NEWSLETTER OF THE EUROPEAN ROTARACT INFORMATION CENTRE, 2001

ISSUE 21 - MAY 2001 - Table Of Contents

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In this issue you will find: • Calendar • A Word from the Editor • Unforgettable Antalya Memories of a European Convention organised

in true Turkish style • The EUCO - A Pan-European View Rotaractors from all over

Europe share their views on the 2001 European Convention • Reports on the ERIC workshops Findings from the 6 workshops

held during the EUCO: Managing successful international projects, How to inspire enthusiasm among Rotaractors, Rotaract ethics, the support of MDIOs for Rotaract clubs, The right strategy to establish a new Rotaract club, Membership development and retention

• European Presidential Conference in Austria Rotarians and Rotaractors ponder humanitarian service in Europe at Vienna Conference

• Copenhagen City goes international An international network started by Copenhagen Rotaractors

• Greetings from Novosibirsk A unique opportunity to visit the Altai mountains in summer

• Thank you and Goodbye... • A new ERIC President for 2001-2002 Matthias Börner elected

ERIC President during the Antalya Meeting

Calendar

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June 2001

8. - 10. Paris International Weekend (WIP) For more information, feel free to contact Laurent Charmes of the Paris Rotaract Club at

rotawip@free.fr 15

. - 16. Milan Weekend

The hotel costs is £80.000 each night. The total fee for two nights in hotel, two dinners and the visit of the town is £ 300.000.

22.

- 23. Rotaract Pre-Convention Meeting in San Antonio

22.

- 24. INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND LUXEMBOURG (WIL 2001)

This 4th edition of the WIL will feature an industrial visit, a rallye, a cultural visit, a visit to a

wine producer, 2 parties and lots of fun! This weekend coincides with the Luxembourg National day on Saturday, so there will be loads of nightlife! A website will be available soon! For more info: georges.hilbert@rotaract.org

24.

- 27. Rotary International Convention in San Antonio, Texas

August 2001

7. - 14. Summer Camp "Vojvodina" 2001

With a great experience from last year RTC Novi Sad with other Yugoslav clubs is organizing summer camp with a theme "Vines of Vojvodina". This region has different sorts of vine and most of them will be presented to you if you come to our camp. There will be great fun!!!

23.

- 29. International Culture Week (Altai)

For more information, contact Novosibirsk 2000/2001 Club President at shongina@ntcom.ru

September 2001

21.

- 23. ERIC Meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria

October 2001

19.

- 21. 32nd National Convention of Rotaract and Interact Clubs of France

June 2002

23.

- 26. Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, Spain

October 2002

18.

- 20. 33th National Convention Rotaract & Interact of France

A Word from the Editor by Magali Füss

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Dear ERIC Readers,

This second-last issue of the Rotaract year, being the first ERIC newsletter since the fabulous European Convention in Antalya last month, will focus on what went on in Turkey. We will place specific emphasis on the findings of the 6 ERIC workshops held on the morning of April 21st, since they are, after all, the most important reflection of the views of Rotaractors from all over our continent. I have no doubt that all the participants will agree that the Convention provided an outstanding opportunity to exchange ideas, make new friends, and enjoy genuine Turkish hospitality. Other newsletter topics include current Rotaract news from Denmark and Russia, and an

article on the recent European Presidential Conference held in Vienna in mid-May. If you´re not dying of heat somewhere in Europe, read on... Yours in ERICland, Magali Füss ERIC Information & Communication Manager Contributors to this issue: Begüm Akis – Marie Arnesen - Matthias Börner - Tolga Bostanci - £ukasz Grochowski - Georges Hilbert - Cyril Noirtin - Mehmet Onarcan - Peter Quantrell - Natalia Shongina - Maciek Szwedowski - plus several EUCO 2001 participants! Next issue: June 30, 2001

Unforgettable Antalya by Magali Füss

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Memories of a European Convention organised in true Turkish style

The ERIC committee of representatives during the opening ceremony Those who are regular readers of the ERIC newsletter know that over the last few months, I´ve been writing constantly about how wonderful the European Rotaract Convention in Antalya, Turkey, was going to be. Now that the event is a thing of the past, I can safely assert: I was right!!!! A truly delightful moment of Rotaract fellowship, organised in style by our Turkish hosts. None of the participants will be forgetting Antalya 2001 any time soon… Allow me to share my experience with you:

