define fun, then you must join the next fellowship. Hannah Mortaga RAC Larnaca Kition Vice President 2013-14
| ROTARACTION | ISSUE 10 | 6
The Fun times!...
7 | ISSUE 10 | ROTARACTION |
Rotaract Club of Nicosia
Being part of a Pancyprian Project As part of the Pancyprian Rotaract Project, Rotaract Club of Nicosia has organized a food collection for “Social Groceries of Cyprus on the 25th of January at Alpha Mega supermarket in Engomi, between the hours of 10:00- 14:00. All the members of the club – smiling - stood by the two entrances of the supermarket, sharing 300 copies of a list of grocery necessities. While categorizing and packing the products as people left the supermarket. People were positive and willing to offer. The collection was a great suc-
cess as we managed to collect a large amount of products such as sugar, flour, long life milk, pasta, baby food and hygiene products etc. Rotaract Club of Nicosia donated an amount of 30euros on products for this purpose. The products will be distributed to the Social Groceries as scheduled on the 8th of February, with all the Rotaract Clubs of Cyprus.
Vasilopita Fiesta
On the 25th of January, Rotaract Club of Nicosia arranged a social night out for its members, at Symbols Bar/ Restaurant in the old town of Nicosia. The main objective of the night was the cutting of the Vasilopita cake, which
turned into a great night out. Vasilopita is part of our tradition and culture on the New Year’s Eve, taking that into an excuse to meet again. Τhe team had a cheerful Saturday night with a lot of crazy dancing, drinking, eating and laughing. The Vasilopita cake was made by a Rotaractor, while the winner of the coin hidden in the cake had the
| ROTARACTION | ISSUE 10 | 8
chance to win a massage voucher-the lucky one of the night was a very faithful friend of Rotaract Club of Nicosia. We work hard and we party hard !
Rotaract Club of Nicosia
Polio Fundraising Dinner members of our club attended the Gala Dinner. The club also presented its Polio Campaign by printing some posters, which were used to decorate the Presidential Palace Dinner Room and continuing in this way the awareness on Polio. An excellent fundraising dinner in favor of The Polio Eradication Programme of Rotary International was organized on 19th of January 2014, by Rotary Club Lefkothea. The dinner was held under the Auspices of His Excellency the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades. Rotaract Club Nicosia was actively involved on the organization of this event and three
The DG Jamil Mouawad has also attended the dinner with his spouse and an amount of €6.000 was raised during the event, which will go towards eradication of Polio disease. At the same time, guests were given the opportunity to have a photo taken by a professional photographer with the gesture ‘This Close to Ending Polio’ in order to raise more money. €160 were raised and will be
donated by the Club of Nicosia to Polio International. The world is now 99 % polio free thanks to Rotary! Special thanks also to our new friend, Christos Panayides, a professional photographer, who voluntarily helped us with the polio campaign.
9 | ISSUE 10 | ROTARACTION |
Rotaract Club Nicosia Aspelia
Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Nicosia Aspelia Joint Meeting The Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Nicosia Aspelia organized a joint meeting on the 30th of January 2014, at Hilton Hotel. It was a great opportunity for both Rotaractors and Rotarians to meet, socialise, and discuss various topics for Rotary and other current news. During the meeting the President of Rotaract Club Nicosia Aspelia donated the cheque of EUR 3,200 to the Rotary Club Nicosia Aspelia scholarship foundation. The money was raised by Rotaract Club Nicosia Aspelia during the Rocking for charity concert, which was held at RED music stage on Friday 6th of December. The charity concert was especially organised by the club in order to support the scholarship foundation.
Additionally, during the joint meeting Alexandra Kouklina was officially pinned as a new member of Rotaract Club Nicosia Aspelia. We
| ROTARACTION | ISSUE 10 | 10
would like to welcome Alexandra to the Aspelia family and wish her a productive and active participation in Rotaract.
