Dear Friends of Rotary, please join our fun night of music, food and charity! https://fb.me/e/8DWCLqkum
Enjoy a fun night of live music, delicious food and dance for a cause of good:
- Musicians: Celia Stavri and Ronn Van Etten (Eric Clapton Tribute) - Multi-course Cypriot buffet dinner - Ticket for 30€p.p., can be reserved or purchased at the door - Profits and fundraising, all donated to three local charities: Autistic Society, Friends' Hospice Paphos, Margarita Liasidou Foundation - Organized by the Rotary Club Paphos Aphrodite
See you there for an enjoyable evening!
For reservations call the Anesi Restaurant 99313050/99379060 or George 99758323
Enjoy a fun night of live music, delicious food and dance for a cause of good
Gladly sharing some impressions from our Rotary weekend in Agros, and the PELS sessions. Very insightful and informative, next to meeting so many Cypriot Rotarians!
Yes, our members don’t just enjoy the parties — they also get things done at our meetings, as you can see! A big thank you to Ian for baking a birthday cake for one of our members. That was such a thoughtful gesture, and the cake was absolutely delicious!
Greeting from President Stephanie. We had a lovely excursion and exploration of Troodos followed by a welcoming dinner tonight (29.02.2025). Many Rotarian friends are here, from Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon, Jordan, Italy, the North… tomorrow morning the workshop will start.
For our March fellowship we visited the Fat Fig with family and friends joining us but before Rotarian Andre invited us for drinks in his wonderful home. Thanks for your kind invitation Andre.— at The Fat Fig
For many years, the Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club has proudly supported the Friends’ Hospice Paphos. On March 14, 2025, our club members had the opportunity to visit the hospice for an introduction and tour. We were deeply impressed by the remarkable work and dedication of the hospice team in creating such a compassionate and well-managed facility.
Club members visiting the new Friends Hospice in Paphos
Club president Timo Trog represented the Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club at the Logicom Half-Marathon, 7th March 2025 and finished the race in 2:22 hours. Well done and congratulations
We had an interesting visitor to our last meeting of the year. Mindaugas Glodas from the RC of Vilnius Old Town in Lithuania. He exchanged banners with President Timo.
The results of our Christmas Window Competition in the Old Town of Paphos. We had two contenders for 1st prize and couldn't decide between them, so we made them joint winners. Amathus Travel window had an imaginative display of gift bags and Chroma Fashions used their clothes creatively in Christmas colours to provide a festive display. Third place was awarded to Piroutte Dance Studio for their very colourful window. We had 20 shops taking part and hope to have more next year!
Our Annual Glühwein Event got off to a great start on Friday 13th December with a matching band appearing just as we were about to open our stall. Our little band of volunteer members also worked hard on the Saturday and Sunday, grilling sausages and serving glühwein. The weather was very kind to us, and it was enjoyable chatting to locals and visitors during the weekend. We also made a good profit for our charity fund. Thanks to everyone who supported us.
A Year of Fellowship, Growth, and Inspiration: A Message from the President
Dear Rotarians, friends, and supporters,
As we approach the festive season, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve shared so far this Rotary year. It has been a time of fellowship, impactful projects, and bold steps toward the future of our club. Looking Back on 2024 This year has been nothing short of inspiring.
We successfully hosted the Euromeeting 2024 in October, welcoming around 60 participants from seven European countries. It was a celebration of Rotary values, international cooperation, and the spirit of fellowship.
In our community, we’ve made a tangible difference by supporting young talents. We sponsored Giannis Christodoulidis, an exceptionally talented violinist, to attend the European Youth Orchestra Academy in Germany.
Similarly, we enabled a young woman from Paphos to represent Cyprus in the Europe 4 Europe program, joining peers from across the EU to promote unity and understanding.
We also supported humanitarian and disaster relief efforts for those affected by the eastern conflict and provided extensive support to ShelterBox. These successes reflect the strength of our club—a core of dedicated members who work tirelessly to create positive change. Looking Forward Our vision remains clear: to grow, connect, and inspire.
With three new members joining this year and more on the way in 2025, our future looks bright. We’ve attracted younger, enthusiastic members who bring fresh ideas and energy to our activities. In the coming months, we will:
● Strengthen ties with local organizations like Roundtable and JCI.
● Host engaging meetings that spark joy and creativity.
● Expand our community projects and visibility through PR and social media.
● Build on our success to recruit new members who embody Rotary’s values.
Festive Spirit December is a time for togetherness, and our annual Christmas events reflect that spirit. Join us at the Christmas Glühwein Stand on Kennedy Square from December 13th to 15th. It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the season, connect with the community, and support our initiatives.
Also, our Christmas Window Competition in Old Town promises to light up the streets with festive creativity.
Let’s celebrate the joy and warmth of the holidays together. Starting the Annual Santa Ride from Limassol, the Island Angels, along with the Rotary Club of Limassol-Berengaria Cosmopolitan, will arrive at Paphos Harbour on December 24th. We will warmly welcome them, spreading Christmas cheer and delighting children with sweets, adding a special touch to the festive atmosphere.
A Personal Wish As your President, I want to express my gratitude for your trust and support. It is an honor to lead such a vibrant and committed group of individuals. Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” is a reminder of the incredible power we have to make a difference. May this holiday season bring you peace, joy, and cherished moments with loved ones. Let us enter the new year with renewed energy and a shared vision for the future.
We are thrilled to share a summary of the EuroMeeting 2024, a wonderful weekend of fellowship, collaboration, and Rotary spirit that brought together Rotarians from across Europe. With the dedicated contributions of our members and the warm participation of our guests, this event was a true celebration of Rotary values.
Our Goal: The EuroMeeting aimed to provide a platform for fellowship among European Rotary Clubs, reviving connections with old partners and building bridges with new ones. It served as a foundation for future collaborations while fostering enduring friendships.
Our Guests: We had the pleasure of hosting:
18 Rotarians from established and new partner clubs in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, and Poland.
6 visiting Rotarians from the UK.
A Warm Welcome: Our international guests were warmly greeted by:
11 Rotarians from the Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club, along with their partners and friends, making a total of 57 attendees.
Special guests: PDG Christina, IDG Peter, Past Vice President RI Nicki, P Nairy (RC Aspelia), and the Mayor of Paphos.
The exceptional team at the Anemi Hotel, who provided outstanding hospitality.
A Special Thanks: A heartfelt thank-you to our generous members, including Andre, Angelos, and Liza, whose sponsorship made this event even more special.
The Program: The weekend featured a variety of memorable events, including:
A welcome on the Wavedancer cruise.
The official opening cocktail.
House parties hosted by Andre, Carol, Elena, Pantelis, and Timo.
A charming village excursion.
A spectacular Gala Dinner.
