District 2240 Newsletter
(10/25/2024)

Today, October 24th, we mark World Polio Day—a day for Rotarians worldwide to reaffirm our long-standing mission: a world free of polio. The recent rise in polio cases in Afghanistan, Gaza, and Pakistan is a stark reminder that our fight against polio is not yet over.

Immediately after the liberation of Czechoslovakia, during 1945, the pre-war Rotary clubs on our territory started to renew their activities. By 1948 half of those in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia managed it, while in Slovakia only the one in Bratislava did. Subcarpathia, where there used to be a RC in Uzhorod, was annexed to the Soviet Union on 29th June 1945. New clubs were, however, appearing on Luhačovice, Nymburk, Trenčianske Teplice and elsewhere.

Dear Rotarians,

Ukraine is currently facing immense challenges due to the ongoing war with Russia. Residential areas in Kharkiv are damaged and some completely destroyed by the fighting, suffering from lack of electricity, heat and other basic utilities. With winter approaching, many Ukrainian families are deeply concerned about their children’s well-being in these difficult conditions.

Rotarians in Kharkiv are reaching out for support. They are exploring the possibility of temporarily relocating schoolchildren outside the war zone. In this effort, they seek families in the Czech Republic and Slovakia who are willing to provide temporary homes for these children during the winter months, and are also open to opportunities for including children and youth in summer camps.

Dear Friends,

I would like to kindly ask if you would consider offering club or personal support, a contribution, towards the Rotary district's fundraising initiative. This collection has been established to assist those affected by the often devastating floods that occurred this September.

Thank you for your consideration.

On 27th September 2024, the Rotaract Club Banská Bystrica, in collaboration with the gardening company Gardenista s.r.o., once again brought joy to the Senium social services home! We have been planning and gradually implementing this project since the beginning of September, and it is now finally completed.

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the final stage of Cyklotour 2024 in Znojmo!
Although the weather was not in our favor, we enjoyed two days and evenings together, which ended the stage 2024!

Thanks also to the participants and organizers of the previous cycling trips Valtice-Břeclav and Hradec Králové!

Marie Smrčková, co-organizer of Cyklotour 2024

On October 3, 2024, the Rotary Club Košice Classic held a benefit dinner in Košice, blending music and charity. The evening, highlighted by a concert from the popular band No Name, was dedicated to supporting the Rubikon Autism Centre and other charitable projects.

RC Karlovy Vary, in collaboration with the Grand Hotel Pupp, has dispatched humanitarian aid to one of the flood-stricken villages in the Jesenice region.

"The donation, arranged with the local mayor, is being urgently sent to the village of Lázně Lipová and primarily consists of cleaning and disinfecting supplies valued at CZK 100,000."

RC Karlovy Vary

On the evening of September 26, 2024, an extraordinary benefit concert took place at the stunning Arkady Hof Hotel & Restaurant in Stupava, with all proceeds supporting humanitarian projects for Ukraine. This event was not only a cultural highlight but also a deep expression of solidarity and compassion for those whose lives have been shattered by war.

As you all surely know, within our district, we provide services to the youth, among other things, by facilitating exchange programs. We divide exchange programs by their duration into short-term and long-term stays. Short-term stays include camps and family exchanges. You can find more information about short-term stays here: https://rye2240.org/vymenne-programy/kratkodobe-pobyty/. 

And it’s in the following article that you can read about Vítek's experience at his camp. These activities are appreciated not only by the students but sometimes also by their parents. That’s why we’ve added a short letter from his mother.

If you are interested in organizing a camp within your club, don’t hesitate to contact Žiga Schmidt (editor’s note: Žiga replaces Honza Bílek after many years, as Honza is preparing for his role as governor for the upcoming Rotary year).

Žiga Schmidt - RC Piešťany, ziga.schmidt@rotary2240.org

Honza Bílek
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Honza for his many years of cooperation!

The editorial team

https://rye2240.org/vymenne-programy/rocni-pobyty/jak-se-prihlasit/

On September 8th, I celebrated three weeks in America and also performed for the first time as a cheerleader on the football field. I think many people would like to know what social events are like here in America, as they differ quite a bit from those in the Czech Republic. What I really like here is that Americans constantly motivate you. They maintain excellent relationships with their neighbors, and there are countless social events. I feel that these things bring people together and strengthen the community.

