Dear Rotarians, and all dear readers,
It is with great joy and optimism that I welcome you to another edition of our newsletter. November brings not only the pre-Christmas atmosphere but also many exciting updates that we can all look forward to.
First and foremost, the successful launch of the next Rotary Youth Exchange program for the 2025/2026 school year demonstrates that we have overcome turbulent times together. I firmly believe that this newfound stability will allow all of us to fully dedicate ourselves to working towards long-term, short-term, and family exchanges. This initiative opens up new horizons not only for young people but also for our clubs actively participating in the program. Together, we are building a world full of intercultural understanding and friendships.
We are honored to feature an interview with Peter Tokač from Rotary Club Poprad. Peter shared insights about his activities in Ukraine, where he has been involved in the transportation of 130 vehicles, including 50 ambulances. His dedication and efforts are an inspiring example of how we can provide practical help to those who need it most.
Another significant event awaiting us in the coming year is PETS and DS, which will take place on March 21–22, 2025, in Olomouc. These meetings are an essential part of our planning and preparation for the next period, so please make sure to mark these dates in your calendars.
And as the pre-Christmas season is a time of gathering and shared moments, this spirit is reflected in our club activities as well. Invitations to these events can be found in this edition of the newsletter, and I am sure there is something for everyone. I believe these gatherings will provide a wonderful opportunity to strengthen friendships and celebrate the upcoming holidays.
Should you have any news, information, invitations or simply a desire to introduce a person from your Rotarian circle, please use news@rotary2240.org.
On behalf of the entire editorial team of Newsletter D2240, I thank you all for the energy you dedicate to our shared projects. I look forward to the many successes we will achieve together.
With respect and gratitude,
Radúz Dula
Member of the Editorial Board, Newsletter D2240
From November 25 to 29, 2024, our district will host the Rotary International President Elect (RIPE) Mário César Martins de Camargo. His visit includes discussions and meetings to outline his vision and priorities for his rotary year.
On October 6, 2024, a meeting took place in Bratislava between IPDG Katarína Čechová and Elizabeth Blumenthal, Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Bratislava. The meeting was also attended by former RC Bratislava International President Greg Fabian. The discussion focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration on programs aimed at developing leadership skills, civic education, and social responsibility among young people in Slovakia.
Mário César Martins de Camargo, a member of the Rotary Club of Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil, shall become the Rotary International’s president for 2025-26.
De Camargo plans to boost Rotary’s public image by working from the top down.
“Rotary today has strong competition for members and funds,” he says. “We need to rejuvenate the brand, especially in some zones. We should utilize post-pandemic meeting tools … to allow the president to address Rotarians all over the globe. We also need to develop more long-term partnerships with political, community, and business leaders. Let’s emphasize our greatest asset: 1.4 million volunteers.”
RC Poprad, like many other clubs and especially the Rotary Foundation, joined the effort to support war-stricken Ukraine immediately after the Russian forces invaded in February 2022. Trains carrying humanitarian aid—including coal, medical and hygiene supplies, medicine, food, water, sleeping bags, and clothing—began departing regularly from the Czech Republic and Slovakia to Ukrainian stations. They returned carrying refugees.
A month later, in March 2022, alongside humanitarian aid, they started transporting rescue equipment and ambulances to Ukraine. Their efforts have continued steadfastly, and for nearly two and three-quarter years now, they have been delivering mainly rescue and utility vehicles, personal vehicles, and additional humanitarian aid to Ukrainian territories.
Petro Tokač, a member of RC Poprad, has played a significant role in these efforts, and I would like to take this opportunity to ask him a few insightful questions.
On Sunday, 3 November, the first Orientation Meeting (OM I) took place in Třebíč for students interested in long-term exchange programs for 2025/2026. The event gathered 65 students, 93 parents, and 14 representatives from Rotex and Rotary who organized the meeting. For the first time, RYE-CZ handled the meeting independently, with Slovak clubs managing their programs through RYE-SK n.o., except for RC Poprad, which continues collaborating with the Czech branch.
Dear Sir/Madam,
we are delighted to invite you to participate in our annual humanitarian event, organized to support children from enclaves in Kosovo and Metohija. These children often grow up in difficult conditions—without basic necessities, without electricity, and in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. Many of them have lost their parents during the war and are dependent on the assistance of others.
Orientation Meeting II. for students going abroad in the 2025/26 school year.
This orientation is crucial for students preparing for their long-term exchange and will provide essential information for the upcoming year abroad.
Participants: All students – candidates for the long-term exchange in the 2025/26 school year from District 2240 who will be going abroad through RYE CZ, YEOs from all clubs cooperating with RYE CZ, officials of Rotary Youth Exchange Czechia, z.ú., and representatives of ROTEX.
Organizer: Rotary Youth Exchange Czechia, z.ú. (RYE CZ) + Rotex
Contacts:
Rotary Youth Exchange Czechia, z.ú.:
Jaromír Barák +420 724 006 179
jaromir.barak@rye2240.org
Rotex:
Michaela Kulichová +420 725 182 480
michaela.kulichova@rye2240.org
When: 6th of December 2024, 4:00 PM – 8th of December, 11:00 AM
Preliminary Programme:
Friday – Arrival, dinner, language test
Saturday – Prague tour, lunch, shopping, dinner, Christmas evening
Sunday – Departure
The PETS and District Seminar will be held on 21st and 22nd March 2025 in Olomouc at the Flora.
The Rotary International Convention 2025 will take place in Calgary, Canada.
For the most important information and registration, please visit:
https://www.rotary2240.org/clenska-sekce/news.detail/default/1309/
The Rotary Club of Poprad and the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia, Poprad, warmly invite you to an Advent Benefit Concert, which will take place at the Evangelical Church on St. Egidius Square on 1st December 2024 at 4:30 p.m.
The proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Slovak Red Cross, Poprad District Branch.
Dear Gourmet Friends and Truffle Enthusiasts,
on the 3rd of December, we are organising a dinner with truffles as the focal point. However, for those who aren't particularly fond of truffles, the menu will not be exclusively based on them, but rather complement them. Therefore, everyone is welcome, even if truffles are not to your taste.
Fresh truffles will also be available for order through me (black truffles typically up to 250 CZK per 10g, white truffles up to 1,200 CZK per 10g), and you can enjoy them as part of the planned menu. Chef Tomáš Salerno and I are currently finalising the menu. Some of you may remember his culinary skills from previous truffle dinners at Florenc. The venue for this event will be: https://www.bistrobotanique.cz/o-nas/.
Please mark the date in your calendars, and I will get back to you in November with further details about the menu and pricing.
Looking forward to it,
Vojta
Vojtěch Havránek
Rotary Praha City
Rotary Gourmet Fellowship
+420 608 111 671
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
The ICC Czech Republic-Slovakia-Armenia invites all Rotarians and non-Rotarians to an extraordinary New Year’s 2025 celebration in Yerevan.
The program includes exploring Armenia’s most fascinating historical landmarks and enjoying unique culinary experiences.
Arrival in Yerevan: 27 December 2024
Departure: 2 January 2025
Contact:
Jan Ženatý, RC Ostrava
Tel. +420 737 500 300
Email: jan@zenaty.org
Your suggestions and feedback are welcomed and will assist us in enhancing our newsletter. Please send them to us at news@rotary2240.org.
