March 23rd, 2022 - posted in Activities, Galleries, Meeting, News and Events, Service support.
Presentation of “Razkazhi mi” platform by Mr. Dimitar Dimitrov, PHF+1, Past President RAC Cologne, Member of Action Group for Peace German Chapter, Member of Inter-Country Committee Germany – Bulgaria was the highlight of the regular meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International held on 23 March 2022. The meeting was held in person in Hilton Sofia and online.
The official part was opened by the President Mrs. Hristina Malchevska. After the introduction of the regular guests and members, a brief update of the ongoing projects of the club followed. Regarding the current National Rotary project “Buy and Donate”, the President invited all members to take an active part and expressed a gratitude to Rotary members who already took part – Mr. Plamen Latev and Hristina for the logistics, our Rotaractors, who are volunteers on a daily basis in Kaufland Vitosha for collecting donations for Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria. It is impressive also and a great support by our Interact club Sofia International in Meridian 22 School in Mladost, who also took active part in the volunteer work for the project. Six Interactors were volunteers during the weekend 19-20.03 in Kaufland and actively promoted the donation project. A big thank you also to them.
Also Mr. Boyan Griffin during the meeting presented his active involvement and donations projects for Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria, one of them organized by the American University in Bulgaria. Mrs. Svetlana Foteva in addition informed us about hers and her husband’s actions to support Ukrainian people in need, which continues and includes purchases of items of first need and accommodation provision.
The main topic of the evening was an interesting presentation by Mr. Dimitar Dimitrov about the “Razkazhi mi” platform for mental health. The idea of the platform is to create a positive change, because healthy people lead to healthy relationships, which directs to healthy personal environment, contributing to healthy company environment. It includes an informational portal with blog and event sections, consultations (video, audio, text therapy) and self-help tool. The platform is suitable for individual users (B2C), corporate partnerships (B2B) and community partnerships (e.g. NGOs, Local / state authorities, etc.).
After the official part of the meeting the fellowship continued informally.
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March 13th, 2022 - posted in Activities, D2482, Galleries, News and Events, Service support, Theme evenings, Visits to clubs.
XX Winter Holiday organized by Rotary Club Smolyan took place in Pamporovo between 11 and 13 March 2022. Our dear members Ms. Hristova, Mr. Badan and Mr. Dukov participated in the XX Winter Holiday. The arrived on Friday in Pamporovo. The welcome dinner was in local restaurant, where authentic Rhodope food was served, The entertainment was typical for the region music.
On Saturday our members were on the “Stenata” ski slope. There 88 people – divided by groups – kids, women and men took part in the Giant slalom event of the XX Winter Holiday. The groups were divided by ages, as the youngest one was 5 years old and the oldest was 65 years old. Our member Mr Dukov took part.
Тhe XX Winter Holiday competitions ended with a tug-of-war contest, were 6 teams by 5 people took part.
Later in the evening was the official dinner. More than 250 people took part in the Rhodope hall in Perelik Hotel. The night was opened by bagpipes and the singer Mrs. Zlatina Uzunova and the song “Izlel e Delio Haidutin”, the first Bulgarian song in the Space. The highlight of the night was the pop singer Mrs. Margarita Hranova accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra “Vratsa”.
The cause of the evening was collecting money for gifted kids from the region. Mr Kostadin Kostadinov, President of Rotary Club Smolyan welcomed the guests. The Rotaractors prepared printed pictures, which they took during the day and were selling them, as the funds were for the cause. There was also a raffle and an auction. The money of one of the items of the auction – Rhodopean backpipe went for support iof the Ukrainian refugees.
The winners of the XX Winter Holiday were announced. The winners in each discipline received new ski sets, produced by Atomic ski company.
Rotary Club Sofia International wants to thank our friends from Rotary Club Smolyan and especially Mrs. Ana Shopova for the great organization and the hospitality.
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March 8th, 2022 - posted in Activities, D2482, Donations, Galleries, News and Events, Rotaract.
Rotary Club Sofia International supports Ukrainian refugees via the “Buy and Donate” project of Rotary, Rotaract and Interact, together with other Sofia Rotary clubs.
The first goods were successfully delivered for the Ukrainians and Bessarabian Bulgarians in bomb shelters, one of them close to Odessa, located in a church. The project is realized in cooperation with The Ukrainian Culture Home in Varna.
The next delivery for “Buy and Donate” is prepared, and so far our members and friends who have donated for the project are Hristina, Grant, Ani, Eli, Linda, Boyan Griffin, Plamen Latev, Doroteya Shtereva, Jörg, Claude and Inna, Alberto Rossi, Slavena and Svetozar. With the collected funds we provided baby milk, purees, blankets and wet wipes, which are urgently needed for the people to survive.
