D-2482 DG's Newsletter December 2017-EN

Dear Fellow Rotarians, November now belongs to the history. We will remember it with a few notable events: the Rotary Institute in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, with Rotarians from 19 districts; the achievement of RC Shumen, which became the second \"100% Paul Harris Fellow\" club in the district; the Rotary Foundation Seminar, where we were able to refresh our knowledge and exchange ideas for future humanitarian projects. Meanwhile, I managed to visit several clubs. Thanks for the hospitality of RC Pleven, RC Nessebar, RC Lovech, RC Sevlievo, RC Stara Zagora Beroe, RC Nova Zagora, RC Kazanlak, RC Sliven and RC Asenovgrad. We entered December, the disease prevention and treatment month. These days healthcare is among the main focus of media publications and political debates in our country. Gradually, too much talking and no doings have resulted into a sort of dissonance. And no wonder. It is enough to trace the etymology of the Bulgarian word for healthcare – health guard or health conservation are the closest translations. In both of them lack the idea of proactivity. This, to a certain extent, justifies the clerical attitude of our medics. Unlike us, English-speaking countries prefer to use the term healthcare. As active Rotarians, we are more inclined to caring than to guarding. Many of our clubs do not wait for a special month to demonstrate their caring for people's health. Screening examinations for prostate cancer in men, for breast cancer in women, for vertebral or vision distortion in children, diabetes, etc. are organized in the district throughout the year. Dozens of human destinies we have managed to alleviate. Even more are the people we have inspired and brought their faith back, pulling them out of the apathy embrace. Dear friends, the month did not accidentally start with temperatures much higher than normal for the season. Traditional Rotary fundraising balls will continue to raise them. The causes we choose and pursue will warm up thousands of hearts. But let us not forget the Rotarian calendar in the midst of all the joy. This month, the assemblage for the selection of club officers is held. Selected Rotarians are reported on the Rotary International site and thus receive administrative rights for the next Rotary year. I reread my previous words and wonder whether it is possible to write in one and the same paragraph about balls and joy on the one hand and reports and administrative rights on the other. But why not? Children believe that miracles happen in Santa Claus’s month. We can learn from them and believe that we are able to make the world we live in different. Because, as we know quite well, this year IN ROTARY WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Wishing you health and family warmth, Emil Kotsev, Governor of District 2482 (Bulgaria)