The Executive Meeting and Farewell Gathering.
Each event was an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and strengthen bonds while upholding Rotary's mission of service and fellowship.
The Outcome: The EuroMeeting 2024 was a resounding success! Guests departed with cherished memories, a renewed commitment to Rotary ideals, and exciting plans for the future:
Estonia and Poland have expressed enthusiasm for continuing the Euromeeting tradition.
Plans are underway for a Mini EuroMeeting in January 2025 in Poland, featuring a Charity Gala.
Estonia will host the EuroMeeting 2026.
This event truly captured the spirit of Rotary, demonstrating the power of unity, collaboration, and friendship. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this remarkable gathering. We look forward to seeing you all at future meetings!
Embark on an exhilarating journey of connection and inspiration at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary!
Engage in riveting discussions, learn from distinguished speakers, and explore enlightening breakout sessions against the backdrop of Calgary's picturesque beauty nestled amid the Canadian Rockies.
Fueled by friendship and a spirit of collaboration, exchange best practices, ignite innovative projects, and form lifelong connections with fellow changemakers from around the world.
Take part in this transformative, one-of-a-kind event and experience the Magic All Around at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada 21-25 June 2025.
We are thrilled to announce that the Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club has sponsored Maria Yakimovich to represent Cyprus in this year's prestigious Europe 4 Europe (E4E) program!
The E4E program is an incredible initiative that brings together young leaders from across Europe to explore six EU countries. Participants gain a deeper understanding of the continent's diverse cultures, rich histories, and shared values. This journey not only broadens their horizons but also fosters meaningful connections that transcend borders.
Maria shared her experience with us: "The 2024 E4E trip through six EU states was an incredibly eye-opening experience. I am deeply grateful to the organizers and the Paphos Rotary, especially Carol and Thorsten, for nominating me. This journey offered profound insights into Europe's diverse cultures and histories, changing my perspective and forming unbreakable bonds with new friends across the EU and beyond. Thank you for this life-changing opportunity."
Join us in congratulating Maria on this amazing achievement and wishing her continued success in all her future endeavors!
President Timo Trog and Past President George Kafizas presented a cheque for €1,000 to the Margarita Liasidou Foundation, one of three charities who benefitted from the proceeds of our music event in May.
We started the evening by presenting cheques to two of the main charities we support, The Friends Hospice and The Autistic Society. PP Ian welcomed our guests Christine Burling RIDN, PDG Christina Covotsou-Patroclou, PPs Joachim and Nairy from Nicosia Aspelia RC, our AG Snezana Cvetkovic and P Jelena from Limassol Berengaria Cosmopolitan RC and Claudia from Rotary E Club Silicon Valley.
After a delicious buffet dinner thanks to Vasillia and Vassos, President Reda Youssef handed over the chain of office to our incoming President Timo Trog.
We had another special event during the evening as we welcomed our newest member Andre Passon who was pinned by P Timo.
Our new President is full of exciting new ideas and initiatives and we are sure will have a very successful year. Andre has already shown himself to be a keen and enthusiastic member and we are all looking forward to a new year for our Club.
We were very pleased to welcome DDG Tastan at last week's meeting. IP Timo presented his new Board and his ideas for projects during his year of office. The projects were discussed and after other business was finished, we ended the evening with a fun quiz.
Recent visitors to our Club were Viv and Tony Moore from Ironbridge Rotary Club. In Shropshire UK. Previous residents of Cyprus, Viv was a member of Limassol Berengeria Cosmopolitan RC, and they are both friends of Carol who was pleased to welcome them.
Recent visitors to our Club were Viv and Tony Moore from Ironbridge Rotary Club. In Shropshire UK. Previous residents of Cyprus, Viv was a member of Limassol Berengeria Cosmopolitan RC, and they are both friends of Carol who was pleased to welcome them.
Our 27th Anniversary Dinner became a night of awards and surprises!
PPs Thorsten and Ian were awarded PHFs, and PPs George and Carol were awarded Sapphire PHFs.
After a wonderful meal with members and guests, thanks to the staff at The Lodge, there were speeches and presentations before the cake was cut by our longest serving member Pantelis, and our newest member and incoming President Timo.
Congratulations to those who received much deserved recognition.
Today we were happy to welcome Rotarians Pat Dainter and Ron Dainter from Bury UK to our meeting. We were also delighted to have our young talented violinist Giannis Christodoulides with us. The Club is once again sponsoring him to attend the European Youth Orchestra Academy in Mannheim Germany next month.
A big Thank You to all those who organised, attended and supported our Race Night last Thursday. It was a great event and we raised over €900 for Shelterbox.
On Wednesday, 28th February we met Jacek Telenga and his wife from the Rotary Club Lublin Centrum in the Capital Coast Hotel in Paphos. We discussed our clubs, projects and of course we also exchanged our banners. Hopefully we will meet soon again.
As many of us are travelling and are not always available for personal meetings in Paphos we offered our members and friends our monthly online meeting again. This time we welcomed Charlie from Margate, UK again.
We will continue doing online meetings once a month again.
We had a wonderful fellowship at Poppadums Indian Restaurant this week.. Delicious food, excellent company and lots of chat. We also enjoyed meeting new friends, Paul and Paula, who recently arrived in Cyprus.
Our new member Timo Trog was officially welcomed into our Club after transferring from his old Club in Germany, and was presented with his membership certificate by PP Ian.
Our Club's Vasilopita Dinner at Neos in Peyia. The cake was cut by PP Pantelis and the coin was found by De,Ly's. An enjoyable evening with good food and good company!
we've had a successful year raising funds for our charities, In particular our main project of the year, the shelter boxes, which undoubtedly will benefit numerous people suffering disasters around the world, I thank you for your effort, support and hard work though out the year .
My wife Sheila and I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New year,
On Thursday the club members with friends and family enjoyed the annual Christmas dinner at Palia Ilektriki. The food was wonderful and we enjoyed great service form their team again. A big thanks to all our supporters. We all wish you a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic 2024.
At our last meeting we welcomed a return visit from Giannis Christodoulides, the young violinist who was sponsored by our Club to attend the European Youth Orchestra Academy in Mannheim, Germany. As the only Cypriot representative, Giannis spoke about his wonderful experience and then played some Mozart for us. He hopes to return to Mannheim next year and I am sure we will be pleased to sponsor him again.
Sunday we had our first event to raise funds for our Shelterbox Project. Despite the atrocious weather, we had a great afternoon at Tsangarides Winery and raised over €700. Thanks to our visitors for their support, especially DDG Tastan Altuner who came all the way from Kyrenia, our AG Snezana Cvetkovic and Jelena, President of Limassol Berengaria with some of her members. The Christmas Hamper raffle was won by a delighted Steve who couldn't wait to take it home and enjoy the contents! Finally a very special "Thank You" to our host and supporter Angelos Tsangarides who made our event possible.