After a few fascinating days in Istanbul and a nocturnal bus ride down to Antalya, we were

warmly welcomed on the morning of April 18th by the smiling EUCO Host Committee, headed by Begüm Akis. Begüm is definitely worth a mention. For some reason, many registrants seemed to think that she was a man. But believe me, readers, Begüm is a beautiful, elegant FEMALE Rotaractor, and on top of that, she is kind, intelligent and helpful, which doesn´t spoil things when it comes to being host committee chairman, no sorry, chairPERSON. As you might have read in previous issues, the Convention was organised at the Sun Zeynep hotel, a 5-star complex at the seaside, with pool, hammam and seemingly never-ending supplies of food! Now, you´re probably thinking that in this heavenly ambiance, we didn´t get to do any work. But you would be wrong!!! The Host Committee saw to it that fully equipped meeting rooms and a plenary hall were placed at our disposal for meetings on the Friday and Saturday mornings and for the opening ceremony on the Friday night. I must say that the Friday flag ceremony was an exceptional moment, with attractive Rotaractors parading the flag of each European country, the ERIC flag, the Rotaract and Interact flags and the Rotary International flag, all amidst a very impressive sound-choreography combination. The whole ensemble, so to speak, was worthy of an opening ceremony at a Rotary International Convention, and I think we can definitely recommend Begüm, Ece and the others to R.I. for upcoming editions. Bravo, Turkish hosts! Now, let us not leave aside the pool fun and evening events. The days of Wednesday, April 18th and Thursday, April 19th were spent at the poolside for many participants, with occasional excursions to the beach to frolic in the waves or to take part in an international volleyball match. Some chose to visit the environs, with planned visits organised by the host committee. In the evening, we enjoyed a costume party on the Wednesday, with some participants making excellent use of the hotel sheets to dress up as Romans. On the Thursday night, we were treated to a special Turkish show, with traditional dancing and belly-dancers which got most of the male participants very excited! Rotaractors were called upon to try out some belly-dancing, and some were rather successful, thanks to excessive consumption of raki, the Turkish national drink…

Birthday celebration during the gala dinner... On Friday morning, we woke up bright and early for an enriching and thought-provoking conference on leadership and then took part in some leadership games in teams, which I think most of us will agree provided an excellent opportunity to get to know each other better. The evening was set aside for the opening ceremony, exceptional as mentioned above. Saturday was Rotaract meeting day. The ERIC plenary session started right on time at 09:00 (excellent, Mr President!), with reports on European Rotaract activity by £ukasz Grochowski, our beloved President, and by ERIC Division Managers Magali Füss, Bogdan Balaj, and Mehmet Onarcan, who respectively spoke on Information & Communication in Europe, the ERIC website and online services and the ERIC Donations and Volunteers Databank. The Meeting then broke up for two sessions of workshops. Each session proposed three workshops, making a total of 6, and judging by the good attendance, participation and enthusiasm, one can conclude that the workshops were considered to be a constructive and useful exchange of ideas. Complete reports on each workshop are included in this issue of the ERIC Newsletter. After the end of the ERIC and host committee meetings on the Saturday afternoon, everyone went to get ready for the gala dinner. This was an extremely successful and enjoyable event, with a highlight being £ukasz´ surprise 27th birthday celebration, with 27 roses given to our blushing President by 27 extremely enthusiastic girls (the last "girl" being Matthias Börner, incoming ERIC President, who, despite attempts to look girlish, failed lamentably...) Friends, what more can I say? It is extremely difficult to sum up something which was such a perfect combination of laughter, fun and relaxation, whilst remaining what the European Rotaract Convention is intended to be: the opportunity to work together and to exchange

ideas on vital Rotaract issues of the present and future. It has been said many times, and you will see it many times if you read the article containing the EUCO comments from different countries. This was an exceptional moment in time. The Turkish host committee can be proud of its achievements, and we can all be proud, as European Rotaractors, to have been involved in this event. MF

The EUCO - A Pan-European View by EUCO Participants

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Rotaractors from all over Europe share their views on the 2001 European Convention

Proud smiles from the large Belgian delegation Esra Serdar Aydinoglu, Turkish National Chairman:

It was an honour for Turkish Rotaractors to host and entertain our European Rotaract friends during EUCO2001. But the biggest thanks is to the participants. It was you who made EUCO2001 a splendid event. See you in Barcelona in 2002. Isabelle de Boeck, Belgium: I hope that the organising team recovered quickly and that they are still enjoying the result of all their efforts. I just wanted to say that they all did a wonderful job. They made it a magnificent and unforgettable experience. I was very happy that the Belgian delegation was the largest foreign delegation to attend the EUCO 2001, with 26 Rotaractors!!! David Pavlis, Czech Republic: As we could see during the EUCO 2001, "Rotaract Leaders beyond 2000" in Turkey really inspired every single Rotaractor coming to this wonderful country. We all had a lot of fun

