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President Rainer Kroth Welcomes New Member Lars Lundberg
Lars was born 1960 in Gothenburg, Sweden and grew up close to the sea so one of his favourite sports as a child was sailing. Lars has a master’s degree in engineering physics from Chalmer University of Technology and started to work at Ericsson with development of radar software for fighter aircrafts. The defence part of Ericsson was transferred to Saab in 2006/2007 and Lars was responsible for a department developing command, control, and communication systems for air defence. In the autumn of 2019 Sofia and Lars decided to move from the not so funny weather in Sweden where the winters mostly are dark, rainy, windy, and grey to the sunny Algarve. They moved to Portugal in September 2020, their first priority was to settle in their new home. Hearing about Rotary on a visit to the FATACIL in August 2023. They like the idea of working with the local community and it provided a great opportunity to meet new people. RC Silves although an English speaking club has members from all over Europe and beyond.
RC Silves Welcomes a New Member Gerard McGuirk.
Gerard is not new to rotary and members at RC Silves are looking forward to working with him and to using his expertise and knowledge in support of our many projects. Gerard has a farming background. He moved to Spain in 1987 after a serious accident for recuperation and stayed there until 1995 before taking up a sales position in Asia. In the summer of 1996 that Gerard first became involved in Rotary in the Philippines. He remembers the Street Children Project and the visitation of the US President. In Asia, Gerard was working with various plantation companies developing sustainable work practices and employment. In 2018, he met with the owners of his current project in the Philippines and invested in the first pig breeding facility on their land in 2019. Currently, he is looking at new projects here in Portugal related to agriculture.
Rain Dance 27 April 3.30 to 8.30 Sitio das Fontes in Estombar
Money donated at the Rain Dance will be used to help fund the projects highlighted below and more in the future. If you pre-reserve a ticket you will receive two free drinks and a piece of cake or a cookie. Email events.silvesrotary@gmail.com.
For over 30 years the Rotary Clube de Silves has supported our community to make a difference in people’s lives. In recent times our projects have included supporting Castelo de Sonhos in their work with the poor including help with the purchase of a vehicle and helping Casa de Povo de Messines in purchasing equipment and furniture tor rooms the physically disabled. and those with learning difficulties.
Our education projects have included creating a wall of Sardines artwork produced by the primary school children, a multimedia project for all children attending Silves Sul Schools with Oscars awarded for the best work at a glittering gala evening.
There have been school exchanges for students with a school in Southampton U.K. and in 2024 a team will be entered into a Model United Nations Congress in Manchester.
RC Silves members have also walked part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela to raise money to equip a sensory room for young children with autism and Downs Syndrome.
The club is now beginning a project to build a small sustainable forest garden as part of our environmental commitments.
Walking the Arade and Odelouca Rivers
Silves Rotary club members and friends gathered again last Saturday to walk along the local rivers through our lovely Silves countryside. The walks started as training for our fundraising walk to the Santiago de Compostela but now they are for fun and fellowship. The funds from the original walk were for a sensory room for Armaçaõ de Pêra school and this was opened on the 22 January this year. The sun shone on us as we walked the trails.
We were even lucky enough to catch the flamingos in flight.
A little rest with a view before the final leg.
If you would like to join us on a walk contact our Master of Ceremonies MOC.rotarysilves@gmail.com We normally walk once a month. Walks are at your own risk.
Welcoming José Martinez
At the recent Governor’s meeting, Rainer Kroth President of Silves Rotary Club expressed his pleasure in welcoming José as a new member. José is a citizen of the USA, originally a Pacific Islander born and raised on the island of Guam. He lived in San Francisco for 30 years prior to his move to Lagos. He has worked in finance for all of his life in the Far East, the Middle East, North Africa as well as the U.S. In 2015 he moved to the Republic of Panama, where he became a member of the Rotary Club of Boquete, Panama for about 4 years. He served as President and Treasurer of the club. The governor pinned on the Rotary emblem, and all members welcomed José to the club. They looked forward to working with him.