Rotarian Anke opened her house and garden for our September fellowship. It was a full house with our Rotarians, friends and neighbors, kids and dogs. A big thanks also to Andrew who was in charge of the souvla and did a marvelous job. Thanks Anke for a fantastic evening.
Attendance at meetings is considered important for Rotary members for several reasons, reflecting the organization's values, principles, and the effectiveness of its service-oriented objectives.
Here are some key reasons:
Fellowship and Networking:
Rotary places a strong emphasis on fellowship and building relationships among its members. Regular attendance at meetings provides members with the opportunity to connect with each other, fostering a sense of camaraderie and friendship.
Information Sharing:
Meetings serve as a platform for members to share information about Rotary projects, initiatives, and community activities. This ensures that all members are well-informed about the organization's ongoing efforts and can contribute effectively.
Organizational Updates:
Rotary is an international organization with various levels and committees. Meetings provide a forum for disseminating updates on district and global Rotary activities, as well as information about changes in leadership, policies, and procedures
Service Planning and Coordination:
Attendance is crucial for planning and coordinating community service projects. Members need to be present to discuss and organize upcoming events, allocate responsibilities, and ensure the smooth execution of initiatives.
Professional Development:
Rotary meetings often include presentations or talks on relevant topics, contributing to the professional development of its members. Exposure to diverse ideas and discussions can broaden members' perspectives and enhance their knowledge.
Rotary's Four-Way Test:
Rotary adheres to the Four-Way Test, a set of ethical guidelines that members use in both their personal and professional lives. Regular attendance reflects a commitment to the principles of truth, fairness, goodwill, and beneficial outcomes
Building Trust and Accountability:
Consistent attendance demonstrates commitment and accountability, building trust among members. Trust is essential for effective collaboration and the successful implementation of Rotary's humanitarian and community service projects.
Inspirational and Motivational:
Rotary meetings often feature speakers who share inspirational stories or insights. Regular attendance provides members with the opportunity to be motivated and inspired, reinforcing their commitment to Rotary's mission.
Leadership Opportunities:
Active participation in meetings is often a precursor to leadership roles within Rotary. Members who attend regularly are more likely to be considered for leadership positions where they can contribute more significantly to the organization's objectives.
Fun and Enjoyment:
Rotary values the idea of having fun while serving the community. Meetings are designed to be enjoyable and uplifting, creating a positive atmosphere that encourages members to actively engage in Rotary activities.
While attendance is encouraged, Rotary recognizes that members have other commitments, and flexibility is often given to accommodate busy schedules. The emphasis is on active participation and a genuine commitment to Rotary's mission of service above self.
Remember why going to our meetings is part of being a Rotarian
After our summer break we met in the Anemi Hotel and it was great to see all our members again. We also welcomed Jane Vice-Long with her husband from the Bury Abbey Rotary Club in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.
At our final meeting before the summer break, we were delighted to welcome Giannis Christodoulides and his father Savvas. Giannis is 17 years old and a very talented violinist who attends the Paphos Music School and also was awarded a Scholarship to study advanced technique at the Nicosia University.
Giannis auditioned, and was accepted to participate in a European Youth Orchestra Academy organised by the Rotary Club of Mannheim-Rhein-Neckar as a RYLA Project. He is the only Cypriot to be accepted with students from all over Europe.
We are so impressed by this talented young man and unanimously agreed to sponsor him. He will come back later in the year to tell us about his experiences in Germany and also to play for us. Well done Giannis, I am sure you will make Paphos (and Cyprus) proud of you!
After 2 years being president out our club Juergen Krekeler handed over to our new president Reda Youssef. A big thanks to Juergen for all his work he has done with his team.
Congratulations to Reda and we wish him a successful year. It was great to see so many Rotarian friends from several other clubs as well as many supporters of our club. Big thanks also to the team at THE LODGE who looked after us. We all had a fantastic evening and looking forward to the new Rotary year.
Two of our members attended a recent event where we were allowed to have a charity raffle. A lovely lady called Gail won the huge food hamper, which she said she would share with her friends, and €235 was raised for the Friend's Hospice. Thank you to our Club members for their donations.
Polio – what does that word mean to you? To some of us, those of a somewhat more advanced age, it will likely conjour up mental pictures of children walking with calipers and patients confined to an iron lung. To younger people polio may mean little or nothing. Polio was a fearsome and much feared disease which particularly affected children, a disease eliminated from Britain (and Cyprus) and most of the world.
This remarkable feat was achieved thanks to almost universal vaccination (the first vaccine came out in 1953 and earned its inventor, Jonas Salk, a Nobel prize and the gratitude of millions). Despite cynicism about covid vaccines it has to be acknowledged that vaccines have transformed disease control and in the case of polio made its complete eradication possible.
In1988 the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was founded and since then polio cases have been reduced by 99.9%.Rotary International has been a part of the Initiative since its inception and Rotary Clubs have contributed the staggering sum of $2.1 billion. Many Rotary volunteers have participated in mass vaccination programmes across the world.
Now polio is only endemic in 2 countries – Pakistan and Afghanistan ( and Pakistan is well on the way to being polio free). It is tempting to think of polio as ‘their problem’ and that we need do no more. But until polio is eradicated- until it ceases to exist anywhere – we cannot rest. Traces of polio virus were found in London water last year and, because polio is no long the feared spectre it was, vaccination rates have dropped, leaving people vulnerable.
Every Rotary Club in the world – all 14,000 – in Cyprus, UK Germany, Russia ,Pakistan among many in virtually every country – is pledged to continuing the fight against polio until it is completely eradicated.
Rotary Clubs see defeating polio as ‘our fight’. We in Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club regularly send funds to buy vaccine ans support its use. Indeed, every time we have a guest speaker we donate 100 euros in their name.
So, when you see one of our members collecting for the End Polio Now campaign, please give generously. Help us to make this only the second disease to be wiped off the earth. We are so close to winning but inevitably the last round takes the greatest effort.
Quiz question: What is the only disease that has been completely eradicated?
As most readers will be aware the prestigious American University of Beirut is opening an off shoot in Paphos, building next to AlphaMega in Kato Paphos.
We entertained the Rector of the University, who gave a good sized audience a talk on the plans they have. In brief they start taking in students in September and are planning to expand at around 200 students per year until they reach their target of 2000. Students will come from all over the Eastern Mediterranean area as well as from countries such as the US, UK and Germany.
This is a great coup for Paphos, which was selected ahead of the UAE. Thu University, a long established charitable institution, will provide jobs and income for the city.
