Ronald McDonald Foundation presentation at a regular online meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International took place on Wednesday, 11 November 2020. It was presented by our friend and President Elect Mrs. Hristina Malchevska.
There were 13 club members and the President Elect of Rotary Club Sofia Serdika attending the online meeting.
The meeting started with an update on the club’s project proposals for fundraising. Most of the projects are still in planning phase. More details will be available once the projects are conceptualized.
Next topic was concerning the positive steps being made with our Rotaract Club Sofia International in regards to restarting the club’s activities. Its financial stability also was elaborated upon.
Further on the President updated the participants on the ongoing developments and negotiations with software service providers. These are aiming at helping the club to digitalize its life in the situation of Covid-19 Pandemic.
The highlight of the meeting was a very interesting Ronald McDonald Foundation presentation delivered our friend Mrs. Hristina Malchevska.
The next meeting of the club will be held again online on 18 November 2020 from 18:45 h. All friends are welcome to join. Details on our website.
Regular 2in1 meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International on Wednesday 4 November 2020. The meeting was held in Hilton Sofia and online simultaneously. It was the first of its kind mixed type of meeting, due to the COVID 19 situation.
The meeting started with updates on our international cooperation. The ongoing developments with Rotary Club Zurich International for the support of MED-Bul Project. The continuous developments with opportunities for cooperation with Rotary Club Paris Agora and Rotary Club Ferney Voltaire from France. We also discussed about how to enhance the opportunities from the ICC Bulgaria-Germany cooperation.
We continued with prioritization of the projects our club will support this Rotarian year. The main ones are support for the school in Rakovitsa, support for the orientation club in Elena, support for the Zlatograd Hospital.
Later our friends Ms. Ani Hristova and Mrs. Hristina Malchevska shared an interesting opportunity for cooperation with the “Teddy Bear” Association in Bulgaria. It is a platform for kids, old people and people with special needs, who need help. Ani and Hristina proposed to join efforts with this Association by supporting some of their causes either as a club or personally. Rakovitsa school project will also be put in that platform.
An important topic which we deliberated on is the club life during Covid-19 Pandemic. We as friends must protect each other and our families. In this respect, it is wiser to switch more and more to an online meeting environment, and online organization of tasks, administration, projects. Thus, till the end of December 2020 there will be no meetings held in Hilton Sofia. Few digital tools presented by our president could make the club life possible and more interactive during this online period.
We also considered ideas how to further optimize our club’s website and improve the visibility of the projects on which we are working and improve the fundraising process.
Furthermore, we were glad to speak about the very positive development of our Rotaract Club Sofia International and the plan for ongoing active cooperation with them.
The traditional Oktoberfest of Rotary Club Sofia International this year was on 28 October 2020. It took place in a nice cozy restaurant – Die Alte Lampe – German beer garden “Lanterns” in Lozenets district in Sofia. Our dear friend Mr. Rumen Rusinov was the main organizer and as usual he did a fantastic job.
It is an annual tradition of our club to celebrate Oktoberfest in a different and pleasant ambience featuring nice German beer.
We had a great time together with our fellow Rotarian friends and guests. Apart from the members present, we had the pleasure to be together this evening with our Rotaractors and with fellow Rotarians from Rotary Club Sofia Center. Moreover we were honored by the visit regular guests of our club.
We all had a pleasant dinner together enjoying delicious traditional bratwurst, potatoes and cabbage in addition to the variety of German beer. It was great to meet each other in person, get to know new friends and spend quality time together.
At the end we took joint photos to keep the memories of our 2020 traditional Oktoberfest evening celebration.
Online regular meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International took place on Wednesday 21 October 2020. It was the club’s fourth meeting for this Rotarian season. The meeting was online, as it is planned in our plan and schedule for conducting meetings.
We had 12 club members attending. The meeting started with the announcement of the planned events of our club for the Rotarian. The first one is the traditional Oktoberfest of the club. The plans for 2021 include a Wine Fundraising Event in March. Another event would be the Petanque Tournament in April together with Rotary Club Samokov and Rotary Club Paris Agora from France. A Sitting Volleyball tournament, together with our sitting volleyball team Sofia Owls in May will increase awareness for this initiative of the club. Finally a French Night is planed together with the handover ceremony of the presidents of the club in June. All events will, of course, depend on the developments of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Organizational matters discussed at Rotary Club Sofia International’s regular meeting in Hilton Sofia on 7 October 2020.
During the meeting there were updates on the progress of the important topics for the club. Improvements are already implemented on the back-end of our webpage. Additionally, the developments on the common project with Rotary Club Zurich International for our MED-Bul Project, for donation of medical equipment from Swiss Hospitals to hospitals in Bulgaria. Also, the positive developments of potential common projects with other clubs in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. We also discussed some other aspects of the club activities. Namely, the preparation for our annual fundraising events and the Christmas Parity of the club. These will be finalized during the next board meeting, later this month.