Governor’s Visit 2024
Rainer Kroth RC Silves President began with an overview of some of the activities and Isabel Flores RC Silves founder member translated into Portuguese for the Governor and our Portuguese guests. Jim Kennedy incoming President presented a booklet telling the story of the fundraising walk to Santiago.
David Trubshaw, who had arranged an exhibition of the “Arte e Poesia” books, explained the history of the underlying work with the schools and handed over one of the books to the Governor as a present.
Following the flag ceremony, the governor delivered a powerful speech on the importance of friendship and fellowship within and among Rotary clubs. He emphasized that friendship is a high value and one of the most basic human needs. Rotarians help each other, and together they help others. Good relationships make us happier and healthier. “Treasure your relationships, not your possessions. Give hope to the world.”
As a symbol of Rotarian attitudes and values, David Valente presented a piece of art created by Guilherme Ildefonso de Melo Gomes Pontes to celebrate the work of Rotary clubs. The artwork is made of Estremoz marble (bottom), steel (middle), and pine wood (top). David explained the symbolic meaning of each piece, using examples from our work in Rotary.
As a symbol of their friendship, our guests from the Rotary Club of Sines represented by Vice-Presidente Manuel Guedes handed over their flag to our club President Rainer.
Rainer expressed his pleasure in welcoming José as a new member and highlighted important milestones in his life, including his past experience as treasurer and president of the Rotary Club of Boquete, Panama. The governor pinned on the Rotary emblem, and all members present welcomed José to the club.
The First Sala Sensorial Especially Designed for Infants is Officially Opened.
The Sala Sensorial Infantil at Escola Silves Sul in Armacao de Pera was officially opened on Monday 22 January by the President of the Camera de Silves, Rosa da Palma, Diretor Carlos Silva, President of Silves Rotary Club, Rainer Kroth and an organiser of the walk Alan Winn.
The equipment for the room, which is the first specially designed for children as young as 3 who suffer from Autism or Downs Syndrome was funded by the Rotary Club of Silves.
Eight members of the club and two friends walked 120km of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela from Valence do Minho on the Portuguese border. The walk took place in September 2022. Along with a concert held at the Teatro Mascarenhas Gregorio in March last year over 14.000,00€ was raised by the club to purchase the necessary equipment for the school. Rainer Kroth the current President of the Rotary Club of Silves would like to thank all those who participated in the walk and for members of the public who sponsored the walkers and attended the concert. Without their support it would have not been possible to meet the needs of the school.
Unveiling the plaque
Caminho walkers with current RC Silves President Rainer Kroth
Silves Rotary Club donates a 1000€ to the Christmas Swim.
The Christmas Swim is organised by the Junta de Freguesia de Armação de Pêra and Classic Car Club of Barlavento. This annually recurring charity event is important to families in Armação de Pêra as funds raised are given to the Junta de Freguesia de Armação de Pêra to support needy families in the parish. The Rotary Club of Silves again supported this event and like last year added a donation of 1000€ just in time for Christmas.
The Christmas Swim is organised by the Junta de Freguesia de Armação de Pêra and Classic Car Club of Barlavento. This annually recurring charity event is important to families in Armação de Pêra as funds raised are given to the Junta de Freguesia de Armação de Pêra to support needy families in the parish. The Rotary Club of Silves again supported this event and like last year added a donation of 1000€ just in time for Christmas.
Rainer Kroth Richardo Pinto Sérgio Costa
The President of Junta de Freguesia de Armação de Pêra Ricardo Pinto and the President of the Clube dos Veículos Clássicos do Barlavento Sérgio Costa joined a Silves Rotary Club meeting on 22 January for the symbolic handover of the donation by Club President Rainer Kroth.
Fundraising and Fun: “The Internet of Things”
A lively and funny review about all things internet. A place we love to hate! Funds raised will go to Castelo de Sonhos. Don´t forget to book your seat at this intimate theatre, Teatro Mascarenhas Gregório in Silves. This is not one to miss.
Rotary Clube de Silves 