B is for bees
A second guest at our club was Dr Manfred Lange who is a leader of Rotary Cyprus’s Pollinator project. He explained the pressing need to encourage pollinating insects including, though not exclusively, bees. Rotary Clubs across the island are working with communities to establish areas that attract pollinators and to educate the public on the need.
This was a very informative presentation (worrying in places , when talking about global warming) and inspired our club members to take forward our own plans to develop pollinator gardens.
C is for Concert
Our Rotary Club is not all about serious things. We like to have fun, too. And to raise money for charity. So we are planning our fourth Rock Concert, which will take place in Tala Arena in June. A great night is guaranteed and we hope to raise more than the €3000 from last year. Keep an eye on Facebook and this publication for date, tickets etc.
If any of this interests you and you would like to help us and attend events, either as a full member or as a supporter we would love to hear from you. Give me a ring on 96418623 or mail me at ian.graves@mac.com. You will receive a warm welcome to our club and the fascinating and worthwhile world of Rotary.
Rotarians at work! A start to prepare the ground for our Pollinator Garden at the Learning Refuge in Paphos. This centre provides support and assistance to refugee and asylum seeker families and also the underage young people who are currently housed in the New York Plaza apartments. As you can see we had two mini Rotarians to help us as well as two young Afghan boys. It was hard work, so well done! Updates on the progress of the garden will follow.
Our guest speaker in March was Dr. Manfred Lange who spoke about the idea of Pollinator Gardens and explained how they benefit our environment. We had many ideas, good questions and interesting discussions.
Today is pretty grim – hail, rain, wind! Winter is here. But thankfully by the time you read this we will be looking forward to spring.
Spring is the time for action and Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club is already springing (forgive the pun) into action. We have been planning our programme of events and fundraising so I am writing at more length than usual (editors willing) because without you and your support we can not achieve our aims.
So firstly, what are our aims? One is to bring people together in common cause because as we all know people working together can achieve far more than on their own. Those causes and aims are to improve the lives of others, whether by education or our efforts or by raising funds for others. We are planning to work in all those ways.
Education: A major push by Rotary across Cyprus is to encourage people to understand the necessity for assisting pollinators, such as bees (though many other insects pollinate also). We are helping to create pollinator gardens at the Learning Refuge, Hope Farm and our own little patch in Mesa Chorio. Pollinator Gardens are really simple- essentially they are just areas within a garden or open space filled with plants that attract bees and insects. If you are interested in the pollinator project look at http://rotary-cyprus.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ROTARY-Cyprus-pollinatorProject Flyer eng.pdf
By our own efforts: You may have noticed that there is quite a lot of rubbish by the roads and streets of Paphos. On March 18th Rotarians will take part in a clean up operation on Europis Avenue (ERA to the triangle) which we hope will be the first of many such events. Of course the help of others would be much appreciated so if you think a tidy town is important come and join us – keep an eye on Facebook.
Raising Funds
For three years now we have put on a rock concert in the summer and we will be doing the same this year. It will be in Tala Amphitheatre and will feature two acts. If it is as good as previous years there will be much fun and dancing. Proceeds go to our charities. Keep your eyes out for publicity and please join us.
We are also planning to put on other events and to run raffles at other music events.
And lastly – did you know that there was a Rotary Square in Paphos and have you been there? It is a little hidden, just off Kennedy Square with entrances from Kiniras Hotel and Palia Elektriki. Although it bears our name it has not been used for much – so far. We have plans to put on a number of events there, starting with a craft market in late spring/early summer. So find out where it is and come along.
Just typing about the programme we have has worn me out but we are excited as well. If you feel that you would like to get involved in any way , either by joining our club or just coming along to help you can contact me at ian.graves@mac.com.
The motto of Rotary is Service Above Self and we do our best to live up to it.
Our speaker in February was Dr. Wassim El-Hajj, the Rector of the new American University of Beirut Mediterraneo. We had many guests at our meeting who were interested in hearing about the history of the AUB and the development of the new campus in Paphos.
We would like to extend an invitation to attend a presentation where the Rector of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo will share the vision of the new university due to open in Paphos with its first student intake in September 2023.
Details are as follows:
Location: Anemi Hotel – Paphos - https://anemihotel.com/
Date: Thursday 23rd February Time: 20h00
Guest Speaker: Dr. Wassim El-Hajj-Rector of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo.
RSVP: As space is limited, please RSVP by Monday 19 February to Rob Ullrich on either Mobile No:. 95767714 or email: robtradeup@gmail.com
Brief Bio of Dr. Wassim El-HAjj
Wassim El-Hajj is tenured Professor of Computer Science at the American University of Beirut (AUB).
He received his BS degree from AUB in 2000, and the MS and Ph.D. degrees in 2002 and 2006, respectively, from Western Michigan University (WMU), all in Computer Science.
Right after his graduation, he joined the Information Security department at UAE University as an assistant professor. He then joined the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at AUB as a visiting professor and then joined the Computer Science department as a full-time faculty member in 2011.
In 2013, he was elected to Chair the department of Computer Science and served for two terms until 2019. He was promoted to Associate Professor in June 2014, and to Professor in June 2021.
In 2019, he was appointed as the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at AUB leading the eLearning and entrepreneurship strategies, and attending to student concerns.
In September 2021, he was appointed as the Executive Director of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo project, AUB’s first ever twin campus abroad, leading on and participating in all the project aspects including strategic planning, local and US accreditation, legal agreements, HR matters, communications, finance, procurement, and housing.
In January 2023, he was apppinted as the Rector of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting
The new American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo will share the vision of the new university due to open in Paphos
Frist Meeting in January 2023, Vice President Ian cut the Vasilopita cake at Hazelli Taverna in Tala. He won the coin, but passed the gift of wine to PP George. Lovely food and a cosy evening by the fire.
A fantastic day at our annual Gluehwein Event on Kennedy Square today. We have been very busy selling Gluehwein and sausages to our friends and visitors. Thanks to everyone who supported us to raise money for all the causes we are supporting. We are very tiered but happy and in the Christmas mood. We had fun and enjoyed Paphos during this festive season even more. Merry Christmas and a good 2023.
Our Rotarians will be back in Kennedy Square this coming weekend to serve you our delicious gluhwein and hot sausages. Please come and join us, have a chat and spread some Christmas Cheer!
Jennifer Jones, the first woman to become president of Rotary International, visited Cyprus to take part in the International Rotary Institute conference, held in Limassol between November 9-13.
During the conference, which took place for the first time in Cyprus, Rotary officials from 40 countries gathered to discuss pressing issues such as disease prevention, education, the climate crisis, and social inclusion, as well as Rotary’s role in tackling them.
During her time in Cyprus, Ms Jones and other Rotary delegates, both local and foreign, visited the village of Ora which was devasted by a wildfire in July 2021 to see how Rotary contributed to its rebuilding.