while partying, playing games and taking part in workshops in Turkey, but we also came home rich with enthusiasm and knowledge, that if something works so well in some country, why couldn´t it work in ours. Thank you, my Rotaract friends in Turkey. Radoslav Marko, Slovakia: It was my first participation in a European conference. It was a really great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. I think it was the best reward for Turkish Rotaractors as organizers. This kind of feeling can help us to strengthen our Rotaract clubs and I think this is the biggest advantage of Rotaract membership. Georges Hilbert, Luxembourg: Our Rotaract colleagues in Turkey organized a wonderful EUCO 2001! It was a very positive meeting from all points of view: lots of visibility for Rotaract, ERIC, and some projects, efficient, well organized workshops, good attendance, great hotel, excellent convention facilities, very good organization and support by the EUCO team and ERIC, ... nice country, and splendid hospitality! ... thanks! Maciej Szwedowski, Poland: (note to the host committee)I had been to several EUCOs before but none of them were organized as well as yours (I’m not just saying that, I mean it). On behalf of the Polish delegation, I want to thank you once again for the work that you devoted to hosting us in Turkey. Nathalie Caluwaert, Belgium: I want to thank you for everything that you and your committee did last week in Antalya! It was the first time that I attended a EUCO-meeting and believe me I enjoyed it, I will do this again! Valentina Dell´Acqua, Italy: I really enjoyed both the conference and the post tour, the people and the beautiful places I visited. I felt so comfortable in your country and with all the members I met. Boriana Makedonska and Ivelin Delchev, Bulgaria: Thank you to the organizing committee of EUCO 2001 once again. We enjoyed it very much. We will be glad to come to Turkey again, but hope to see you in Bulgaria first. Edgar Visscher, the Netherlands: I had a very good time in Turkey and so did the complete Dutch Delegation, I can assure you. It was a big shock to go to back to the Netherlands again. Francesca Dell´Acqua, Italy:

I had a fab time in Antalya and also in Istanbul and I fell so deeply in love with Turkey, that I am already planning my next holidays there! You have all been GREAT! Anja and Volker Kreft, Germany: We want to send you a great thank you for the wonderful conference we enjoyed in Antalya!!! Everything was perfectly organized and very convenient - even with the baby -so that we could concentrate on the meetings, contacts with the others and sightseeing. We hope that next time you may be one of those who can enjoy what others prepared! - Especially at an international conference where you always have a very special spirit. Cecile Pellegrin, Belgium: I´ve done several International Rotaract meetings but it´s the first time that time goes so fast (I just arrived and it was already time to leave) and that the return is so difficult (and it is really hard today). I think that they´re the best sign of the really great job you did... It´s why I want to thank again all the committee for these exceptional days and ambiance. I also would like to thank all the participants and particularly all the Turkish Rotaractors. Their friendship, welcome and smile is surely the best "advertising" for your wonderful country... Françoise Guiette, Belgium: THANKS to all of you for the great organization of EUCO 2001! It was just perfect!!! We are all very sad to be back in our country, we miss you, your country and the great atmosphere full of friendship, very much!! Emmanuel Rabaté, France: It was a pleasure to be with 300 other European Rotaractors in Turkey. This European conference can be considered as an example of excellent organization and remarkable hospitality. The French delegation has excellent memories of Antalya and we will come back to Turkey soon! Lotte Ullner, Denmark: EUCO 2001 in Antalya ended 8 days ago – but only now do I feel alive and kicking again. It was so hard to come back to cold rainy Denmark again. Thank you all for a great time in Turkey. It was great meeting you all – it was a great hotel, fine weather, good (free) beers, great parties and a lot of fun. But also it was interesting and educational. Thank you everyone in the EUCO-Commitee for making this possible. Nicola Usai, Italy: My personal EUCO was a little strange! Without luggage life is really hard! I spent many hours phoning the Lost and Found office. Bearing in mind that I received my luggage just 15 hours before returning to Italy, you can imagine....all the practical problems I had getting people to lend me jackets, shirts, etc. Having said that I can also say "EUCO was perfect". I had no doubt that our Turkish

friends would be perfect organizers because I remembered Interota 96 in Istanbul where I tried Turkish hospitality. And in Antalya it all came true again. I am very happy because ERIC had a lot of visibility during the European Convention. Also the leadership games and in particular the leadership conference on the Saturday morning was really amazing. >From a specifically Italian viewpoint, I am very proud of having been able to bring 10 Italian Rotaractors to Antalya. It was the absolute record of Italian participants at an international Rotaract event.

Reports on the ERIC workshops by Peter Quantrell, Matthias Börner, Maciek Szwedowski, Mehmet Onarcan, Tolga Bostanci, Magali Füss

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Findings from the 6 workshops held during the EUCO: Managing successful international projects, How to inspire enthusiasm among Rotaractors, Rotaract ethics, the support of MDIOs for Rotaract clubs, The right strategy to establish a new Rotaract club, Membership development and retention

Intense concentration during the ERIC plenary After a short 30-minute plenary during which ERIC officers addressed such issues as the role of the European MDIO, the importance of information and communication in Europe,

the functions of the ERIC website, and the ERIC Donations and Volunteers Databank, the group split up for 2 successive 1-hour workshop sessions, with a choice of 3 workshops during each session.