Read the full article here: https://rye2240.org/fotbalova-hra-pri-ktere-jsem-citila-teplo-domova/

The Gourmet Fellowship kicked off the new Rotary year in September in style – with a dinner at the Mailsi restaurant in Prague, organized by the Rotary Club of Prague Golf (RCPG). The evening was further enriched by a talk on life, history, and the economic development of Pakistan by Ahsan Aslam, President of the Czech-Pakistani Chamber of Commerce and a member of RCPG. This gastronomic experience, however, was not only culinary but also charitable.

The Rotary Club of Istanbul's Best Essay Competition celebrates the launch of the Rotary International Peace Centre in Istanbul. The competition aims to promote meaningful discussions and critical thinking among young people aged 16-18. It seeks to create a global platform for ideas and perspectives of international participants on the topic of international peace.

Peace is essential for the well-being of humanity, the preservation of our planet, and the advancement of civilization. We hope to inspire young people to think about this topic and promote understanding between cultures. 

The deadline for submissions for Rotary Good News 6/2024 is October 30, 2024.

RGN 6/2024 will be published on December  13, 2024.

Editor-in-Chief: František Ryneš, frantisek.rynes@rotary2240.org

The current issue 5/2024 can be found here: https://www.rotary2240.org/files/good-news/77/rgn_5_24_flowie.pdf

OM I  is the first meeting for exchange program candidates for 2025/26 and their parents.

This event is mandatory for all candidates for the 2025/26 exchange program abroad and their parents.

Venue: Grand Hotel Třebíč, Karlovo náměstí 5, Třebíč, 674 01 + Google Maps

Organiser: Rotary Youth Exchange Czechia, z.ú. + ROTEX

The Rotary Foundation Seminar 2024 will be held online on Zoom, with registration available from October.

Date: SATURDAY, 16th NOVEMBER 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

All clubs will receive a registration link via email, and it will also be posted on Facebook, in the Newsletter, and on the website. The seminar is open to all active and honorary members who register by the deadline. Attendance at the seminar is open to all members who are interested in the Rotary Foundation. This seminar is also a qualifying seminar, which means that club representatives can use it to qualify their clubs to participate in all Foundation programs in the 2025–2026 Rotary year.

We look forward to seeing you!

Hanka :-)

District Rotary Foundation Chair D2240
ARRFC Zone 21- Region 24
Mgr. Hana GAMROT

District Conference 16-17/5/2025, Ostrava

"Tribute to KAREL GOTT" and music by many other artists...

plenty of refreshments, good conversation, dancing and, as always, an exciting raffle

Wednesday 5/June/2024 – 18:00, at "The Mozart Prague" Hotel, Karoliny Světlé 208/34, Prague 1

Net proceeds from this event will be donated to our joint projects with charities in the Czech Republic and Rotary International activities.

www.rotarypragbohemia.cz

Hi!

This year’s Concert in the dark, organized by Rotaract Brno, will take place traditionally at Café Práh (in the centre of Brno, next to the Vaňkovka Gallery) on 4th of November from 7 PM.

Price: 450 Kč
Student price: 300 Kč
*the price includes a smaller refreshment with a drink

The profits will go towards supporting Czech Blind United (SONS)

If you are interested, please fill in the application form: https://tinyurl.com/koncertvetme

If you are interested in supporting the event, but can’t make it, we would be grateful for any donation (even via a donation agreement).

Team of Rotaract Brno

When: 1st December 2024, 4:30 PM

Where:  Evangelical Church, St. Egidius Square, Poprad

Admission: 8.00 EUR (tickets can be purchased in advance at the parish office)

The proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Slovak Red Cross in Poprad.

We thank everyone who takes the time for themselves and their loved ones to come together and support the Slovak Red Cross.

We look forward to seeing you.

Members of RC Poprad

The Rotary Club Nitra Harmony cordially invites you to a unique Christmas concert featuring Fragile & Robo Opatovský, set in a festive pre-Christmas atmosphere. By attending, you will support our shared charitable activities and have the opportunity to meet friends from other Rotary clubs.

Date and Time:
18th December 2024, 7:30 PM

Venue:
PKO Nitra