Our members Mrs. Elena Vasileva and Mr. Plamen Latev also helped the Ukrainian people in need with accommodation, commodities (TV and refrigerator) and finances. They additionally collected BGN 5,000 which will be distributed to several families. Also, Mrs. Svetlana Foteva with her husband are in Sveti Vlas resort at the Black Sea coast helping with accommodation Ukrainian refugees.
We extend our gratitude to all of them for the great generosity and kindness.
The National initiative of this project “Buy and Donate” continues on a bigger scale and our Rotary and Rotaract Clubs continue to actively support it. We invite everybody to join the initiative and participate either with finances or logistics, which is needed.
If you would like to contribute, please contact us for the organization of donation or make your donations to:
Bank account for donations:
IBAN BG49STSA93000027355924
BIC Code: STSABGSF
DSK BANK AD
Beneficiary: Rotary Club Sofia International
Bank account for “Buy and Donate” National Rotary program:
BGN BG11RZBB91551014430821
EUR BG26RZBB91551014430842
BIC RZBBBGSF
Raiffeisenbank (Bulgaria)
Thank you very much. Together we can achieve more and have bigger impact.
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February 28th, 2022 - posted in Activities, Donations, Galleries, News and Events, Service support.
New successful delivery of medical supplies via the MED-Bul Program of Rotary Club Sofia International was realized in cooperation with Dr. Sigrun Comati from Rotary Club Bansko Razlog. This time the goods were donated from the Vitos Orthopädische Klinik Kassel, Germany. The donation from Germany was organized by Dr. Sigrun Comati, who is the President of the German-Bulgarian Society to promote relations between Germany and Bulgaria. The donation contained 7 pallets of medical supplies like masks, safety aprons, protective surgical clothing, glasses and disinfectants.
Half of the donated materials were delivered on 28.02.2022 at the Specialized Children’s Hospital “Prof. Dr. Ivan Mitev” in Sofia, the other half was delivered the same day to the hospital in Razlog.
The transport charges for the successful delivery of medical supplies from Germany to Sofia were covered by Dr. Sigrun Comati and the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Hesse, Germany – Dr. h.c. Ingo Endrick Lankau. We are very thankful for their contribution and support as well as to our friend and President Elect, Mr. Rumen Rusinov, for organizing the logistics of the donation together with the forwarder company – Josped.
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February 23rd, 2022 - posted in Galleries, Guest Speakers, Meeting, News and Events.
The Head of the Bureau of the European Parliament in Bulgaria, Mr. Teodor Stoychev, was our guest on the regular meeting meeting held on 23 February 2022.
Traditionally, the official part was opened by the president Mrs. Hristina Malchevska. After the introduction of our regular guests, a brief update of the ongoing projects of the club followed.
Our President congratulated all members for the Rotary 117 Anniversary and shared a short story about Rotary origination.
In 1905 four men met in a downtown office building in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting was organized because Attorney Paul Harris wanted to create a professional group representing the friendly smiles and small-town values he had known in his youth. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvestor Schiele, and Hiram Shorey decided to call their club Rotary, because their meeting locations would “Rotate.” The name Rotary International was officially adopted in 1922, as they encountered fellow professionals around the world who also craved friendly smiles and humanitarian values.
We continued with Mr. Teodor Stoychev, our special guest this evening, the Head of the Bureau of the European Parliament in Bulgaria who introduced the audience to the work of the Bureau.
The European Parliament has its offices in the capitals of all EU Member States. The EP Bureau in Bulgaria was set up to provide information to citizens, the media, NGOs and youth organizations, state, and municipal administrations on the role of the EP, and more generally the European Union.
To establish a close link between Bulgarian citizens and members of the European Parliament, the EP Bureau in Bulgaria organizes thematic conferences, civic forums and seminars.
After the presentation our president thanked to our guests and club members for joining this evening and reminded them for the upcoming meetings, every Wednesday 18.45h in person in Hilton and hybrid for those who cannot attend physically.
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February 16th, 2022 - posted in Activities, Future projects, Galleries, Guest Speakers, Meeting, News and Events, Service support.
Two new members inducted during the 16 February 2022 regular meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International held in person in Hilton Sofia and online for the ones not able to be present physically. The official part, as usual, was opened by the President Mrs. Hristina Malchevska. After the Four Way Test and the introduction of the guests, internal news, projects and activities updates followed. The delivery of the items for the new MED-Bul project in cooperation with Rotary Club Bansko-Razlog is expected 24-25 February 2022 in Sofia. The transportation cost will be covered by Dr. Sigrun Comati and Dr. h.c. Ingo Endrick Lankau, Honorarkonsul der Republik Bulgarien in Hessen. The overall organization of the project is again realized by our President Elect Mr. Rumen Rusinov. Here you can read more about the last successful MED-Bul in December 2021.
