Guvernors Mounthly Letter - Issue 2 - August 2020 - Rotary 2420

Guvernors Mounthly Letter
Issue 2 - August 2020

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

In this letter, I would like to tell you about our August activities. We celebrated
the Feast of the Sacrifice at the beginning of August and our clubs continued
their activities and organized various projects during this month, when many
of us had the opportunity to have a holiday.

The news of the explosion coming from Beirut at the beginning of August
upset us all. In order to support those living in Beirut, as three district
governors, we transferred a total of 3000 USD to the account opened for this
purpose at the call of our Rotarian friends from Beirut.

The first event of August was the Environment 2020 Carbon Emission
Conference organized by our Interacts under the chairmanship of TINK
INTERACT Club. Rotarians as well as our youth attended this conference
hosted by the Kalamış Rotary Club. Moderated by Yaşar Atacık, the
Chairperson of the Environment Committee and under the coordination of the
assistant governor Nuray Çun, this event, with the participation of valuable
speakers from the World Wildlife Fund, Climate Action Network, Greenpeace
and Fridays for Future, very useful information was given in which the effects
and reaction of pollution dimensions on society were discussed. I think this
event not only increases the importance and awareness of the subject in all of
us, but also inspires our clubs to create an environmental project.

On August 15th, we, as the District 2420, organized a “Welcome Cocktail”
for the 2020-2021 Rotary Term, hosted by the Bebek Rotary Club. Our club
presidents, who attended the cocktail, came together with committees and 15
different NGO representatives. With this event, where friendships were
strengthened and new projects were discussed, we started the period with
enthusiasm and positive energy.

Gölcük Rotary Club held an important commemoration event for the
anniversary of the August 17 Earthquake. Within the framework of this event,
they organized an underwater litter diving dive with Kocaeli University
Underwater Diving Society to draw attention to environmental pollution. In
addition, they organized a charity in order to provide scholarships to the
children of healthcare personnel who lost their lives due to Covid 19. Likewise,
they distributed halva to the local people to commemorate the earthquake
martyrs. Finally, they donated 30 units

of blood at the earthquake commemoration event they jointly conducted with
the Turkish Red Crescent. This event took place in the visual and print media.

On August 26th, the Service Committee held the first Culture and Art Event of
the term. Our Rotarian friend, Artist Çağnur Gürsan had a very enjoyable and
thought-provoking conversation with theater actress Tilbe Saran on “Theater
and Art”. Şişli, Ortaköy, Göksu and Kalamış RK hosted this event. Those who
cannot listen to this interview can watch the recording of this interview on our
district's YouTube page.

Disaster Aid and Support Group affiliated to our Service Committee has
prepared "Basic Disaster Awareness" training and will carry out the training
on zoom upon requests from our clubs.

I made some visits in our Thrace region between 27-28 August. We made two
important official visits organized by my Thrace district assistant governors. We
visited Edirne Governor, Mr. Ekrem Canalp, together with the presidents and
asistant governors of our Edirne and Edirne clubs, Serdar Küçüksarılar. During
this very positive visit, we asked for his support in obtaining the necessary
official approvals for our global grant project in Edirne Kuzucu Village.

We visited the irrigation coop established by more than 100 farmers in Kuzucu
Village. It was an important site visit to see this global grant project on site
and discuss the details with the coop president, in order to provide some of
the electrical energy used to meet the irrigation needs of the orchards with
renewable solar energy.

Since Lüleburgaz Municipality declared 2021 as the Year of Environment, the
issue of joint projects came to the fore and we completed our visit in
consensus to work together. Our visit to the workplace of a friend, who is a
member of the Lüleburgaz club, in the city of Lüleburgaz and the conversation
was also very enjoyable.

Likewise, I believe that our joint meeting clubs, which we organize with the
participation of our Thrace clubs, are extremely enjoyable and productive in
terms of getting to know closely and getting information.

We made an official visit to the Governor of Silivri Club on the 28th of August.
During the first governor visit of the term, we had a pleasant and satisfying
meeting at the Papazlı Farm of the Rotarian Aysel Akbulut. I would like to
thank Silivri Rotary Club and dear Aysel Akbulut for their nice hosting.