The 6 workshops held on the morning of April 21st provided an opportunity for many Rotaractors to express their views on crucial issues. Here are our workshop reports: Managing Successful International Projects Facilitator: Peter Quantrell This workshop had several aims: - To discuss why Rotaract clubs should undertake international projects; - To identify what makes a successful international project; - To identify obstacles to success and how to overcome them; - To identify useful resources for Rotaract clubs; The approach was an open discussion on these points. Peter started by describing the kinds of projects that he had been involved in, including three GB&I Rotaract Overseas Projects in Africa led by Rtn Brian Stoyel, PDG D1290. Peter also explained that International projects often did not involve Rotaract clubs working outside their own national borders - he gave the example of the Aquabox project, run by a Rotary club in the UK. One box makes an ideal project for a Rotaract club as it is easy to organise and reasonably cheap, but the end result saves lives. He also described the Rotary Volunteers scheme which is open to Rotaractors to participate in. The reasons identified for undertaking international projects were: - Rotaractors gain better cultural understanding and new friends; - making resources available where they are needed; - international is a recognised Rotary avenue of service. Success factors include: - motivation and enthusiasm; - knowing your capabilities; - planning; - establishing a good working relationship with your partner club - making use of your Rotary contacts. Obstacles include: - exporting goods for international use. This can be time-consuming and often a waste of money. It was suggested that only if goods cannot be bought locally should clubs contemplate shipping Donations in Kind. A better alternative is to send money donations which can be used to manufacture or buy products needed for a project locally. - lack of know-how. Use your Rotary clubs - for example, Rotary International has the Donations-in-Kind network which has a contact in each country to help facilitate

international projects. Resources include: - the Internet for advertising and communication - Rotary International publications - Rotary Foundation for Matching Grants. Only available through your Rotary club. Conclusion. A useful workshop with a good level of participation. How to inspire enthusiasm amongst Rotaractors Moderator: Matthias Börner Well, what a topic and especially what a task for a workshop moderator! But since the idea and the title of this workshop came directly from the inspiration of our beloved ERIC President it had to be done somehow. Obviously everyone expected a very enthusiastic moderator and a very lively and entertaining workshop. So it was a special pleasure for the evil moderator to shock the audience. He was badly prepared for the workshop, he was insecure and very nervous and started with an extremely boring and very scientific speech on motivation theory that went on and on and on.... After ten minutes some people were fast asleep, others were pitying the poor moderator because he was so hopeless and nervous and others started to hate him because apparently they had chosen the wrong workshop and were wasting their valuable time which could have been better spent by lying in the warm Antalya sun... This was the time to change the slow and uneventful proceedings with a loud BANG in form of music!!! After everyone had recovered completely we first solved the question of the main characteristic of Rotaractors and the simple prize-winning (in the form of a chocolate bar) answer came, surprisingly, from a Rotarian: WE ARE YOUNG! And this gives us the liberty to do things differently, to act differently, to try-out new ways and especially to have a lot of fun while doing whatever we do, regardless whether it is a regular Rotaract meeting, a conference, a workshop or a social project. We then discussed all the mistakes the moderator had made during the first 10 minutes – the things that certainly do not inspire enthusiasm: being boring, being insecure, not involving others, doing everything alone, using only black and white transparencies but nothing to relax the tensed atmosphere, presenting things which are of no relevance and practical usage to the others. So how can we do better? There are countless ways which everyone can discover by using his/her imagination and creativity. Here only the basics: - Always be enthusiastic yourself about what you want to accomplish. Your own enthusiasm will encourage others! - Involve others – watch, listen and talk! - Show commitment! - Give recognition!

- Build friendship – regard others as friends! - Be creative and surprise others from time to time! - Work together as a team! What exactly we do in normal life to make Rotaract more exciting is up to us: whether we start our meetings with a game, play music and turn an official function into a party with dancing and singing, relocate a meeting to a pub or in summer to a nice beer garden or organise interesting presentations and important and sensible social projects or meet Rotaractors in other countries – everything is allowed that makes Rotaract an organisation which Rotaractors enjoy, love and are enthusiastic about. The more enthusiasm our organisation reflects, the more people will be attracted to it so that the problem of finding new members will decrease and with more enthusiasm and fun we will be more efficient in our “core business”: SERVING our communities and the needy. The workshop concluded with the slogan created by the British Rotaractors: Whatever you do, never forget to go MAD: Make A Difference! Rotaract Ethics Moderator: Maciek Szwedowski The issue of application of specific rules of conduct in the everyday activities of Rotaractors is crucial. Contrary to popular belief such rules do, in fact, exist. They may be found in the provisions of the Rotaract Handbook and from RI By-laws, which apply to Rotaractors as well. Nonetheless, Rotaract does not have a unified and accepted Code of Ethics, with provisions widely accepted and implemented throughout the entire organization. For that reason it is extremely important for a Rotaractor to be well aware of what is expected of him/her and it is even more crucial for such Rotaractor to make an effort to introduce these rules of ethical conduct into daily use. In joining Rotaract we all accepted an obligation to behave in such a way that the image of Rotaract and its members is not damaged by our improper behaviour. This obligation to protect the organisation of which we are members and the symbols and ideals of which we accept as our own is the chief reason why we must strive to live in conformity with Rotaract Ethics. The main problem with that is inadequate awareness by Rotaractors of what Rotaract Ethics mean. Poor information of new members is one of the reasons why we later have to face unpleasant situations. Certain directives in this regards may be drawn from the provisions of the “Rotaract Handbook”. It is, however, obvious, that the Rotaract Handbook is not well-known among Rotaractors and furthermore, even if it is known, then rarely from first-hand experience. The Handbook has relatively few translations into the national languages, it is not readily accessible and it is certainly not an example of easy reading matter. Therefore, if we wish to be able to avoid cases of gross infringement of the rules of ethical behaviour, we must, first of all, come up with specific sets of rules on local level (club, district, country), which would be drafted, approved and adopted as the official Code of Rotaract Ethics for a given area. One should keep in mind that having a unified Code of Ethics for the entire Rotaract is unrealistic due to the cultural differences, which affect the