We also tried to find an optimal solution for our outside of Hilton Sofia monthly meetings. Likewise, how to harness and improve the effectiveness of our monthly online meetings, by inviting foreign clubs to join and discuss potential collaborative projects together.
Later, Mrs. Ani Hristova shared with the members her recollections from the visit to Rotary Club Sofia’s exhibition in Largo Sofia. The experience was very nice with numerous Rotary friends present. During her visit Ani used the opportunity to invite fellow Rotarians to our meetings. The exhibition is available at least for the next week, so everyone interested can visit.
Our friends Mrs. Hrsitina Malchevska and Mr. Yordan Dukov proposed to onboard two new initiatives. One for support for a school in the small town of Rakovitsa in North-West of Bulgaria. The other for support of the revival of the orienteering club in Elena. Actions are to be taken on both opportunities. All friends are, in the meantime, invited to help. For additional questions and comments, please, contact our club at info@rc-si.org.
We closed Rotary Club Sofia International’s regular meeting devoted to organizational matters.
Our next meeting will be held on 14 October 2020 in Hilton Sofia. Starting time is 18.45 and all members and friends are invited to join us.
Our members participated in a Garage Sale project of Rotary Club Ferney-Voltaire. The event took place on Sunday, 4 October 2020 in Ferney-Voltaire in France. It was a fundraising action of selling goods that the members of the club do not need any more. At the Garage Sale, or Vide Grenier in French, our friends were able to collect around 600 EUR.
Ferney-Voltaire is a small city situated in Eastern France. It is situated next to the border with Switzerland. It forms part of the metropolitan area of Geneva. The club there was chartered by District 1910 in 1996. Today the club has 22 members.
Rotary Club Ferney-Voltaire organized this event for collection of funds for the organization Aide Gessienne. It helps deprived people in the region of Ferney-Voltaire. This assistance is especially needed now during the pandemic times.
Inna and Claude Badan, Rotary Club Sofia International members, participated in the Garage Sale project. Inna and Claude contribute to the fundraising activities of Rotary Club Ferney-Voltaire not for the first time. You can recall their involvements here and here.
Rotary Club Sofia International members wish the fellows of Rotary Club Ferney-Voltaire health and prosperity. We also hope they will realize many more successful fundraising projects. Our friends Inna and Claude are always there to help, when they are in the region.
Exhibition What Rotarians Did for Their City by Rotary Club Sofia opened on 1 October 2020. It is hosted in the exhibition hall under the domes of Largo in Sofia and is accessible to visitors.
The exhibition presents 18 posters. They show the contribution of the oldest Rotary club in Bulgaria – Rotary Club Sofia – and its members, to the development of our capital. The main projects of the club are presented. These are related to better education and literacy, protection of children’s and mother’s health, work with young people, prevention of significant diseases, landscaping, support of science and culture, improvement of road safety, assistance provided to the cultural institutions of Sofia municipality.
First official meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International for the new Rotarian year was held on 30 September 2020 in Hilton Sofia. This was also the first official meeting of Mr. Marc Bouzy as President of the club for 2020/2021 Rotarian year.
15 club members attended. All were excited for the start of the new Rotarian year. During the meeting we discussed plans and organizational matters for the coming season. Some of these:
Updated meeting schedule with one online meeting and one meeting outside Hilton Sofia each month;
Regular meetings with representatives of our Rotaract club;
Date for the elections of the club;
Fundraising events of the club;
Actions on the improvement of the club’s online visibility;
Plans for international cooperation with foreign clubs.
Later, our Past President presented a copy of the Rotary Citation 2019-2020. The President of Rotary International awarded it to our club for helping Rotary connect the world. Only 18 clubs in our District received such a citation for the past Rotarian year.
After that, our guest Mr. Stefan Hristov, member of Rotary Club Zurich International, shared some of the projects, which their club is doing. He proposed to make a common project with Rotary Club Sofia International in the field of healthcare.
Then, Mrs. Ani Hristova recounted of a project by the Association Children with Onco-Hematologic Diseases. We, as a club, support them for many years. They have successfully finished and officially inaugurated, three weeks ago, a center in Opitsvet. Its main purpose is helping during the recovery of kids who overcame an onco-hematologic disease. The event was attended by many people, including representatives of the municipality, a few ministers, and members of out club. The center will function during the whole year. It is the first such venue on the Balkans and the 8th in the world.
Before the official closing of the meeting, the President invited the members to volunteer to hold presentations during one our next meetings.
The fellowship, then, continued with further discussions in the lobby bar of the hotel.