On the 29th of August, we made a governor visit to the Batıköy Rotary Club.
This meeting, which had the opportunity to get to know the Batıköy Rotary
Club members closely and chat with them, was once again enjoyable and
satisfying. I wish both of our clubs a successful and productive term.

On August 30th, we celebrated our Victory Day with pride.

Dear Fellow Rotarians, I would like to remind you once again about the
scholarship protocol we made with TEV and the opportunity of our clubs to
provide scholarships to students in need within the framework of this
protocol. Our Service Committee shared the scholarship protocol we made
with TEV with all our club presidents, we will increase our influence by
working with a professional organization on scholarships and create
opportunities for many young people, and we will achieve an important
purpose for service in Rotary.

I would like to bring our Foundation goals back to your attention. I would like
to emphasize once again the importance of our contributions to the Annual
Funds and our contribution to the Polio Fund. I remind you that the Rotary
Direct, which will provide easy and flexible payments to the Rotarians in terms
of donations to annual funds, or recurring donations will bring flexibility and
convenience to payments, and I state that our foundation committee will help
you in your need for support.

The number of our members, which was 1861 in August, rose to 1863, I want
to share with you the news that we have achieved a positive increase for the
first time in a long time. Membership is an important issue in Rotary. Rotary
largely means membership, as former World President Mark Maloney points
out. If there are no members, there is no Rotary. In this sense, I would like to
remind you that it is one of the important goals of our term that each club is
in the activity of recruiting members in accordance with its values. This effort

The number of our members, which was 1861 in August, rose to 1863, I want
to share with you the news that we have achieved a positive increase for the
first time in a long time. Membership is an important issue in Rotary. Rotary
largely means membership, as former World President Mark Maloney points
out. If there are no members, there is no Rotary. In this sense, I would like to
remind you that it is one of the important goals of our term that each club is
in the activity of recruiting members in accordance with its values. This effort
is the duty of all the Rotarians, not just the club president and the membership
committee.

In August, our clubs also carried out some service work.

The Adalar Rotary Club has completed the Evciler Village Culture House
project in Kırklareli, Pınarhisar. The Adalar Rotary Club has also signed a twin
club agreement with the Chile Santiago Rotary Club and India Chennai Mitra
Clubs. I wish the Adalar Rotary Club the best.

Fatih Rotary Club and Etiler Rotary Club organized a RYLA seminar attended
by 12 people with the participation of Fatih Interact Club.
Fatih Rotary Club also organized the Vocational Orientation Meetings with
Fatih Interact in line with their needs.

Erenköy Rotary Club distributed food in the amount of TL 24,609 to 489
families in need together with the Excess Food Aid Association. Erenköy Rotary
Club also provided 7000 USD support to a student studying at the Manhattan
Music School with the support of sponsors.

Tarabya Rotary Club donated 130 books to Aydın-SÖKE Bağarası Kemalpaşa
Primary School, which is establishing a library. In addition, they supported
students with donations of many LGS books. Tarabya Club also helped a
student in need with a laptop.

With the organization of the Sarıyer Rotary Club, the training titled “Golden
Rules of Financial Markets” was given to 50 students free of charge.
Sponsorship has been provided for a total training cost of 10,000 TL.

Members of Etiler Rotary Club, Bebek Rotary Club and Etiler Rotaract Club
painted the huts in Silivri Canları Dog Shelter and provided medicine and food
aid.

In August, many of our clubs came together online and from time to time
physically to hold their meetings without interruption, and many of them
hosted valuable speakers to their meetings.

In this way, we have completed the month of August. I remind you that
September is the Basic Education and Literacy month and I suggest that your
scholarships be evaluated and your activities worthy of this month are
highlighted. Starting from this month, we aim to introduce you to two Rotary
Friendship Groups every month. This month, you will find the bios of the
Stamp Collecting and Coffee Friendship Groups in the attachment of this
letter.

I wish you all a healthy September and a busy Rotary activities.

With Rotarian Love and Respect,

Gaye Binark
District Governor 2420