way we see certain problems. In other words, a case which would be seen as a gross infringement of Rotaract Ethics in one country or community, may be perfectly acceptable elsewhere. Of course, this is only true for marginal issues – the basic rules of ethical behaviour of a Rotaractor are clearly the same the world-over. Having drafted and approved our own local Code of Rotaract Ethics, the next step is to make its provisions known to club members, both current and incoming. Communication and information is of key importance. A prospective club member must be informed, clearly and unequivocally, of what is expected of him/her as a Rotaractor. The best time to do this is during the ‘trial period’ before such a person is admitted into the club. Then, when the Club Officers are satisfied that a person is well-aware of his/her duties and obligations towards the club as regards behaviour and the club obtains a new member, it should be clear to all what penalties (including expulsion from the Club) will follow if such new member breaches the rules communicated to him/her beforehand. This policy of no exceptions appears to be the only way of protection against embarrassing and damaging situations when the conduct (or rather ‘misconduct’) of a single person changes the way others see the entire club and makes it extremely difficult for that club to regain the confidence of the community in which it operates. Support of M.D.I.O.´s for individual Rotaract Clubs Moderator: Mehmet Onarcan Attendance: 37 Rotaractors from 11 different countries - Representatives from 6 MDIOs including: E.R.I.C and MDIOs of GB & I, France, Netherlands, Turkey, Denmark Introduction Representatives from several Multi-District Information Organisations explained the kind of services their MDIOs render in their own countries. MDIOs mainly stand for the purpose of increasing the coordination and collaboration among clubs as well as Rotaractors. They also act as a centre of information and communication. Although the geography or the number of the clubs each MDIO serves changes from country to country, most of the services rendered are similar. National Newsletters, a National Conference organised each year, Clubs and Members Directory, a National Website are the most common of all. Some MDIOs have National Themes, some concentrate and work for the publicity of Rotaract. Some important points raised during the workshop: - Peter from Rotaract GB&I (MDIO of Great Britain and Ireland being one of the oldest MDIOs in the Rotaract world) explained the benefits of their MDIO for Rotaract clubs and members. As an MDIO covering 29 districts and over 300 Clubs Rotaract GB&I has a great importance as a centre of information and communication. He also emphasised the benefits of the DRR Training they organise each year. - Rotaractors from Denmark (The youngest MDIO in the Rotaract World) explained the positive changes DANIO created for the communication among Danish Rotaract Clubs. - Isabelle from Belgium (Belgian Rotaractors are planning to create a National MDIO) stated that without an organisation the International Representative becomes the only contact person for all international events. ERIC Representative should not be the only national function.