Moreover, the Rotary president saw the ground-breaking work of the Karaiskakio Foundation, which recently received 40,000 dollars worth of equipment for its Children’s Cancer Diagnostic Laboratory, by the Rotary Clubs of Cyprus who collaborated with other Rotary clubs abroad to raise the amount.
In an interview with in-cyprus, Ms Jones talks about Rotary’s contribution to global humanitarian efforts and the role that storytelling can play in charity.
She stresses that she is focused on building new relationships with organisations around the globe that share Rotary’s vision of humanitarian service, while being committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Jennifer Jones, president of Rotary International talks to in-cyprus about the organisation’s humanitarian work
Last Thursday we had a Fellowship evening at Melitzia Taverna in Tala with partners and friends. A wonderful Meze was served while we planned our Gluhwein event.
For the first time in Cyprus Rotary History, the Zone 21 Institute will be held in Limassol Cyprus between the 9th and 13th of November 2022, thanks to the efforts of Past Rotary International Director Katerina Kotsali Papademetriou and Past District Governor Christina Covotsou-Patroclou. The opening ceremony is on the 10th of November at the Carob Mill whilst the main sessions of the conference are at the Elias Beach Hotel.
It is considered a great honour for a country to be selected as the host of the Institute and particularly to host the Rotary International President at this event. It puts Cyprus Rotary and Cyprus as a destination, in the limelight of Rotary throughout the world.
Rotary dignitaries from 40 countries which include many European countries and some from the Middle East and Africa have already booked their participation.
The full programme of the institute can be found on the www.limassolinstitute2022.org website. The delegates will be addressing crucial and current issues such as Disease prevention, basic education, the environment, girl empowerment, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, development of partnerships. The Institute also serves as a forum for networking opportunities, exchanging ideas and updates on the developments, initiatives, and priorities of Rotary International from global and regional perspectives.
President of Rotary International Jennifer Jones, the first woman to be elected in this post, will be participating in the Institute. President Jones is a charismatic and inspiring leader and a seasoned Rotarian, who has served in multiple key roles in Rotary International and the highly acclaimed Rotary Foundation
During her one-year term as President, Jones is focussing on building new relationships and establishing collaborations with organizations that share Rotary’s commitment to driving impact through humanitarian service and to developing leaders around the globe. She has also made Rotary’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion a key part of her presidential platform.
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.
Since World War II Rotary’s Charity Foundation has sponsored more than $4 billion in projects worldwide, it puts to use approximately 47 million volunteer hours of service each year, serving humanity.
Nearer home, Cyprus Rotary is among the very few organisations that operate across the dividing line of our country. Rotarians from all the communities of Cyprus proudly work together in harmony to serve humanity.
Cypriot Rotary Clubs (RCs) have over the years been instrumental in delivering many projects to meet community needs. The flagship project is the recent purchase of equipment for the Childhood Cancer Diagnostic Centre at the Karaiskakio Foundation
This state-of-the-art laboratory, the cost of which was to the tune of $400.000, determines the type of cancer in children and young adults and recommends a treatment that minimises collateral damage due to cancer treatment.
The Karaiskakio Foundation offers its services free of charge to all Cypriot communities, without any discrimination on grounds of religion or ethnicity.
In response to the Covid 19 pandemic, Cyprus Rotary clubs donated in 2020, 4 ICU beds to the Nicosia hospital valued at $108.000 and medical equipment to the Kyrenia hospital valued at $45.000.
Among International personas who served as Rotarians are Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, John F Kennedy, Neil Armstrong, Guglielmo Marconi, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, and Pope Francis is an active Rotary supporter.
A small group of our members travelled to Limassol to meet George Azar, our District Governor. At the dinner it was good to catch up with some of our fellow Rotarians from the Limassol Clubs
Our speaker in September was Mary Beth Trotter, Assistant Director at the Episkopi(Paphos) Environmental Centre. She explained what the centre had to offer and also about the beautiful nature in the Ezousa Valley. We were then treated to some fresh carob flavoured soutzouko, a cup of herb infused zivania and then our hands were soft and perfumed with cream made with geranium and patchouli, all from the village.
At our September fellowship we met with friends, family, members and other Rotarians for our September fellowship at Gabriel’s Tavern in Kouklia. Nice food and great entertainment.
We think everyone who attended our Charity Concert had a great time.
Thanks to some superb music from Ronn van Etten, New Rules Duo and Marios Danos and the Dizzy Bees.
The Friend's Hospice and the Margarita Liasidou Foundation will benefit from the funds raised. Thanks must also go to our generous sponsors for their support.
Congratulations to our new and old president Juergen Krekeler who will serve the club with his team for another year. We therefore had only a nice fellowship and not a big handover event. Great evening and a big thanks to the team at the Acropolis Tavern.
On Sunday, 26th June 2022, during the 4th Honey & Beekeeping Festival of Odou, the Official Opening of the "Bee Life" "Μέλισσα Ζωή" Queen Bee Artificial Insemination Center and Honey Quality Control Laboratory took place. DDG Peter Ashdjian gave an opening speech giving insight on the conception of the idea one year ago by Cyprus Rotary Clubs and the Bank of Cyprus. He noted the valuable contribution that the Center will bring in cooperation with government and local Officials and thanked all parties for their help to make the "Bee Life" Center a reality, with special mentions for Ora's Community Leader, Mr. Menelaos Philippou, the president of Troodos Network, the president of the Cyprus Beekeepers Association Παγκύπριος Σύνδεσμος Μελισσοκόμων - Κέντρο Μελισσοκομίας Κύπρου and all Rotarians involved.
The Center is a collaboration of the Rotary clubs of Cyprus with the Bank of Cyprus that will offer a new dynamic in bee reproduction, restoration of the lost bee hives, protection of the native Cypriot bee and improvement in the quality of Cypriot honey.
We enjoyed our 25th anniversary party at the Anemi Hotel on the roof top bar. Thanks to all our guests, members, sponsors and supporters who joined us to celebrate.
25 years ago -on April 25th, 1997 to be precise - our Rotary Club was founded in Paphos, Cyprus. Since then the members of the club are serving our community, people in need and many institutions and organisations. I want to thank all of you for your voluntary service for so many years.
Such an anniversary well deserves a celebration. On May 28th, 2022 we will celebrate then 25 years of Paphos Aphrodite Rotary club in Anemi Hotel (see invitation below). I hope I can welcome many of our members with their families and friends.
I’m sure if you’re a Rotarian you have been asked, “What is Rotary”?
If you’re one of our guests and told someone you were going to a Rotary meeting today, you may have been asked , “what is Rotary”?
My 18 year old godson asked me that question a few months ago. He said, Thorsten, “What is Rotary” ?
