THE HISTORY OF ROTARY IN AZERBAJAIN

A Part of Our History of Rotary in Asia

The Rotary Club of Baku International.

Rotary Club Baku International originated from a conversation in October 2004 between the then president of Baku Rotary Club, Rtn. Ali Musayev, and the Governor of District 2430 for 2004-2005, during the District Assembly.
The discussion was about expanding Rotary in Azerbaijan and both men agreed that one club in Azerbaijan was simply not enough. History of Rotary Club of Baku Upon his return to Baku, Ali Musayev raised the issue of expansion with club members.
While most agreed that a second club might be a benefit, the debate raised several important points and views; one of the most significant of which was the complications of language. The point was made that while there might be several Rotary clubs across Azerbaijan in the coming years, Baku was always going to be temporary home to a number of foreigners, most of whom would not be able to speak Azerbaijani, or even Russian, and who might find attending Rotary rather a trial as regards language.
So, instead of starting another regular club the suggestion was made that the next club to be formed in Baku should have be an international club, with English as its working language.
And so Rotary Club Baku International was conceived. With the District Governor's blessing, the idea took shape and Rtn. Lutful Kabir, a past-president of Baku Rotary Club, was nominated to form the new club, while Ali Musayev was appointed the District Govenor's Assistant.

The first meeting of the new provisional club was in November 2004 in Park Hyatt. Lutful Kabir chaired the meeting which was attended by some members of Rotary Club of Baku, including: Ron and Rajani D'Mello, Chellamani Achuta, Jeffrey Farrow, Gulnara Narimanova, Emil Hassanov. With Lutful Kabir's posting to Mozambique in January 2005, the club elected Rtn. Jeffrey Farrow to lead the club through to chartering.
Chelamani Achuta was given the position of Secretary and the Treasury was looked after by Bruno Ferrea (succeeded during 2005 / 2006 by Emil Hassanov, Laura Scheibe and John Verghese).
The year of 2005 was one of steady development. Attendance was low at first and consisted mainly of the core of Rotarians who had chosen to move across from the first club. But month on month numbers grew. The club gained two Honorary Members, Dan Gornell and Roger Anstey, and several other non-Rotarians started to attend and became members. By June of 2005 the provisional club had some 15 members. The club had strong representation at the June 2005 RI Centenary Convention in Chicago. The president Jeffrey Farrow was there along with Ron and Rajani D'Mello. President Jeffrey also initiated a joint project with Rotary Club of Baku to plant 100 trees (in February 2005) opposite the Handball Sports Stadium to commemorate the Rotary Centenary.
Major effort was placed on a membership drive during the second half of 2005. Numbers rose week on week and by the end of the year attendance at weekly meetings was regularly around 20 people with many visiting Rotarians.
The club had a program of guests speakers blended with sessions on instruction about Rotary and its many facets. In addition, members had many social events including bowling nights, karaoke, and a sea-going party on board a boat chartered from the Baku Yacht Club.
The District Governor Malik Aviral and his wife visited Baku in October 2005 to meet members of both Rotary clubs.

Although priority was placed on attracting new members and establishing the clubs foundation, members became active early on with community service projects. The provisional club took children to the theater; held a spring bazaar for charities and local artists to sell their wares; organized a bowling tournament between 10 children's homes; and distributed refrigerators and food to a children's tuberculosis sanatorium.

The provisional club submitted its papers to the District in January 2006 and was Chartered as Rotary Club of Baku International, Azerbaijan on 7 March 2006, with Club Number 72195. The Charter Members were as shown here.

Charter certificate and charter members. The District Governor Malik Aviral, accompanied by his wife, visited Baku to attend the club's Charter Ceremony, held on 26 April 2006. The ceremony, a formal dinner and local entertainers, was staged in the Excelsior Hotel. Charter President Jeffrey Farrow handed over his chain of office to incoming President Rajani D'Mello at the club's handover event in the Excelsior Hotel on 30 June 2006. Guests were handed a copy of the Club's first Yearbook (2005-2006). President Rajani D'Mello appointed her 2006-2007 directors and began the year in earnest. The District Governor, Ali Akinci, visited Baku on 10- 13 October 2006 with his wife and a delegation of three Rotarians and their spouses. The club staged a dinner at the Excelsior Hotel on 11 October at which the Club President awarded honorary memberships to the incumbent ambassadors from UK, India, and Turkey.