Carmichael Rotarians visit the Rotary Club of Ilhavo, Portugal

Members of both Clubs mingle for a photo at the end of the meeting, President Joao Ribeiro is 4th from the left.

Seven members of a delegation from our Club visited the Rotary Club of Ilhavo, Portugal on July 1st, 2014 at their weekly meeting. We were welcomed with open arms and enthusiasm. We talked of our mutual projects, such as our Golf Tournament that has made so much money for Easter Seals and they about many thousands of Euros that they earned for what seemed to be like our "Special Olympics" project. Although some of the members spoke English, Tony Marques, who speaks fluent Portuguese, was very helpful in allowing us to communicate together. After our 1 and 1/2 hour luncheon (the food was great), in a lovely 100 year old room, many members lingered to talk to us about Rotary and other subjects. Their president, Joao Ribeiro presented us with  very nice quality "soccer shirts", while we gave presents of a Rotary tie, clasp , our Club flag, a Rotary hat and two scarves to two of the three young ladies present, two of which were members and one who was at the meeting as a prospective member. Those in our group were Tony Marques (our leader), Bob Paulsen, Stan and Nan Roe, Phil & Katha Danz, and Nan's sister, Noel Meyer. News of the event was reported in the local newspaper and also was aired at a local radio station.

On the Rotary Club of Ilhavo: the newpaper article which has the picture featured above is translated as follows:

"On the 1st of July 2014, Rotary Club of Ilhavo, was honored by the visit Rotary Club of Carmichael, Sacramento - California - California delegation, during its weekly meeting in Hotel de Ilhavo.

More than strengthening relationships between clubs, the meeting aimed at sharing experiences by presenting each club  activities and finding a way of expanding this link to their communities.

Therefore, both clubs define the need to promote, by the use of new technologies, intercultural exchanges between their youngest.

The purpose of this initiative, would be approaching the youngest generation of the wide Portuguese community in California, to their roots, traditions and cultural references in Ilhavo and also allow the youth of each community to share, learn and respect different perspectives and thus build more enlighten people.

Besides the Fellows of both Rotary Clubs the meeting had the presence of Past-Governor and Fellow Alvaro Gomes that stress the need and the importance of cooperation between clubs".

 

The Newspaper Article