Now I can say, “Rotary is an international service club of 1.4 million business and professional men and women who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build good will and peace in the world”. But that really doesn’t say what Rotary is!
Rotary may be and is:
Taking 2 hours out of your day to attending a regular meeting with 10 to 20 men and women from different walks of life, turning off your phone, enjoying stimulating conversation and hearing a great speaker like we had last Thursday about mental health issues with Derek
Getting up early on a cold crisp November morning to help with a fundraising for needy families at Papantoniou supermarket in Chlorakas.
Setting up and helping at the Gluehwein Stall with Julia and team each December.
Planting trees with Rob and Carol in Letymbou village
Preparing out 25th club anniversary, working on our Photobook and search for a venue with our members
Working with Carol and Ian on our Facebook page and Website.
Working with George on the next Concert in the summer
Having a great party, going to a convention or making new friends!!!
The largest humanitarian project ever conceived by a service club; eradicating polio from the world.
I could go on and on and on!!!! Rotary may be and is all of those things and much, much more. Rotary is the projects that clubs like ours decide to do; there are 46,000 clubs in the Rotary world all doing worthy projects.
Look around the room. What you see, is the face of Rotary. Rotary is the same around the world men and women meeting together in clubs. The club is the heart of Rotary; all that is done in Rotary starts in a club.
Here in our club you could be sitting at the table with a teacher from Germany, a lawyer from Cyprus, a psychiatrist from Ireland or an accountant from England. Such diversity of membership brings unique perspectives to a club and is one of the major strengths of what Rotary is.
The Four Way Test
From the earliest days of Rotary, Rotarians were concerned about promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world’s most widely printed and quoted statements on business is the “ Four Way Test”. It was created by Rotarian Herbert Taylor in 1932 for his staff at an Aluminum Company that was facing bankruptcy. He found that by putting these 24 words into practice the employees were able to turn the company around. The Four Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into hundreds of languages published in thousands of ways.
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
What I like best about Rotary is the Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club. I’ve been involved in lots of Rotary projects, visited lots of other Rotary clubs, attended conventions and conferences, but for me;
At our last meeting, some of our members and guests found our speaker's topic very interesting and thought provoking. Thank you to Derek Holt who spoke to us about the stigma of mental health issues and lack of support and understanding in our society, also the struggle to get apporopriate treatment. There were many questions raised afterwards, and Derek was warmly thanked by President Juergen.
Our members and visitors enjoyed a meze and fellowship evening in Emba Village. President Juergen welcomed our visitors and exchanged banners with our special guest DDG Hassan Airais from RC of Dubai.
Applications for Rotary’s Peace Fellowship are now open! Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully-funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centers.
Learn more and share this opportunity for the 2023-24 academic year with peace and development leaders in your community. https://on.rotary.org/3ARHP6U
Applications for Rotary’s Peace Fellowship are now open!
Last Sunday we planted more than 200 trees in the beautiful village of Letymbou. Thanks to all the volunteers for their attendance and made this happen, Paphos Aphrodite Rotary for the donation of the trees and the Community of Letymbou and 100,000 trees for Paphos, for the co-organization. It was good fund and the weather was perfect.
In December last year the Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club decided again to support Shelterbox (https://www.shelterbox.org/) and our club donated Euro 500 to this worthwhile charity.
In 2012, ShelterBox became Rotary International’s first Project Partner and remains the only disaster relief charity.
As you can see our club has supported Shelterbox for many years:
2006 our Box went to Islamabad, Pakistan
2010 our Box went to Haiti - For those made homeless by the devastating earthquake
2014 our box helped in the below destinations:
- Pakistan - To assist those affected by flooding.
- Niger - To assist those affected by conflict.
2020 the donated money will help Shelterbox in several countries
Right now, more than 113 million people around the world have been made homeless by disaster and conflict. We’re working to change this.
By providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, we’re transforming despair into hope.
We want to see a world where no family is left without shelter after disaster.
Our Vasilopita dinner at Hazeli in Tala also turned into a Liverpool fan club outing. We had a great night with President Juergen cutting the cake with a sword, and our lovely waiter Marios getting the coin.
A happy end to the year at Paphos-Aphrodite with the award of a Sapphire PHF to PDG David Whindle in recognition of his continued support for the Club. Secondly our new member Anke Ulisch was pinned by President Juergen.
Thanks to all supporters who joint us today. Unfortunately we have to cancel our event tomorrow due to bad weather forecast. Merry Christmas from all of us and a very happy new year.
Chris Jones ~ the Trustee President of the Friends Hospice is pictured here receiving another wonderful donation of €624.09 from our club. Juergen Krekeler recently held a fund raising house warming party for fellow Rotarians. What a clever idea! We're completely with Juergen who felt that the 9 cents was important ~ all those 9 cents add up for sure! Thank you so much for all your support.
These wonderful helper volunteers from TLC made our morning a real fun event handing out water to the marathon runners. Thank you and well-done kids, you absolutely rock.
Last week our members worked with Avgerinos charity at Papantoniou Chloraka to collect food for families in need at Christmas. Several trolley loads of food were donated as well as over €250 which will also be used to buy food. Thank you to all who helped us.
Our members and three members of Paphos Rotary Club met for lunch last week with DG Ashot Karapetyan and DDG Peter Ashdjian in Honey Restaurant, Paphos.
DG Ashot Karapetyan, with DDG Peter Ashdjian, visited our Rotary Square, admired the mosaic of the Rotary Wheel, and then was introduced to Sharen Taylor who designed and made it.
We had a busy time during our fellowship evening at The Lodge Restaurant. First of all we pinned two new members.
Congratulations
to Robin Ullrich and Panayiotis Kyriakou. Then cheques for €1500 each were presented to Fytoula from the Margarita Liasidou Foundation, and also to Chris Jones from the Friends Hospice. This was money raised at our recent Rock Concert. Finally we were honoured to welcome PDG Kevork Mahdessian and DDG Hassan Al Rais from the RC of Dubai who joined us for dinner.
We were honoured to welcome the CEO of the Hellenic Bank, Oliver Gatzke, as our speaker this evening. He spoke about banking and the Cyprus economy to an appreciative audience, who later had several questions. Oliver was presented with a certificate stating that the Club would make a donation to RI Polio Fund on his behalf. There were several visitors, including two PDGs, one AG and one President from the UK.
We were honoured to welcome the CEO of the Hellenic Bank, Oliver Gatzke, as our speaker this September. He spoke about banking and the Cyprus economy to an appreciative audience, who later had several questions. Oliver was presented with a certificate stating that the Club would make a donation to RI Polio Fund on his behalf. There were several visitors, including two PDGs, one AG and one President from the UK.