- Rotaractors from the Netherlands explained many different activities undertaken by their MDIO and especially stated one of the greatest benefits as the friendship established among Rotaractors. - Esra from T.U.R.K. (One of the yougest MDIO’s covering over 100 clubs in Turkey) emphasised how successfully the Turkish MDIO established the bridges of communication and collaboration among the Turkish districts. Before T.U.R.K. there was very limited communication between the 3 Turkish Districts and except one district the other districts were not active in international conferences and events. So most of the clubs could not be involved in the international world of Rotaract and the representation of the country was limited to only one district. Now Rotaractors have friends from several different cities and districts, a lot of clubs are organising projects on the national theme which leads to joint projects, and partner clubs. - Nicola from Italy (country with a National Committee but not officially recognised as an MDIO) asked whether MDIOs create more bureaucracy or not and also whether they are costly or not. An answer to that question was: MDIOs can even reduce bureaucracy and costs if they are operated efficiently. There are some activities and costs that occur in each and every district. Centralising some of these functions such as the newsletter, web site or directory can eliminate duplicate work and the limited resources can be used in a much more efficient way. Conclusion: An MDIO has a very important role in increasing communication among member districts and clubs. Clubs can benefit from MDIOs in many ways. They can obtain information from other clubs and Rotaractors in their country or even in other countries. The Donations and Volunteers Databank project by ERIC (dvdbank.org) is a very good example of how an MDIO can help to increase communication and partnership among clubs (even in the same district). Through the DVDbank which matches donations and requests on the internet, clubs can find partner clubs for their community projects. MDIOs also offer the necessary information on National and International events and activities. MDIOs can also serve as a centre for Rotaract Training as they organise DRR Training Seminars and other Conferences. MDIOs create the means to develop friendship and partnership over the club level. Depending on the number of Clubs and members and also on geographical constraints, some countries may not need to have an MDIO. Establishing an MDIO might often requires some hard work. In order to overcome possible resistance from districts and clubs, the benefits of having such an organisation should be explained. An MDIO is only for the purpose of serving for information and communication. Besides it can create means for enhanced coordination and collaboration among districts and clubs. So it should not be considered as an organisation that will rule the districts. This functionality and these benefits should be well understood. First awareness should be created and the friendship among different clubs and districts should be established. This can be done through social events like the National Conference, joint meetings and projects. Once friendship is established Rotaractors feel the pleasure of knowing each other and working together. As communication bridges are established, Rotaractors will better understand the benefits of having an MDIO and they will be willing and eager to receive its services.

What is the right strategy to establish a new Rotaract Club? Moderator : Tolga Bostanci Session Time : 21.04.2001 – 11.10-12.05 Number of Participants : 17 Rotaractors from Turkey, UK, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and 1 Rotarian from Turkey The session was based on the principles to establish a new Rotaract Club recommended by Rotary International. The steps of the session can be given as follows: - Statistics about Rotaract in the world ; number of countries with Rotaract Clubs, number of Rotaract Clubs, number of Rotaractors and new Rotaract Clubs established in the third quarter of the 2000-2001 Rotary Year. - Steps in organising a Rotaract Club - Types of Rotaract Clubs as Community-Based Rotaract Club and University-Based Rotaract Club - Identifying the membership base for a Rotaract Club - Information meetings of a new Rotaract Club before establishing - Organizational meetings of a new Rotaract Club - Chartering the Rotaract Club and organizing the inaugural ceremony & the appointment of club officers Individual experiences of the participants in the last period of the session : - Using Internet is beneficial for promoting new members. - Try to get new members between the age of 18-25. - Establish and promote Interact Clubs - Have a plan with your Rotary District to establish new clubs - Get an effective communication and relationship between Rotary and Rotaract in your district - Try to present the Rotaract Organization to your District Governor for better information flow - Use the Rotaract Statement of Policy and the Rotaract Constitution / by-laws in order to have better information Membership Development and Retention Moderator: Magali Füss Attendance : Approximately 40 Rotaractors Countries Represented: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, the Ukraine, the United Kingdom. The workshop was broken down into three parts: defining membership status in various countries, identifying what the problem might be, assuming there is one, and identifying possible solutions.

1) Once all participants had introduced themselves, we focused first and foremost on looking at the membership situation. Most European countries seem to have a membership problem, with very few exceptions such as Turkey and Bulgaria where membership is on the increase. 2) Asked why the problem exists, the group came up with various answers, including: - the image of Rotaract (snobs, rich kids) - lack of public awareness and publicity - lack of hands-on project opportunities in developed countries, meaning that members don´t feel useful - too many other options for young people (university clubs, sports etc.) - lack of Rotary Club support - difficulty of integrating new members, both socially and in terms of project participation - loss of valuable members due to job transfers or the age limit 3) Possible solutions suggested for membership development and retention included the following: - More effective publications and visual support (cards, brochures) during Rotaract events and projects, emphasising the importance of unity in the information given - Local, regional and if possible national media coverage of events and projects - Promotion both inside and outside the Rotary world - Creating Rotaract awareness and ensuring good knowledge within Rotaract clubs – fostering pride in being part of the Rotary family - Involving and giving responsibility to new members by means of active working groups or task forces within clubs - Identifying the interests and talents of each member and getting everyone involved- with emphasis on the importance of coaching - Clearly identifying the current situation of the Rotaract club in the Rotaract life cycle (example provided by Dutch Rotaractors) - Taking stock of the situation and clearly identifying the objectives of the Rotaract Club - The most difficult part: Defining exactly what Rotaract is. Suggestions included "A service club" or "a club that trains the sort of leaders you want to have".

European Presidential Conference in Austria by Cyril Noirtin, Rotary International

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Rotarians and Rotaractors ponder humanitarian service in Europe at Vienna Conference More than 370 Rotarians and guests from 45 countries gathered on 11-13 May in Vienna, Austria, for the European Presidential Conference - the fifth and final such RI meeting this Rotary year.

