Dear Rotarians, and Friends of Rotary,
As summer approaches, it's the perfect time for rest, travel, quality moments with family — and also preparations for a new Rotary year. Many of you are surely already thinking about where to go on vacation this year, while others are finalizing the last details of events that aim to engage your communities before the holiday season begins.
This period also marks the return of our exchange students from abroad. At the same time, we are slowly saying farewell to those who spent an exceptional year with us — full of experiences and personal growth. I believe that the final joint meeting in Valtice will remain in everyone’s memory as a warm and dignified goodbye. Not only for the students and their stay, but also as a symbol of continued cooperation between our two countries in youth exchange.
It is my great pleasure in this issue to also introduce our new Governor Nominee for the Rotary year 2027/2028 – Theodor Petřík.
While preparing this newsletter, I was especially pleased to see how many clubs shared invitations to their upcoming sports and cultural events. Whether it’s cultural evenings, community gatherings, charity golf tournaments, or cycling tours, their diversity and quality are truly inspiring. And these are only the events we know about — I believe there are many more. Thank you to all the clubs who sent us their updates, and I sincerely hope that this newsletter helps increase participation. We are happy to support your events through publication, so please send your invitations early enough.
Finally, here’s a small summer travel tip — if you haven’t booked your holiday yet, it might be worth waiting a bit. Current trends in tourism suggest that last-minute deals could be more attractive and affordable this year than usual. For instance, Turkey is reporting significantly lower hotel occupancy compared to this time last year. This will likely result in greater discounts and a wider range of offers available shortly before departure.
I wish you inspiring reading and a wonderful start to the summer!
Warm regards,
Radúz Dula
Member of the Rotary Newsletter Editorial Board
Hana Gamrot from RC Prague International Receives the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
Hana Gamrot has been honored with the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award, the highest recognition for long-term service to the Rotary Foundation. This year, only 20 Rotarians worldwide received this prestigious award.
As the District Rotary Foundation Chair for District 2240, she led key reforms, supported major global grants, and helped coordinate over $1 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. She is the first Rotarian in our district’s history to receive this award.
Michal Sláma
District Rotary Foundation Committee
IPDG Katarina Čechová from RC Bratislava International Becomes a Rotary Foundation Major Donor
IPDG Katarina Čechová has become a Major Donor of The Rotary Foundation—a distinguished recognition for those who have contributed over $10,000 USD.
She now stands among the exceptional supporters of Rotary projects worldwide. Her generosity primarily supports education, healthcare, and emergency humanitarian aid.
But it’s not just about the amount—it’s a profound expression of faith in the mission of Rotary. Katarina’s generosity is truly inspiring.
Congratulations and heartfelt thanks for your trust and support!
Michal Sláma
District Rotary Foundation Committee
DGND Theodor Petřík
petrik1805@gmail.com
Orientation Meeting IV (OM IV) will take place from 30 May to 1 June 2025, with the incoming participants arriving in Křížanov on Thursday 29 May.
OM IV is a gathering of outbound exchange students departing abroad on a year-long exchange for 2025/26 and inbound exchange students spending this school year in our district
Venue: Recreation Centre DRAK - Křížanov u Velkého Meziříčí
Organisers: Rotary Youth Exchange Czechia, z.ú. and Rotex
From 9 to 15 June, Farewell Week - Inbounds CZ + SK takes place.
This is the final joint gathering of the inbound students who spent the 2024/25 academic year in our district. Originally a weekend event, this year it has been extended to a full week as compensation for the students not being invited to the district conference in Ostrava.
Programme:
Organisers: Rotary Youth Exchange Czechia, z.ú. and Rotex
In the sun-drenched heart of the High Tatras, at the Tatranská Lomnica ski resort, Ski Week was held from 16 to 22 March - an unforgettable week of sport, fun and new friendships. The event brought together 40 exchange students from more than 12 countries worldwide, all of whom are currently on placement in our District 2240.
Under the guidance of experienced Rotarians Ondrej Kollar and Vladimir Petránek, and with the support of three Rotex members, the students honed their skiing and snowboarding skills and savoured memorable moments on the powdery slopes. For many of those who came from regions where snowy landscapes are a rarity, Ski Week in the High Tatras proved to be a truly unique experience.
As with every year, at the end of April we once again set off on our long-awaited tour of Europe. Although the itinerary has been tried and tested over time, unexpected events always arise, which we face together.
2025 is a jubilee year, and Italy is expecting 30 million tourists over the course of the year. Rome and the Vatican are already heaving during our planned dates even without a jubilee year, so the entire logistics, communication and preparations proved particularly complex.
Hello,
I’m absolutely thrilled that, thanks to the GEORGIA ROTARY STUDENT PROGRAMME (GRSP) - Standard Selection Scholarship, I’ll be spending the next year at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, USA!
Being selected for the programme wasn’t just a matter of luck or chance. I first joined Rotary eight years ago when I applied for a long-term exchange. In 2016, I set off on a year-long study placement in Argentina. I was only 16 at the time and didn’t even realise, as I boarded the plane, that the exchange would shape not only the year ahead but my entire life.
President:
Secretary / Executive Secretary:
Treasurer:
28th April 2025 is the deadline for submissions for RGN 4/2025 (to be published on 7 August).
Editor-in-Chief: František Ryneš, frantisek.rynes@rotary2240.org
We cordially invite you to Rotary Tatry Cyklotour 2025, which will take place from 20 to 23 June 2025. All the information and the registration form can be found below.
Dear Rotarians and friends of Rotary,
Rotary Club Košice Country warmly invites you to the 18th annual charity concert “In Praise of Togetherness”, which will take place on June 21, 2025, at 5:00 PM in the Monastic Church of St. John the Baptist of the Premonstratensian Order in Jasov.
This unique cultural event will once again feature performances by world-renowned opera singers, accompanied and conducted by the celebrated pianist and conductor Peter Valentovič. The concert will be held under the artistic direction of opera singer Jaroslav Dvorský, and we will be guided through the evening by Abbot Martin Štrbák of the Premonstratensian monastery.
Come and enjoy the beauty of music while supporting the charitable mission of Rotary Club Košice Country.
We look forward to seeing you there!
František Vindt
President, RC Košice Country
Dear Rotarians and Friends,
We are delighted to invite you to the 30th anniversary celebration of the Rotary Club of Třebíč, which will take place from 17 to 19 October 2025.
Programme of celebrations marking three decades of service and fellowship:
Come enjoy a pleasant evening at the garden terrace of the U Pivrnce restaurant on Hradčany Square in Prague. A delicious dinner and an engaging program await you — Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from 6:00 PM.
You are kindly invited to a charity golf tournament on June 13, 2025, at the Most Golf Course.
Let’s help together — as we do every year — in support of Klokánek Žatec.
Seated at the microphone were Hanka Gamrot and Michal Sláma. You may know them from the Rotary Foundation, particularly in the realm of global grants. Hanka is the outgoing Chair of the Rotary Foundation Committee, and Michal is a member of that committee.
We thank them both for all they do for Rotary, and especially for the Rotary Foundation!
Your suggestions and feedback are welcomed and will assist us in enhancing our newsletter. Please send them to us at news@rotary2240.org.