Congratulations! Our club has earned the Rotary Citation, the most significant award a Rotary club can achieve, for 2020-21. During a year that was challenging for many Rotarians around the world, our club demonstrated a commitment to achieve its goals, which ultimately helps strengthen Rotary and shape our future. Well done and thanks for all your help and support.
Rotary International Award: Rotary Citation 2020-2021
The bands from this years Charity concert at the Pissouri Amphitheatre. On The Wave, Murphy's Brother in Law and The Cover Up. Thank you to all who came to support us and also a big thank you to our sponsors. All profits will go to The Friends Hospice and The Margarita Liasidou Foundation in Paphos.
We had our first speaker event in the new Rotary year. The General Manager from the Anemi Hotel, Mrs Evelyn Cleanthous Komodromou, spoke to us about 'The impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the Tourism and Hospitality industry in Cyprus and future plans".
A fantastic presentation and a lively discussion. Thanks to everybody involved.
The Rotary Clubs of Cyprus helping the victims of the fire and firefighters with food and water, they need a generator and more will be needed today, tomorrow and the next few weeks and months.
We are helping but need funds urgently.
Please donate now that we can continue to help. Please do it now:
We had a very nice Gala Handover Ceremony Dinner with the support of our new DDG Peter Ashdjian. We also pinned two new members and awarded 2 Paul Harris fellowship awards to George Kafizas and Erland Carl. A big thanks to the Anemi Hotel and their excellent team who looked after us and their chefs for an amazing meal. Thanks for supporting our club and we wish our new president Juergen Krekeler a successful year.
Several of our members watched the opening ceremony of the District Conference in Bahrain while enjoying a drink and a buffet meal. Thanks to Julia for the cake!
Welcome to Paphos-Aphrodite Rotary Club Art Sale, a joint effort with renowned Iranian artist Elham Razani, to raise funds for ShelterBox and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Makarios Hospital in Cyprus.
Buy stunning Original Art to support Life Saving Charities
This is an opportunity to beautify your home or workplace and also help people in extreme situations or children with serious medical needs.
Elham Razani is a renowned Iranian artist, who has exhibited her paintings in four continents and who is equally happy painting abstracts or works that pay homage to her Persian heritage. A dedicated artist, each work is a work of love.
Her husband, Robin, is a Rotarian of Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club and he recognised the opportunity to make a significant contribution to worthwhile Rotary projects through the sale of Elham’s work.
Therefore of the proceeds of this sale, both original and in print form, 20% will be given to either ShelterBox or the Paediatric Ward at Makarios hospital in Nicosia – see the descriptions on the website.
When you buy you will be given the choice of charity you wish to support. This is an excellent opportunity to purchase exquisite art and to make a significant contribution to two worthy causes.
We recently met with Thorsten Quakernack, President of the Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club, to find out more about him and his life as a Rotarian. The Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club is for local and international residents, as meetings take place in English, so that language is not a barrier.
Our club members (including our Easter Bunnies) did a great job last Saturday with Avgerinos Charity to collect money, food and baby product donations for Paphos families in need. Several trolley loads of food and a total of €365 will help so many families. Thank you to all those who donated and especially a local farmer who promised a donation of 300 eggs.
We had our first fellowship and we all enjoyed it very much at Muse, Paphos. As one of our members commented: 'The venue was perfect, food amazing & how wonderful to socialize with our fellow club members, especially new members we have not had an opportunity to meet in person till now. So nice to have a little bit of normality back in our lives.' We all had a good time and felt safe.
For this meeting we decided to support Robin's kitchen. Our members ordered lasagna and tiramisu from Robin's kitchen and collected it but we ate all together our meals via Zoom.
It was a very nice meal and good fun.
Imagine every commercial kitchen in your City donating a meal for every sale they make... no one in your City will ever go hungry!
You might think is impossible and yet, a well run kitchen can produce an extra meal for every sale and still manage to cover all the associated costs, as long as the owners don't keep the profit to themselves.
Robin's kitchen is a non-profit kitchen with a unique selling proposition:
“For every meal you buy, we donate one to people in need.”
The new plaque below the Rotary mosaic is now installed on our new Rotary Square. Now we give credit to the artist but also to our contributor RC of Westport, CT, USA and to our own club.
A big thanks to George who organized it all for us, from the design to the installation. Well done !
Grassroots at the core, Rotary links 1.2 million members to form an organization of international scope. It started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities.
On Thursday the first trees got planted in the village of Choletria in the Paphos region. A big thanks to the team from '100,000 trees in Paphos' , Choletria council as well as to Happy Garden CY. More trees will be planted shortly. Due to the restrictions we are slowed down. A big thanks to all our supporters, their donations and the hard work of our planters. If you like to support us please donate via our website. Thank you very much.
We know have purchased and selected the trees for Choletria village. We bought 40 Olive trees and 40 Carob trees and they are now delivered and will be planted shortly Thanks for everybody supporting our Trees project this year.
Please continue to donate via our website or via GoGetFunding. Thanks for your help and support.
Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Paphos-Aphrodite Rotary Club members have worked hard to support local families in need with food and other essentials.
Due to a public collection and further donations, we have been able to donate €800 euros worth of food and baby supplies to Avgerinos. This charity will distribute these to families who still need ongoing support at this time.
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We would also like to thank Papantoniou Supermarkets for their kind offer of a discount on the items purchased which means the families will benefit even more.
As we would like to help more, therefore please help your fellow citizens in Paphos and donate now:
Today Sharen Taylor installed with the help of our members the new Rotary Wheel mosaic in the new Rotary Square. It is looking great. Thanks for all your support and we wish you all a good start for 2021.
On Saturday, 19th December 2020 our club and members of the charity 'Agkaliazw me Agapi' collected money and food donations in front of the Papantoniou Supermarket in Chlorakas.
It was a fun event and public donated generously to this cause, which was very much appreciated. A big thanks to everybody who donated and to the management and staff of Papantoniou Supermarkets in Chlorakas who
have been fantastic hosts as they not only looked after us but also gave us a discount and free delivery.
The Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club is helping families in Paphos who need support by providing the Charity 'Hugs with Love' - 'Agkaliazw me Agapi' with food and baby items.
A big thanks to Papantoniou Supermarkets who gave us a discount for our shopping and free delivery. BRAVO
A great night out with fantastic food, a great atmosphere and amazing people at our October fellowship. A big thanks to the team at Casa Mespilea who provided us with a delicious 5 course meal which was FANTASTIC !!
Join us for World Polio Day as global health experts and partners share our progress on the road to polio eradication. Visit the Rotary International Facebook page to watch with other end polio supporters.
On Thursday, 15th October 2020,we welcomed our guest speakers His Excellency the Swedish Ambassador Anders Hagelberg and the director of The Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, Salpy Eskidjian Weiderind who gave us an understanding on the ongoing process. Members of the Swedish Association and friends of Rotary supported this event. Thanks for a very interesting meeting.