Each President of Rotary International organizes one or several conferences on a given theme during his year. The aim of these conferences is to enhance personal relationships and understanding among participants, whilst creating a forum allowing participants to discuss and exchange ideas on humanitarian action to promote understanding and goodwill throughout the world.

These peace conferences are sponsored by Rotary International and by the Rotary Foundation. They are organized by a committee appointed by the President of Rotary International. "Europe is in transition right now. Its changes are mirrored in Rotary," said RI President Frank J. Devlyn at the conference´s opening session at the Hotel Inter-Continental Wien. "Vienna is part of a newly expanded district that embraces five nations - Austria (eastern part), Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia. Our Rotary conference provides a wonderful opportunity to discuss how this new model of administration can encourage cooperation and support Rotary growth and effectiveness, while respecting cultural autonomy." Rita Levi-Montalcini, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in medicine, spoke on "human duties and rights." She praised Rotary for its humanitarian efforts, especially in the areas of polio eradication, literacy, and improving the condition of girls and women worldwide. She said, "I commend Rotary for helping mankind. The success of the PolioPlus program is a model for how various groups can work together to achieve a common goal." Following her remarks, President Devlyn designated her an honorary Rotarian. Other speakers included RI President-elect Richard D. King, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman Herbert G. Brown and Rotary Foundation Trustee Roberto Valentin. Rudolf Horndler, chairman of the European Regional PolioPlus Committee, reported on the success of synchronized cross-border National Immunization Days (NIDs) in the region. The Rotarians participated in various discussion groups that focused on issues of importance to the region: increasing job opportunities, exchanging views on human duties and rights, recruiting quality members, and more effective ways of implementing Rotary Foundation grants. And for the first time, a Rotaractor was part of each workshop panel. The conference marked an historic milestone by conducting a successful three-hour teleconference linking delegates in Vienna to Rotarians in four cities: Cairo, Istanbul, Madrid, and Rome. The Rotarians in these cities had an opportunity to pose questions to the RI president, Foundation Trustee chairman, and RI Board members who were present during an open forum. In Istanbul Rotaractor Mehmet Onarcan, an RI Committee member, was able to ask the RI president a question and later to have a discussion with Rotaractor Oliver Lange from Germany who was attending the conference in Vienna. Many questions or subjects discussed at the conference focused on Rotaract and the new generation. It has been made clear that Rotaract and Interact are part of the future of Rotary. Rotarians have been encouraged by RI leaders to promote Rotaract, create new clubs and invite former Rotaractors to become Rotarians, whether by inviting them to join existing Rotary clubs or by creating New Generation Rotary Clubs.

Copenhagen City goes international by Marie Arnesen

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An international network started by Copenhagen Rotaractors Copenhagen City Rotaract Club provides a chance for young foreigners living in

Copenhagen to join Danish and other foreign Rotaractors in an international network.

The Copenhagen City Rotaract Club is located in the heart of the Danish Capital. This provides our club with the opportunity to arrange many interesting meetings, as many international companies, organisations, etc. are located in the City of Copenhagen. Moreover, it implies that our Club members and guests meet many foreign people living in Copenhagen. They live here permanently or temporarily due to work or studies. Ever since our Club was chartered in 1982, it has always held its meetings in Danish, just as the other Danish clubs do. But after having formed friendships with several foreign young people, who too were interested in Rotaract, Copenhagen City Rotaract Club decided to start hosting meetings and events in English. Slowly but steadily, the interest in this international concept grew and recently, our club has made strong efforts to strengthen our international approach and involve more foreigners in our club. The international orientation, i.e. hosting meetings etc. in English, started a few years ago, when a French Rotaractor wanted to join us. He had just moved to Copenhagen because of his job as an International Trade Marketing Trainee. Besides his new colleagues, he did not know anybody in Copenhagen, which is why Copenhagen City RTC gave him an opportunity to meet new friends. He decided to join us, even though our meetings were in Danish. Patiently, he waited for the meetings to end, so that he could participate in our “post-meeting”, namely fun and relaxation at a local restaurant and bar. In order for him to be able to enjoy our meetings, too, we decided to hold them in English. Since then, we have arranged many meetings in English and many more foreigners have joined our club. The club has or has had members and guests from Italy, Sweden, Turkey, France, Russia, England, the USA, Mexico, Germany and Norway. Some of them were already Rotaractors when they contacted our club. Others are friends or colleagues of Danish members, who simply wanted to find new Danish and foreign friends, whilst learning more about society and business life in Denmark. They get the chance to visit companies and organisations and to participate in vine, whiskey and chocolate tasting and other social events. Some examples of club meetings are: Visit to the Danish Design Centre, Lecture on Human Rights, Visit to the Danish Central Bank and Lecture on the referendum on the European Single Currency, Lecture by a Candidate to the European Parliament, Lecture on Gender Equality in the Work Place, Lectures on Telecommunication, and a Casino Night. Thus, Copenhagen City RTC offers young foreigners an excellent opportunity to have an active social life, make new friends, Danish as well as foreign, while at the same time learning about the Danish community and the Copenhagen business environment. Also, the club members and guests take part in conferences and leisure activities abroad. As such the club has already participated in events in Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden and the USA. Of course, some of our members joined fellow Rotaractors in Turkey for the recent EUCO conference. For more information on Copenhagen City Rotaract Club please check out this site on the Internet: www.rotaract.org/copenhagen-city, or write to: copenhagen-city@rotaract.org.

