Translation: Karin Tahir

Curitiba, 24 February 2010

Companheiros Ivo e Sérgio Luiz agradecendo o apoio do Presidente da FIEP, Rodrigo da Rocha Loures

At noon on the 23rd February, all was ready for the 1st Joint Intercontinental Meeting between Rotary Club de Curitiba Oeste – Brazil and the other seven clubs of Group 7 of the Mafra region – Portugal. The meeting would take place in very well equipped facilities, but maybe too small to accommodate all those that were expected to attend.

During lunch that Tuesday, Rotarian Sergio Luiz made a suggestion, Rotarian Renata Cherubini quickly picked up the phone, and Dr. Rodrigo da Rocha Loures, President of the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná, approved the use of their board room for this historic Rotarian event.

Members of Curitiba Oeste attentively watching what was happening in Portugal

Why is this a historic event? Because we had a group of Rotarians present at this joint meeting with Rotary Club de Mafra, in Portugal, with other six clubs in the Mafra region and now, the Rotarians of Rotary Club de Curitiba Oeste who were unable to travel to Portugal would be able to take part in the event through video conference. It was the first time that an event of this magnitude happened in District 4730 and maybe in Rotary worldwide.

This meeting gathered Rotarians from Rotary Clubs Curitiba Oeste (physically and virtually), Amadora, Loures, Mafra, Odivelas and Sintra. We would like to draw special attention to the participation in Brazil of Rotaract Club de Curitiba Oeste.

The meeting demanded great effort from Rotarians of both Clubs, in Mafra, Portugal and Rotary Club de Curitiba Oeste, Brazil. President Cesar Anselmo de Castro and Rotarian Raimundo Martins de Sousa were tireless in their determination to make this meeting a great success.

The atmosphere of the meeting was very friendly, and all the clubs had the opportunity to speak, even the members of Oeste here in Brazil, represented by Ivo Arzua Pereira (EGD 76/77), Roberto Karam (EGD 2001/2002), Sérgio Luiz (President 2011/2012), Vinícius (President of Rotaract 2009/2010), Maria de Lourdes and Célida.

PDG 76/77 Ivo Arzua contextualizing the historic moment	PDG 2001/2002 Roberto Karam emphasizing the participation of six clubs
President of Rotaract 2009/2010, Vinícius Vieira, emphasizing youth participation	Rotarians looking happy and attentively watching all that was happening
Sergio and Nilcéia. Nilcéia from FIEP, was fundamental to the success of the meeting	The meeting from a different angle

In Curitiba, we had the particiption of Rotarians Célida Helena de Andrade Vieira, Elton Titze, Helena de Castro Licheski, Ivo Arzua Pereira and wife Maria Helena, Jacques Decoret (RC Curitiba), João Edegar Bandeira de Assis, Maria de Lourdes Pereira Cordeiro and daughter Luciana, Renata Teixeira Cherubini, Roberto Sotomaior Karam, Rubens Carlos Buschmann, Sergio Luiz Sottomaior Pereira, Vinícius de Andrade Vieira. 

The event was hugely successful and we were even able to catch up with our friends that since 12 Feb have been with 7 European clubs.

The meeting celebrated 105 years of RI, 52 years of Oeste and the amazing friendship that now unites these six Rotary Clubs.

At the end of the meeting there was a feeling of great and renewed fellowship between all the participants. Technology helped bring together six Rotary Clubs and create the feeling of solidarity, peace and friendship among communities, encouraging diversity and bridging continents.

Rotary Club de Curitiba Oeste would like to thank the President of FIEP, Rodrigo da Rocha Loures, who promptly accepted the request made by his advisor and member of our club, Renata Cherubini.

Innovation being used to foster the ideal of service. We are proud to be part of an institution that is as human as it is effective. The bright future is in our hands. Congratulations to all who participated in the meeting, especially to the President of Rotary Club de Mafra for the magnificent event held in Portugal.