Lovely evening with fellow Rotarians, attended by Juergen and Carol. This was a fundraising dinner in support of Beirut organized by our clubs in Limassol.
Great speaker at our Club last Thursday. Derek Holt from Cyprus Helpers group who set up a system to help families and others in need when the Covid crisis had such a devastating effect. We worked with their volunteers to distribute our food parcels.
David and De,Ly's helped with delivering the food parcels to Tracy and Trevor last Friday. Only one more week of funding left with 96 parcels delivered so far.
The Paphos-Aphrodite RC is the main contributor to a new square in the revitalized Old Town of Paphos.
This new public square for Paphos, where people can enjoy an open, urban space andrelaxbut it will also raise awareness of the work Rotary does.
With the money the club will help the municipality to create this wonderful new space but we also indirectly support the local economy and secure jobs.
The Rotary Square will be enjoyed by locals and tourists as a destination.
Last week we enjoyed a walk through the new Rotary Square and it looks very good already. We will keep you posted about the development of the Rotary Square.
Our handover dinner took place at Palia Ilektriki Restaurant this evening. Past President Ian Graves presented incoming President Thorsten Quakernack with his chain of office. We enjoyed a delicious buffet and great fellowship after only meeting on Zoom for many weeks.
“100,000 Trees in Paphos” is a citizen’s initiative aiming at mobilizing, local authorities, the Forestry Department and institutions to facilitate a massive tree- planting project in 2020 - 2021 with the Paphos Aphrodite Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Toronto Bay Bloor, Canada.
Paphos, is already facing the effects of global warming in the form of extended heatwave periods. Scientific projections are sketching a very unpleasant picture for the future with rising temperatures and a process of desertification reshaping the Cypriot landscape in the next few decades. There is a scientific consensus that reforestation can help combat climate change, soil corrosion and desertification and significantly reduce temperatures in urban environments. We do not wish to sit back and watch the effects of climate change destroy our habitats and make life on the island unbearable.
One tree costs between Euro 3 to Euro 10.
Buy a tree as a present for family and/or friends.
The sample collection takes less than a minute and is only mildly uncomfortable. Today the staff at the Margarita Liasidou Foundation took part in testing for Coronavirus which was sponsored by our club. We hope that no positive tests will be returned. Thanks to everyone involved.
On September 10th the Club welcomed Didstrict Governor Schawkat Tadros, from Jordan, to its weekly meeting. Schakat set out his vision for District 2452 and exchaged Club banners with President Ian Graves.
The Club signed off in style on the evening of 26 July before its August recess, with a great evening at To Tavernaki, a restaurant rapidly gaining a top reputation. We were particularlypleased to welcome distinguished visitors from RC Nicosia-Salamis - Deputy District Governor George Psimolophites and President Anna Hadjimarcou, plus Litsa Aresti.
The Anemi did us proud on Friday 28th June with a first class dinner to end the 2018-19 Rotsry Year and begin the 2019-20 one. Outgoing President George Kafizas handed the Chain of Office to his successor Ian Graves; two new Members were inducted; a cheque for 6,000 euros was presented to the Margarita Liasidou Foundation https://margaritafoudation.net, and our excellent Club Secretary Carol received a Paul Harris Fellowship Award to recognise her outstanding service to the Rotary Movement over many years.
George (right) passes the baton to Ian.
A well deserved charity contribution. The Foundation does some great work.
Induction of new Club Member Reda Youssef
A surprised and delighted Carol Heads receives her PHF Award
Around 200 Rotarians, guests and visitors enjoyed a great evening of music and dancing at Tala Amphitheatre on June 15th, with the brilliant blues of Zilla Project and the contemporary sound of Cover Up. Te event raised over 3700 euros for local charities
Zilla Project down with the blues
Cover Up performing with panache.
EXCELLENT EVENING AT TAVERNA KONIA
Club members and guests enjoyed some top class food and drink at Taverna Konia on 23 May, and also raised 150 Euros for charity.
Club members and guests passed a very enjoyable evening at the Carpe Diem Lounge on Saturday May 11th, placing bets on video races and thereby earning lots of money for the Margarita Liasidou Foundation for adults and children with learning difficulties https://margaritafoundation.net. Many thanks to Rtn Ian Graves for his excellent event organisation.
Our Master Potter, Rotarian Panicos Georgiades, opened his premises, Savvas Pottery at Geroskipou, to Rotarians, guests and visitors on Saturday April 13th to allow adults and keen chidren to try their hand at making or painting their own pot. An excellent community event as in past years, and 400 euros were raised for the Margarita Lisasidou Foundation, https://www.margaritafoundation.net our main chairty for this Rotary year. Many thanks to all our volunteers, and particular thanks to the Master Potter himself.
On March 31st Club members and guests consumed some excellent food and wine courtesy of vintner and Club member Angelos Tsangarides. Angelos's description of the winemaking process and the properties and styles of the various wines on offer was particularly instructive. In the Webmaster's opinion, this is one of the best local boutique wineries.
An enthusiastic team of Club members acted as marshals for the Paphos Marathon and other races on Sunday 17 March. This great community event is an excellent fund-raiser for local charities.
Mostly it is a sociable fellowship event which takes place once a year and it rotates each year to be hosted in a different country. Every Club donates EUR 250 for a local community project of the host Club.
The program consists of the following activities:
The programme begins officially on Friday night with a reception in the hotel and then all guests are brought to the host clubs members’ homes for dinner.
On Saturday the host club arranges sightseeing etc.
Saturday night is an official Gala Dinner.
Sunday morning every club presents a song, there is brunch and the goodbye.
Many guests spend a few days before or after the event in the area around the host club. The attendance is usually around 150-200 guests.
The event is good fun and very tiring as there are late nights and early starts.
It is a weekend fellowship at its best!
The 2014 meeting was held in Jonkoping in Swedens lovely lake district. Five members and spouses attended the very successful meeting which included a conducted tour of the SAAB aircraft factory. The nine members of the Euromeeting Group contribute to a fund which the host club used to provide a trailer for a local charity dealing with drug rehabilitation.
Paphos-Aphrodite RC hosted the Euromeeting in October 2010 in our home town Paphos and again in 2017 when Paphos was the European Cultural Capital. The 2018 Euromeeting hosts will be Bochum, Germany. A link to their Euromeeting Web Page is here http://euromeeting-bochum.de
OTHER TWINNED CLUBS
Paphos-Aphrodite is also twinned with two Rotary Clubs in Greece - Corfu and Xanthi
A great night out with fantastic food, a great atmosphere and amazing people at our October fellowship. A big thanks to the team at Casa Mespilea who provided us with a delicious 5 course meal which was FANTASTIC !!
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