After the initial announcements, a ceremony for two new members induction followed. Ms. Mariam Melikyan and Mr. Konstantin Yordanov, who were Rotarians in the previous years in other Rotary clubs in Armenia and Bulgaria were officially accepted as members of Rotary Club Sofia International
Our special guest and presenter of the evening was Mrs. Justine Toms, who is among the pioneers of the Bulgarian Internet. An expert in online media and marketing, founder of digital agency ABC Design & Communication since 1998, creator of a number of niche online websites, such as Az-jenata.bg, Az-deteto.bg, which are now part of the Investor.bg Group. Justine has also been the idea leader of the competition for best Bulgarian online projects – BG Site since 1999. Author of 15 books in the area of online presence, digital media, CSR and communication, entrepreneurship. She is lecturer at New Bulgarian University and Soft Uni Digital.
Justine decided to engage our club members at the end of the evening with games related to communication, which was such a great experience and everybody enjoyed it to the most. Firstly, we formed a circle, one person said a word to next one and passed it over to the following persons. At the end the result word was quite different, which shows that communication is not an easy task and we have to be careful how we convey our message. The next game was again in the circle with our hands forming mushrooms, which was so much fun and all of us laughed. Physical communication and reaction was practiced and again the results show it is not easy to coordinate and communicate clear. Then we were placed in a line one behind another and the last person clap hands on the back of the person in front in certain manner that has to be repeated till the end. Of course, again at last, the results were different. So we analyzed together the games and Justine talked about how important is a good communication and that even in digital it is much more harder.
A video conducted by Justine to greet our friends from Rotary Club Paris Agora for their 20th Anniversary followed.
At the end, Justine was so kind to give to the President one of her books and Hristina gave as a gift one of our branded Rotary Club Sofia International mugs, which was a great Kodak moment.
Afterwards the President thanked to our guests and club members for joining this evening and closed the official part of the evening for the fellowship to continue informally.
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February 9th, 2022 - posted in Activities, Children, Donations, Future projects, Galleries, News and Events, Service support, Theme evenings.
Swiss Fondue Evening was the topic of the meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International on 9 February 2022. It was hosted by our dearest Rotary friend Mrs. Linda Kim. She was so kind to invite in her home the members for an already traditional for our club swiss fondue evening. Twelve people were present and had a great time and unforgettable experience.
Mr. Claude and Mrs. Inna Badan, as usual, played a major role in the preparation of the fondue. The host Linda has provided all original products for that unique Swiss taste. Ms. Ani Hristova and Mr. Grant Dale also helped for the organization, ensuring all necessary items for the evening are provided. Mrs. Elena Vassileva and Mr. Rumen Russinov also assisted for the evening to be a great event.
Apart from the original and delicious fondue with Swiss cheese and white wine, Linda has prepared magnificent desserts – stollen and a fruit salad with orange liqueur, followed by a coffee or masala tea that was a great end of the dinner.
During the evening the President expressed gratitude to Linda for the wonderful Swiss fondue evening and her hospitality by presenting her with a gift – the new Rotary Club Sofia International mug.
Also, our President Elect Mr. Rumen Russinov presented the new MED-Bul project in cooperation with Rotary Club Bansko-Razlog and Dr. Sigrun Comati, which is at its final stage of the delivery of medical supplies from the German Hospital in Kessel to the SBAL Children’s Hospital “Prof. Ivan Mitev” in Sofia and Hospitals in Bansko region.
Moreover, Ms. Ani Hristova and Mrs. Hristina Malchevska presented the current project of National Network for Kids in Bulgaria that is related to DM drugstore products for donation. An opportunity introduced by our dear friend and member Mr. Stamen Tassev. We have discussed and proposed several options for possible beneficiaries.
After the dinner, the evening continued with with lots of fun and friendly conversations.
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February 2nd, 2022 - posted in Activities, Future projects, Galleries, Guest Speakers, Meeting, News and Events.
Special Olympics in Bulgaria a presentation by Dr. Hristo Hristozov, National Director of Special Olympics in Bulgaria was the main event for the regular meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International on 2 February 2022. The meeting took place in Hilton Sofia and online for those not being able to attend in person.
