The Rotary Club of Durban Thekwini

International Service

Youth Exchange

• STEP: It was unanimously agreed in September 1998 to participate in the short-term programme in 1999. Neil Coppen was the club's first STEP participant.
  • Outbound 1999/2000. Neil Coppen is a Grade 12 learner at Durban High School and will be an outbound student in December 1999 / January 2000. We are waiting to find out the destination of Neil's exhange. Patrick Kennedy will be his Counsellor.
  • Inbound 1999/2000. News is awaited.

• Long Term: If we are successful in arranging four host families we will then participate in this programme.

Sister Clubs We have two Sister Clubs that we need foster and maintain contact with and thereby advance international understanding, goodwill and peace.

• Shinjo Rotary Club, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan: District 2800
• Istanbul Maslak Rotary Club, Istanbul, Turkey: District 2420

International Contact

• A register of details is maintained of all International Rotarian visitors
• A postcard is being designed showing the clubs logo which will be sent to the club of our International visitors
• A quarterly toast is held to recognize a club outside South Africa

The Rotary Foundation

• November is Rotary Foundation Month. Speakers during November will highlight the programmes of the Foundation
• Paul Harris Fellow Recognition
• The Club supports the programmes of the Foundation wherever possible
• Our first involvement with a Matching Grant application started in 1998 as an international co-sponsor of an ambulance for the Meziara Municipality in Lebanbon. This is a joint effort of three districts, three countries, three languages and three cultures. Those involved are the Rotary Club of Zgharta-Zawie, Lebanon; Rotary Club of Dijon, France; Rotary Club of Durban Thekwini and District 9270, South Africa.
• The Club always contributes to the Foundation
• Members are involved with the District Foundation committee and the GSE sub-committee

• The Zone 10 Foundation Seminar was held in Durban on 2 October 1998. It attracted 243 delegates from RI, TRF and Rotarians from Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands, the Middle East and Spain. The morning session included stimulating addresses on Matching Grants – the key to Rotary Internationality, 3-H Grants including our multi-district TB grant application, Rotary Community Care Centres (Aids Project), PolioPlus and GSE in Africa – A unique opportunity. The Keynote Speaker at lunch was PRID/TRF Richard King who gave a moving and emotional address "His Name is Today". Alumni successes, RAFT – An African initiative with TRF and Defining your Rotary Foundation Frontiers were the topics discussed in the afternoon. The day ended with a Fellowship Dinner at which 10 Paul Harris Fellows were recognized by President Jim and TRF Trustee Rick.

World Understanding Month This special month is recognized on the Wednesday closest to 23 February. The evening has an International theme, traditionally highlighting the home country of the RI President-Elect. 1999 was an Italian evening in honour of Incoming President Carlo Ravizza. 2000 is Mexico!

Rotary Recreational and Vocational Fellowships Members are encouraged to become involved with Rotary's best kept secret, the Recreational and Vocational Fellowships.

Fellowship A superb evening of fellowship was held on Saturday 3 October 1998 in the home of Rotarian Patrick Kennedy and his Ann Myna. The occasion was to host delegates attending the Zone 10 Foundation Seminar and Institute. The guests included PDGs, DGs and DGNs from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya and parts of South Africa, including our own DGN Doug Kent. A special highlight was to have Frances Turley, from the RI office in Zurich, with us.

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