Greetings from Novosibirsk by Natalia Shongina

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A unique opportunity to visit the Altai mountains in summer Fellow Rotaractors,

If you don´t know us yet, let us introduce ourselves. We are the Rotaract Club of Novosibirsk-Center, Novosibirsk, Russia, District 5010. We are happy to inform you that you have a unique opportunity to visit the most beautiful and exotic place in our country - the Altai Mountains. We invite you to take part in "International Culture Week" which will be held from 23-29 August, 2001 in one of the picturesque places in Altai. The main idea of this project is communication between nations, the opportunity to learn different cultures, to make new friends and meet old friends all over the world. Each day will be a "Country Day". Everyone can organize and hold a day devoted to his native country. All additional information from the following email address: shongina@ntcom.ru (Natalia Shongina, President 2000-2001 of Rotaract Club of N-C). Waiting for your letters, Best wishes from Siberia, Rotaract Club of Novosibirsk-Center

Thank you and Goodbye... by £ukasz Grochowski

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(Editor´s note: I received this article from ERIC President £ukasz Grochowski with the following instruction: "You have absolutely NO right to oppose this. Yours, Lukasz" – those who know £ukasz know that it is impossible to disobey his orders, so here comes A WORD FROM LUKASZ...)

Dear Rotaractors, During the EUCO in Antalya I officially acknowledged the end of the Rotaract career of one of us. I ought to do it again for those who were not there so you will not miss it. Most of the RI official maniacs will love to read the following lines about her...

Friendly, understanding, tolerant, caring, charming... Well known to Rotaractors all over the world, but in particular to those living in Europe. Respected by Rotarians, Governors and even, sometimes, RI Presidents. Former Interactor, Club President, DRR, Country Co-ordinator, ERIC Executive (Information and Communication Manager), RI Committee Member, RI Task Force Zone Co-ordinator. Many times panelist, moderator and officer at Rotaract Pre-Convention Meetings. Paul Harris Fellow since 1997. Always responsible, always willing to help, always devoted. Magali Füss Rabaté - Lady Rotaractor of the highest quality. Hail to Thee. On the other hand, I am clever enough to make it less stiff and some of you would like to read something different... Good friend and companion. Open, cheerful, loving and loved, full of dreams. Not too sarcastic, and not too controversial by Rotaract standards. Always eager to laugh, always crazy about dancing, always willing to party, always among people. Not many of us have seen her tears, not many of us have seen her being sad or concerned. Thank God she is only 30! So most of the above will be true for many, many years and those of us who will keep in touch with her will still be benefiting from her personality. And now the common part for the stiff and the laid-back readers.... But twelve magic years have passed and obeying the RI age policy I have to say THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND GOOD LUCK, MAGALI! New generations of Rotaractors will be deprived of your thoughtful remarks, your pure English and your sober point of view (after not always abstinent nights). Your latest great mission in ERIC has been visible for the past two years every month in the form of this Newsletter. After publishing the June issue your Rotaract mission will be fully completed. Lukasz Grochowski ERIC President

A new ERIC President for 2001-2002 by Magali Füss

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Matthias Börner elected ERIC President during the Antalya Meeting

Matthias (left) and £ukasz during the Antalya gala dinner During the ERIC committee meeting held in Antalya in April, the country representatives elected Matthias Börner, current ERIC Treasurer from Germany, President for the 2001-2002 Rotaract year.

Matthias will take over from £ukasz Grochowski, who will complete two years of fruitful and challenging leadership of ERIC on June 30th. They are very different in their approach and styles, and yet very similar in what really matters in Rotaract: integrity, motivation, genuine friendship, generosity and that special something which I can only define as excellence. We do not want to turn this into a "let´s all congratulate each other" issue, so I´ll keep it short: Our thanks to £ukasz for his exceptional contribution to ERIC over the last two years, and best wishes to Matthias for his new task. (More news on the incoming ERIC team and projects will be provided in the June issue). MF

This service was brought to you by E.R.I.C., the European Rotaract Information Center. Please visit our website at http://www.rotaract-eric.org and especially the webpage about our sponsors at http://www.rotaract-eric.org/sponsors. Service provided with the support of the European Community budget line "Support for international non-governmental youth organisations". Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the organisation do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Commission, nor does it involve any responsibility on its part.