Opening of Rehabilitation Center of the Association “Children with Onco-Hematologic Diseases” happened on the Bulgarian holiday Holy Cross day in the village of Opitsvet, Kostinbrod region.
Children who have overcome cancer and are still convalescing, together with their families will be accommodated there, and rehabilitation will be free of charge.
The State Fund “Agriculture” has allocated 3.7 million BGN for the construction of the center. An additional 750 thousand BGN has been allocated from the budget of Kostinbrod municipality for financing ineligible expenses under the program. Funds amounting to 478,162 BGN were allocated by the Council of Ministers for the construction of a new road with a length of 1.5 km. in place of a dirt, field road.
The center is the third of its kind in Europe and eighth in the World. Construction began in 2018, and completed in 2020. The initiative is entirely from the children’s parents, and especially of Mr. Plamen Belchev.
The center includes seven houses, which will accommodate families. Also a hotel, a sports center, a dining room, a kitchen and meeting rooms. The total capacity of the center is for 40 people. A chapel has also been constructed onsite, as well as a swimming pool, conference hall and common room.
The opening ceremony was amazing, the kids from the association sang songs which created a great atmosphere. We were given a heart-warming reception and feeling.
Rotary Club Sofia International had a special invitation, because we supported the Association by donating a minivan to them.
If someone would like to make a donation, or visit the center, please contact Ms. Hristova.
Our wish for them is that the Rehabilitation Center never needs to be used and that all children are healthy. But knowing that they are there should this wish be not fulfilled is comforting.
The Rotary Golf Cup in Bansko took place from 31 July to 1 August. It was attended by Ms. Ani Hristova, Mrs. Inna Badan, Mr. Claude Badan and Mr. Grant Dale all representing Rotary Club Sofia International and enjoying, of course, the hospitality of Rotary Club Bansko-Razlog.
On 31 July Rotary Club Bansko-Razlog chartered their Interact club. We wish luck and lots of successful projects for the new young members of the Rotary family.
On the 1 August, the 8th Edition of the District Governor Rotary Golf Cup was held and took place at the Pirin Golf & Country Club.
After the official opening, the players were separated into groups – Rotarians, non-Rotarians the 3rd group where our Rotary members, together with Mr Ibrahim Kachan from Rotary Club Kazanlak took part. We had a special private instructor and it was followed by a friendly competition.
The dinner was a Garden BBQ in Regnum Bansko Apart Hotel Spa, where we had a great time and wonderful conversations in the spirit of Rotary.
The same day was the Swiss National Day and we dressed up to celebrate it with Claude, our Rotarian from Switzerland. Congratulations also to Linda and all ours Swiss friends.
As a tradition, we stayed in Regnum Bansko Apart Hotel Spa. On Sunday we visited the thermal mineral baths of the other hotel in the group – Regnum Banya Thermal, in Banya.
The great organization and hospitality of Mrs Ayshe Medarova and her group were greatly appreciated and made our stay extremely comfortable and memorable.
Our thanks to the President of Rotary Club Bansko-Razlog 2020/2021, Mr Ivan Hadzhiruskov, and members, for hosting the event, we extend our warmest Rotarian greetings to all concerned.
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Ronald McDonald Foundation presentation at a regular online meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International took place on Wednesday, 11 November 2020. It was presented by our friend and President Elect Mrs. Hristina Malchevska.
Regular 2in1 meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International on Wednesday 4 November 2020. The meeting was held in Hilton Sofia and online simultaneously. It was the first of its kind mixed type of meeting, due to the COVID 19 situation.
The traditional Oktoberfest of Rotary Club Sofia International this year was on 28 October 2020. It took place in a nice cozy restaurant – 
Online regular meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International took place on Wednesday 21 October 2020. It was the club’s fourth meeting for this Rotarian season. The meeting was online, as it is planned in our plan and schedule for conducting meetings.
Organizational matters discussed at Rotary Club Sofia International’s regular meeting in Hilton Sofia on 7 October 2020.
Our members participated in a Garage Sale project of 
Exhibition What Rotarians Did for Their City by Rotary Club Sofia opened on 1 October 2020. It is hosted in the exhibition hall under the domes of Largo in Sofia and is accessible to visitors.
First official meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International for the new Rotarian year was held on 30 September 2020 in Hilton Sofia. This was also the first official meeting of Mr. Marc Bouzy as President of the club for 2020/2021 Rotarian year.
Opening of Rehabilitation Center of the Association “
The Rotary Golf Cup in Bansko took place from 31 July to 1 August. It was attended by Ms. Ani Hristova, Mrs. Inna Badan, Mr. Claude Badan and Mr. Grant Dale all representing Rotary Club Sofia International and enjoying, of course, the hospitality of Rotary Club Bansko-Razlog.
