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Cyprus |
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| Is a Member State of the European
Union since 2004, with a population of about 1 million. It is an island
located at the Eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, between 3
continents (Europe, Asia and Africa) and its history goes back to 10.000
years BC. Cyprus is part of Rotary International District 2452 and today
is a home of 19 Rotary Clubs. The first Rotary Club was established in 1938 in Nicosia, the RC of Nicosia, at the initiative of a small group of distinguished Cypriot businessmen and professionals who had seen Rotary work abroad. The group included Costas Manglis, Zenon Pierides, Theodoros Artemis. Sir Mehmet Mounir, Stelios Georgallides, George Poulias and others. The club charter was presented to the club by the then Governor Arthur Merton and the first President was Rot. N. E. Disney who continued to be President for the first 3 consecutive years. Possibly because of the World War of 1940-45, there was a big time-gap between the establishment of the first RC in Cyprus and the second, which was the RC of Limassol established in 1951, followed by the RC of Larnaca organised in 1953 by the then Rotarian Mayor of Larnaca Zenon Pierides who had been one of the founder members of the Nicosia club and who later served as District Governor (1956-1957) and then Director of RI during the years 1963-1965. About the same timework was started on the establishment of the RC of Famagusta, which received its charter in 1954. In 1957 Cyprus became part of District 195, which included Egypt, Lebanon and certain other Countries of the Middle East. There followed another pause of 15 years and in 1969 Paphos acquired its own Rotary Club, the RC of Paphos followed next year, in 1970, by Kyrenia, the RC of Kyrenia. By Special Permission of Rotary International the RC of Famagusta and the RC of Kyrenia extended their territories to Limassol and Nicosia respectively since they have lost their own Territories as a result of the Turkish invasion of 1974. In 1977 District 195 was called District 245. After a lull until 1982, started another round of 4 Rotary Clubs, making all 10 until 1991: Nicosia-Ledra (1982), Limassol-Amathusia (1985), Nicosia-Lefkothea (1987), Larnaca-Kition (1991). In 1991 our District 245 was called District 2450. Another 5 Clubs were established, making all 15 until the end of the 20th century: Famagusta-Cavo Greco (1992), Nicosia-Aspelia (1995), Nicosia-Salamis (1996) [which was formed with a prime purpose to offer the opportunity mainly to refugees from Famagusta living in Nicosia to serve through Rotary, since the RC of Famagusta was based in Limassol], Limassol-Kourion (1997) and Paphos-Aphrodite (1997). In 2001 Limassol-Berengaria Cosmopolitan was chartered and then the 3 Turkish Cypriot Clubs followed: Nicosia-Sarayönü (2004), Kyrenia-Liman (2004) and Kyrenia-St. Hilarion (2007), making all 19 Rotary Clubs of Cyprus with a total membership of over 800 Rotarians, of whom a fair number are women. (For details of each Club visit:www.rotary-cyprus.org). By 2012-2013, the Members of District 2450 were: Egypt, Cyprus, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Armenia, Georgia, Sudan and Palestine. Cyprus through 75 years of Rotary History has given the District 11 Governors: Costas Manglis (1952-1953), Zenon Pierides (1956-1957), Nicos Dimitriou (1962-1963), Mikis Agrotis (1967-1968), Michael Theodossiou (1972-1973), Phoebus Zachariades (1976-1977), Leandros Zachariades (1982-1983), Christodoulos Karakannas (1990-1991), Doros Jeropoulos (1998-1999), John Strongylos (2005-2006) and Kevork Mahdessian (2012-2013)the last DG of District 2450). The last 77th District 2450 Conference took place in Limassol, Cyprus, 4-7 April 2013 as “The Last of the Best”. 951 members from all countries of the District participated. It was really a unique success and the best closing of District 2450. In Rotary year 2013-2014, District 2450 split in 2 Districts: (a) District 2451: Egypt only with 73 Clubs and (b) District 2452: Cyprus (19 Clubs), Lebanon (24), Jordan (10), Bahrain (3), United Arab Emirates (3), Armenia (4), Georgia (2), Sudan (1), and Palestine (1). From time to time the RCs of Cyprus held joint meetings at which they discuss matters of common interest under the guidance of a Coordinating Committee, which includes the Past District Governors, the Deputy District Governors, the Assistant Governors and all Club Presidents of the year. All the RCs of Cyprus are functioning quite well, carrying out useful projects and rendering good service to their communities. Examples of projects include an Old Age Hostel established in Limassol, a Deaf School established in Nicosia, a Forest of Friendship in Larnaca, Blood Banks, a Cord Blood Registry in Nicosia (as a Centennial Project by Rotary Clubs of Cyprus), Alzheimer Day Care Centers, Nursery Gardens, Libraries, Scholarships and many other smaller projects. They also promoted various Island Campaigns, including a Road Safety Campaign (the RC of Nicosia-Salamis being the first Rotary Club to have signed the European Safety Charter), a Save our Forests Campaign, a Preserve Planet Earth Campaign, a Donation of Human Tissue Campaign. In January 2014 under the stewardship of RC Nicosia-Lefkothea a “Polio Fund-raiser” was organized by all Cyprus Rotary clubs. The event was held at the Presidential Palace under the auspices of the President of the Republic and was participated by 300 Rotarians and friends raising the total amount of €6.000 in favour of RI Polio Project. Cyprus Rotary Clubs are most frequently supported in their Projects by their partners in Service, their sponsored Rotaract Clubs and Interact Clubs frequented by the vibrant nest generation of youth and hopefully Rotarians. Inner Wheel Clubs are widely popular in Cyprus awarding Rotarians’ wives the opportunity for service. Individually each Rotary club has to its credit a wealth of projects carried out in its community and internationally. Evidently Rotary's ideal of Service to our fellow human beings seems to find a warm place in the hearts of Cypriots who are by nature friendly and hospitable people, and feel happy offering help and service to our fellow human beings. Regarding RGHF (Rotary Global History Fellowship), Cyprus and Cyprus Rotary as a whole have achieved up to 2013 3 First World Records: (a) The First RGHF Country Association in the World (2011-2012), (b) The first in the World RGHF Cyprus pin for the 121 RGHF Cyprus members (2013), as well as for the new members to join, (c) RC Nicosia-Lefkothea, the First 100% RGHF Rotary Club in the World, with 72 members joining (2009). |
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