Rotaract Club Nicosia Ledra
Meeting with the District Governor Following his appointment as District Governor, Mr Jamil Mouawad came to Cyprus to meet with all the Rotary and Rotaract clubs. As part of this journey a joint meeting between all Rotaract Clubs of Nicosia and the District Governor took place on the 16th of January 2014 at Cleopatra Hotel. In this meeting, Mr Jamil Mouawad opened the discussion by letting the Presidents express their view on what Rotary is. The presidents shared a common view of networking, helping the community and believing in a cause. All of us, including the District Governor agreed that not everyone
can be a member of the Rotary Club. To be a member you have to be active and you have to be willing to offer your services. The District Governor then opened the floor to the other members present so that each could share something about their clubs activities. Following this, the District Governor talked about Rotary and the idea of Rotary. He discussed how people should embrace the club, the benefits of being a Rotarian, and how they should promote it to others. He emphasized on the work that has been done on Polio and how this is the biggest achievement
of Rotary worldwide. Coming to an end, Mr Jamil Mouawad talked about how each club should be working, and that retention of existing members and signing of new ones are important.
Club Outing at Sawa Syrian Restaurant
Thursday, 30-01-2014 at the Syrian restaurant Sawa, reservation for 30. We arrive late, most of the people are already there and our table is hard to miss. A big table, just like a Cypriot wedding, full of young people talking and laughing. It only takes a few minutes before the few latecomers arrive one after the other. Rovertos, our Club President, welcomes us to this gathering. Though his speech is brief and
concise, people around him, are whispering and complaining. As Rovertos moves to the next subject a sudden noise of excitement covers his voice. Finally, there is food on the table. The meeting pauses and the dinner begins. Amazing Syrian food, unlimited local wine and 30 friends. What could have been better for a Thursday night? After dinner there are still some subjects to be discussed, some debriefs to take place and then the two things we were all waiting for. First, the pinning of our newest member. We are excited to formally welcome her to our club. Her pinning only formalizes what we all already feel. Konstantina has been with us as a prospective member for a few months but she is already part of the “family”. The night ends with the cutting
of ‘vasilopitta’, which is not the traditional one, as we chose the best chocolate cake in Nicosia. The lucky winner is Katerina and though our humorous boys try to steal her victory by putting coins in their pieces, the truth is revealed.
11 | ISSUE 10 | ROTARACTION |
Rotaract Club Nicosia Sarayonu
Visit to Karachi, Pakistan
During her visit to Pakistan, our president was able to meet with Rotaractors from Rotaract Club of Karachi. They had the chance to discuss projects and ideas.
| ROTARACTION | ISSUE 10 | 12
Rotaract Club Larnaca Kition
New Years Cake Cut
Rotaract Larnaca Kition met for their first meeting of 2014 on the 16th of January. The president of the club, Andreas Matsangos wished the members a happy new year and shares his plan for the rest of his Rotaract year. The president of Rotary Larnaca Kition, Peter Ashdjian and Cyprus VDRR Kyriakos Christofides were also present. Two new potential members were also present and showed interest in what the club has to offer to the community. Af-
ter the new members were briefed about the future plans of the club, members gathered around to cut the New Year’s cake (vasilopita). Hannah, the clubs Vice President found the lucky coin. Members enjoyed the rest of the night chatting and getting to know the potential members.
13 | ISSUE 10 | ROTARACTION |
| ROTARACTION | ISSUE 10 | 14
A final note Marguerite De Valois, a famous French princess of the 15th century once said: “Love works in miracles every day: such as weakening the strong, and stretching the weak; making fools of the wise, and wise men of fools; favoring the passions, destroying reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-turvy.” We, the Cyprus
With lots of Rotaract love, The Cyprus PR team
PR team, would like to wish all single Rotaractors out there to find the right person to come by and fill the empty space which was waiting to be filled. And don’t think that we forgot about the in relationship Rotaractors, we wish each and every day of your life to be the most awesome ever.
SEASON 2013 - 14
ISSUE 10
ROTARACTION CYPRUS ROTARACT NEWSLETTER
This is the Official monthly Cyprus Rotaract Newsletter. For any suggestions, ideas or thoughts about the uproming issues, please contact us directly at hannahmortaga@gmail.com or contact@mishelfayad.com