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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.
Flag exchange in UK
Whilst visiting Rotary Club of Southampton Solent, Pam and Ex President of RC Silves, Alan Winn met two visitors from South Carolina, Emerson and Cathy Smith. After introducing their clubs and activities Alan and Emerson exchanged their club flags. Members of RC Southampton Solent have visited RC Silves regularly and supported many of their events. We always look forward to seeing them in the Algarve.
Welcoming a New Member
Rainer expressed the pleasure of welcoming Sian as a new member. Sian was educated in Portuguese schools in Silves and Armaçao de Pêra, where she met Professora Isabel Flores as her Portuguese teacher her sponsor in Rotary. She is fluent in English and Portuguese, working in tourism where she added Spanish and French. Currently Sian works as a Business Development Manager at Farming Futures. In partnership with farms in the Philippines, their mission is to improve the genetic quality of livestock with the aim of achieving food security. Sian would like to be involved in the rehabilitation and guidance of young women who are in trouble and help to motivate and inspire them to choose a better path. Sian’s passion is music, which she created in her “home studio” until her baby girl arrived. She would like to be involved in Rotary’s educational programs for example with the children creating music for the Oscar’s. Members look forward to working with Sian.
RC Silves Members Enjoy the First Walk of the Season
RC Silves members and friends joined a walk kindly organised a member Philippe Pfister. The country side around the Arade valley is full of surprises. Walkers were treated to fantastic views and were amazed by archaeological remains dating back thousands of years. The sun accompanied us most of the way and the little rain showers did not dampen members enthusiasm. Walks are nor restricted to members. Friends are always welcome.
Just a few of the views
Burial Sites
Welcome to Dirk
RC Silves welcomes Dirk Smeton as a new member. Having recently made a new home in the Algarve and already participated in some fundraising. He is looking forward to working with new friends to benefit the local community. President Rainer Kroth congratulated Dirk at a rotary meeting and presented his pin.
A fascinating talk by Sue Butler Cole about an Amazonian Forest Project
Sue Butler-Cole gave a 30-minute talk about this Amazonian Forest Project the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP) where she had worked from late 1979 until early 1982. It was originally called the Minimum Critical Size of Ecosystems. This project was to identify the minimum critical size of a forest reserve so that there would be no loss of species. In the 1970’s there was a very ambitious Brazilian Government program of national park development in Amazonia, but the big question was whether these new parks were going to be large enough to protect all the species within them. In 1977 Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy learned about the law stipulating that 50% of land purchased from the Government had to be left intact. He came up with a plan to isolate various sized forest reserves starting with 1 hectare up to 1,000 hectares and study the rate of species loss due to their isolation. In 1979 the WWF and the Brazilian National Institute for Amazon Research (INPA) set up the BDFFP project with the intention of finding answers to the debate about single large or several small reserves (SLOSS). After 45 years the project is still going strong because long term data statistics are so valuable and make it possible to answer questions which were not part of the original project design. To date the project has produced 140 PhD & Masters graduates (of which more than half are Brazilian) plus an enormous number of scientific publications.
See Wikipedia regarding:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SLOSS_debate
Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_Dynamics_of_Forest_Fragments_Project
Rubber Duck Racing
Never been tried before but RC Silves is always up for a challenge. Thirty members and friends gathered for an afternoon of fun and fundraising at the home of one of the members. They were treated to an afternoon tea and drinks whilst their rubber ducks raced to find the fastest rubber duck in the pool. Each member had a mascot duck to mark their progress through the races to the grand final.
The crowd watched in anticipation while the racing ducks took their places in the starting gate and then they were off. Fighting turbulence and adverse wind conditions they battled to the finish.
After four heats, two semi finals and a final the winner was Nicky Emms and her cross looking zebra rubber duck who managed a brief smile at the finish. In second place was Jim Kennedy with his lilac dragon duck who wore a heart on his chest throughout.
Prizes were presented by Domino and Petra from the Corridors of Peace Project. A good time was had by all and 835€ was raised in support of the Corridors of Peace project in Chad. A new focus for RC Silves.
Sunset Cruise
On the 30 September 11 members of Silves Rotary club joined RC Portimão on their Sunset Cruise. The event was in aid of fundraising to purchase a Socorro ambulance for the Bombeiros in Portimão. An exciting time was had by all if a little rough at times. The sunset was spectacular and the large waves on the return to port were well worth it. Congratulations RC Portimão on a great event.
RC Silves members and friends
RC Silves Launches its New Environmental Focus
Our first meeting this Rotary year took place at the Convento Bio in Lagoa. A suitable venue for Silves Rotary Club as we add a new project to our agenda this year. Our Speaker Sónia Soares, a biologist, and a nature lover, with a master’s degree in ecology and environmental management is the face of the project “FlorestaNativa” and oversees a small Miyawaki forest in the Algarve. Sonia had a lot to tell us about her project and is interested in working with us to fulfill our goal this year of planting small forests or gardens to protect the environment and provide green spaces for the community.
Members and guests were excited by her ideas and a ready to work with her to make this project a success.
Ringing the bell for first time this year Fátima Guerreiro, Otelo Cabrita, Rainer and Sónia Soares
Friends from IRC Almancil Franco Pasotto Members Alan and Pam with Sian Elton
Maike with Nicole Lanier and Remy and Isabelle Roux Albrecht, Angelika & guest Carla Pita RC Portimao
Rotary Clube de Silves 