Dear Readers,
So this is Christmas. And what have you done? Another year over... John Lennon sings in his famous Christmas song, which we hear so often at this time of year. And surely, we all ask ourselves what we have accomplished (and what we hoped to do but didn’t manage) in the past twelve months. We reflect, we remember, and with the arrival of Christmas, we also sense the birth of a new beginning, filled with hope that the coming year can be even better and more beautiful.
The past calendar year has been full of challenges but also wonderful moments for our Rotary world. Through our projects, we have managed to change lives for the better, connect people, and foster international friendships. I believe each of us has made an effort to ensure that our motto, “Service Above Self,” becomes a reality. For this, every Rotarian deserves immense gratitude.
The Christmas holidays provide us with a unique opportunity to slow down, spend time with our loved ones, and recharge our energy. At the same time, these are days when we become even more aware of the importance of helping others. Let us not forget that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.
I wish you all peace, joy, and inspiration during this festive season and hope that 2025 will be a year filled not only with new good ideas but also with opportunities to spread goodwill and cooperation. May you also find time not only to read our newsletter but also to write and share your contributions about your club’s activities, achievements, atmosphere, and plans.
Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With respect and gratitude,
IPDG Katarína Čechová
Editor-in-Chief, Newsletter D2240
The Rotaract European Meeting (REM) 2025 will take place in Prague from 23 to 26 January 2025. This major event will bring together participants from 38 countries for a rich program focused on strengthening international cooperation, cultural exchange, and leadership development. Originally, the plan was to host approximately 300 attendees in Prague. However, due to overwhelming interest, we have decided to increase capacity and now expect 480 participants! The enthusiasm was evident during ticket sales, with all four waves selling out in just two minutes.
What can Rotaractors look forward to during REM?
In the last chapter of our journey through Rotary history, we reached 1947, the year of the first post-war district conference held in Pilsen. We noted that this event was attended by Jan Masaryk, son of the first Czechoslovak president, a prominent politician, and lifelong contemporary of his godfather, Edvard Beneš.
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The Rotary Foundation has recently approved significant changes to the role of District Rotary Foundation Chairs (DRFC). These changes, effective immediately, aim to encourage new leadership and ensure continuity in governance. Below are the main updates to the DRFC rules and their impact on our district:
Option for a Fourth Year
DRFCs can now serve a fourth year if additional time is needed to identify and train their successor.
Maximum Term Limit – 4 Years
To allow more Rotary members to take on leadership roles, the DRFC position is now limited to a maximum term of four years.
An impressive amount of € 4,665 was raised at the Charity Concert in Poprad, held on the first Sunday of Advent - 1st od December 2024.
The concert featured performances by Titusz TÓBISZ (tenor) and Júlia Grejtáková (piano). The evening was co-moderated by Ondrej Kollár from RC Poprad.
"The proceeds of €4,665 will be donated to the Slovak Red Cross, Poprad Regional Association.
We thank all partners who contributed in any way," thanked Vladimír Grünvaldský from RC Poprad. Who wished to see and listen the concert, here you are the link to the concert recording: https://www.facebook.com/100016293556787/videos/pcb.1624940848059018/1553886705251145
On 10 December 2024, the Rotary Club Bratislava International participated in an initiative to support seniors at the state-run facility Home of the Autumn of Life on Hanulova Street in Bratislava. This visit underscored the importance of solidarity and the ongoing effort to enhance the quality of life for seniors who are often left without family support.
Rotary Club Bratislava International once again marked the approaching Christmas season by visiting RESOTY, a shelter for the homeless. Members of the club, together with exchange students, brought joy, the aroma of freshly baked wafers, and a festive atmosphere to the community.
On Friday, 22 November, the Youth Dormitory of the Secondary Sc
This time, the event was held without the presence of parents and spanned the entire weekend. It was more intensive. "Students seriously considering a stay abroad must demonstrate not only independence and the ability to handle unexpected situations but also solid language skills. For English-speaking countries, even more so," said Mirek Barák. "For instance, students aiming to go to the USA—a consistently popular choice—must meet specific language requirements set by some partner districts, such as a B1 level in English. They also need a broad general
When the time came to start preparing for the journey back home, I faced that inevitable moment of sorting through all my belongings and deciding what to leave behind and what to take with me. Like every outbound exchange student, I was limited by the airline's baggage weight restrictions, so I knew from the start that the Rotary blazer I received before the exchange would have to be worn on the journey home. However, this turned out to be less straightforward than it initially seemed.
You can read the full article here: https://rye2240.org/rotary-sako-centrem-pozornosti/
On Monday, I decided to get up early again (around half past five) because our teacher offered us the chance to go snorkelling on the other side of the beach, in a lagoon where the tide was still in during the morning. My answer was an immediate "yes," so, full of excitement, I plunged into the water at six in the morning and began snorkelling. The water was quite shallow—even if I had stood on one of the corals, it might have reached just halfway up my calves, and in some spots, only to my ankles. This also meant I couldn’t stop swimming; if I did, I risked cutting myself on the corals. The very first thing I saw was an enormous, stunning blue starfish, and that was undoubtedly the highlight of my early-morning snorkel.
The full article here: https://rye2240.org/sestnacty-tyden-se-zelvami-delfinky/
We would like to remind you that by 31st December 2024, it is necessary to elect and register the club officials for the 2025/26 term. The officials must be registered on the D 2240 and RI MyRotary websites.
The PETS and District Seminar will be held on 21st and 22nd March 2025 in Olomouc at the Flora.
Members of Rotary Club Ostrava International and Rotary Ostrava have once again joined forces this year to organise the sale of charitable Christmas punch at the Ostrava Christmas markets. From 23 November to 23 December, you’ll find us at the Rotary stall on Masaryk Square, opposite the Old Town Hall. Here, you can enjoy punch lovingly prepared using a traditional recipe by our long-standing partner, Hotel Imperial Ostrava.
The punch will be available daily – weekdays from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and weekends from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Proceeds from the sales will support both clubs’ projects focused on helping the local community and other charitable activities.
We’re not resting in Most either with our Christmas markets! This year, our stall is open from 29th November to 22nd December, from 2:00 PM to around 6:30 PM. By making a purchase at our stall, people will support three recipients!
The funds raised will go towards buying an additional motor for Bohuslav, a new powered wheelchair for Vlastimil, and a new lightweight wheelchair for Jakub. These beneficiaries were chosen with the help of Konto Bariéry, with whom we’ve teamed up for this year’s charity mulled wine project. Konto Bariéry will contribute a total of 82,000 CZK, and our goal is to raise 105,100 CZK.
Visitors to the stall can help us achieve this goal by purchasing mulled wine, non-alcoholic beverages, ceramics made by the social help center, soy candles, or spa wafers.
Your suggestions and feedback are welcomed and will assist us in enhancing our newsletter. Please send them to us at news@rotary2240.org.