The official part and administrative matters were followed by the presentation of Dr. Hristo Hristozov, National Director of Special Olympics in Bulgaria aided by Mrs. and Diana Bancheva, Program Coordinator. They talked about Special Olympics in Bulgaria and ID Hockey. It was great and so amazing to see that many Bulgarian kids and young people with intellectual disabilities practice different sports actively and with such a passion, as well as that several have achieved top places in international sports disciplines. The Special Olympics organization in Bulgaria is so active and realize so many initiatives with focus on kids with intellectual disabilities mainly in the countryside, which is wonderful. One of the top athletes – Hari we had the honor to meet in person at our meeting in Hilton. He has two times Olympic medals in swimming, as well as International Olympics recognitions in tennis.
The idea of the Special Olympics is to develop kids and young people through sport, and this is a great work. Special Olympics Bulgaria since its foundation 1994 till now has provided opportunities for over 7,000 athletes to train at least 2 hours per week in 27 different sports, has involved 400 sports instructors and coaches, attracted 600 devoted volunteers, as well as over 2,000 partners – children and youth without disabilities, who participate together in teams in 10 unified sports – Football, Dodgeball, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Rowing, Canoeing, Sailing, Golf, Ice skating.
After the presentation about Special Olympics in Bulgaria followed presentation regarding Intellectual Disabled Hockey and the action plan to develop it in Bulgaria with the cooperation of Bulgarian Hockey Federation. Legacy Plan is being prepared for the development of field hockey in Bulgaria in partnership with the Hockey Federation, Training of coaches on Special Olympics Field Hockey Guidelines and support to local clubs to develop inclusive hockey. Field Hockey Activities include also establishment of a Center for Support of Inclusive Education in Dobrich with the Coach Marina Bekyarova. Future of Field Hockey Program is the Demonstration sport at Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games, where Special Olympics Bulgaria is approved for quota.
Followed Q&A session and everybody applauded Hari for his great successes in sports. The President gave a gift to Hari (our branded mug) as a sign of respect and gratitude. A photo was taken of this special moment. And the official part was closed for the fellowship to continue informally.
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January 30th, 2022 - posted in D2482, Galleries, News and Events, Visits to clubs.
The Vibrant Club District seminar in Bansko on 29 January 2022 was attended in person by Ms. Ani Hristova, Past President of Rotary Club Sofia International;, Mr. Grant Dale, President Nominee, and Mr. Boyan Griffin, a candidate member. Additionally, since the seminar was held with both physical and online options, Mr. Rumen Rusinov, President Elect, joined online. He presented the club’s MED-Bul projects and invited other clubs to partner in these ventures. He also mentioned the last 2 MED-Bul projects were undertaken in cooperation with Rotary Club Bansko-Razlog, the host of the seminar.
Our projects were well received among the clubs in the District and we have a few Rotary clubs that also want to join and participate and deliver medical equipment for the hospitals in their cities.
Mrs. Hristina Malchevska, President of our club, also took part in the online seminar. After more than 2 years break, we were happy to see our Rotary friends in person. The first part of the seminar was with presentations. There was also a practical part with very useful discussions and a great fellowship between the clubs.
The program included the following topics:
– Priorities of the action plan of Rotary International and how they related to our club;
– Examination of our club – practice session;
– The needs of our members;
– New community groups connections.
Rotary Club Sofia International thanked the organizers of the seminar for their efforts, and for the great atmosphere.
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January 26th, 2022 - posted in Activities, Galleries, Guest Speakers, Meeting, News and Events.
Gliding – the Silent Wing was the topic for an extremely fascinating presentation held during the 26th January regular meeting of Rotary Club Sofia International. The matter was presented by our friend Mr. Marc Bouzy – Past President of Rotary Club Sofia International.
After the official opening of the meeting, the introduction of guests and the update on administrative affairs, the President Mrs. Hristina Malchevska gave the floor to Mr. Marc Bouzy who is a Past President of Rotary Club Sofia International 2020-2021, CEO at Net & Law Company and past member of Rotary Club Paris Agora, who gave a captivating lecture on gliding – Gliding – the Silent Wing.
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.
Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s. Initially the objective was to increase the duration of flights but soon pilots attempted cross-country flights away from the place of launch. Improvements in aerodynamics and in the understanding of weather phenomena have allowed greater distances at higher average speeds. Long distances are now flown using any of the main sources of rising air: ridge lift, thermals and lee waves. When conditions are favorable, experienced pilots can now fly hundreds of kilometers before returning to their home airfields; occasionally flights of more than 1,000 kilometers are achieved.
Powered aircraft and winches are the two most common means of launching gliders. These and other launch methods require assistance and facilities such as airfields, tugs, and winches. These are usually provided by gliding clubs who also train new pilots and maintain high safety standards. Although in most countries the standards of safety of the pilots and the aircraft are the responsibility of governmental bodies, the clubs and sometimes national gliding associations often have delegated authority.
After the presentation our president thanked all the present in person and online and closed the official part of the meeting. The fellowship continued in informal atmosphere.
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