D-2483 DG's Newsletter May 2017

DG Velibor ZOLAK GOVERNOR'S NEWSLETTER No. 10 - April - May 2017 Hotel Antunovic Zagreb, 5 - 7 May 2017 COORDINATION CONFERENCE ZONE 19P Cooperation with neighbouring Districts At the invitation of RID Cornelu Dinca, the representative of District 2483, DG Velibor Zolak, participated in a Coordination Confe- rence Zone 19P, held in Zagreb between 5 and 7 May. As our Rotarians have already been informed, the Board of the Rotary International carried out an overall rezoning of the organization at its meeting in January. District 2483 Montenegro and Serbia will be in Zone 21 - Austria, Eastern Europe, Middle East, together with Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and other countries. Zone 21 will be comprised of 16 districts, 1,140 clubs and over 30,000 Rotarians. The first Rotary Institute in the new zone will take place in 2019.

 Page2  Celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Rotary Club Beograd 100 % PAUL HARRIS FELLOW CLUB! Dragan Brajer becomes new Major Donor in D2483 The oldest club in the District, the Rotary Club Beograd celebrated the 25th anniversary of providing selfless service at the event organized on 7 May 2017 at the Assembly Hall of the Belgrade City Hall, followed by a gala dinner. For the first time in the history of District 2483, this kind of event was attended by a senior official of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Minister of Defence, Mr Zoran Djordjevic. The guests had the opportunity to hear the President of the Club Nenad Savkovic and DG Velibor Zolak, and watch a documentary on the 25th anniversary of the club and presentation of the club’s recognitions. The art programme featured the famous artists, the Rotarians Tatjana Olujuic on the violin, and the mezzo soprano Ana Sinnicki, and AKUD Gradimir. At a gala dinner at the hotel Hyatt Regency, the PHF recognitions were awarded to the members of RC Beograd Dragan Milcic, Andrea Antic, Jovan Ilic, Tanja Olujic, Sanja Panjeskovic, Dusan Joksimovic and Nikola Mandic, which turned RC Beograd in a 100% PHF club! The Charter President Dragan Brajer has become the first Major Donor in D2483. Our congratulations to the club and all individuals on this success. 

Creative actions - RC Beograd Metropolitan Page3 CLASH OF PASTRY CHEFS! Enjoy and have fun while helping others In cooperation with the Elementary School “Anton Skala”, the Rotary and Rotaract club Beograd Metropolitan organized a humanitarian event “Clash of Pastry Chefs” on 13 May 2017. Apart from members of the Rotary clubs from our district, the Rotary Club Milano Navigli Vinciani from Italy, the school staff, parents, children and friends, this sweet event brought together many sponsors of delicious sweets, which were enjoyed very much by everybody. Everyone did their best to make this day unforgettable. Excellent performance by the band Sizip and the winner of the competition “The First Voice of Serbia” Davor Jovanovic stirred up the atmosphere and made sure that everybody has a great time. The charming host Dejan Pantelic made sure that the competition rules for the selection of the best cake/pastry are followed. The best Rotary winner in the competition of pastry chefs was selected by a panel of judges comprised of: Velibor Zolak (2483 District Governor), Natasa Se- lic (Principal of the School “Anton Ska- la”), Bratislav Petko- vic (owner of the well-known pastry shop Petkovic, a car museum and former Minister of Culture of Serbia), Milica Mandic (renowned athlete, winner of the Olympic gold in taekwondo) and Ricardo Truppo (past governor of the Rotaract from Milan, District 2041). The panel tasted the cakes made by the contestants blindfolded and selected the winners. Dunja STANIC, member of the Rotaract Club Beograd Metropolitan, who made chocolate, caramel and strawberry tarts, won the first and the second place.

The fortunate bingo prize winners had one reason more to remember this beautiful day, while the event Page4 fulfilled its purpose and resulted in the installation of interactive projectors at the Elementary School “Anto Skala” and a picnic to Zasavica, improving and making more pleasant the work with children. The remaining cakes were left for the children to eat on the following weekday and have another sweet day. 

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The exhibition \"Rotary in Serbia 1929 – 2017\" - RC Beograd Kalemegdan Page6 AN IDEAL OF HELPING OTHERS Joint action of the Belgrade clubs at the initiative of Kalemegdan An exhibition of the history of the Rotary movement in Serbia was held between 13 and 21 May at the gallery Progres in Belgrade, in Knez Mihajlova Street, the busiest pedestrian area in the city. The exhibition was organized by the youngest club in our District, the club Kalemegdan, with the great support of the clubs Metropolitan and Zemun, and District 2483. The author of the majority of panels for the exhibition is the well-known historian Dr Djordje Kostic, member of the Rotary Club Beograd Kalemegdan. Most of the clubs in Belgrade joined the action and each club gave its contribution during the exhi-bition. The Rotary Club Beograd made a large number of exhibits from its rich collection available for the exhibition, while the Rotary clubs Metropolitan and Nikola Matic made graphical designs for the whole exhibition and the supporting advertising material. The exhibition had two central events, a formal opening on 13 May and the Museum Night on 20 May. The opening was attended by many guests and, after the welcome speeches by the 2483 District Governor, Velibor Zolak, and the President of the Club Beograd Kalemegdan, Dusan Stojanovic, a concert took place, followed by a cocktail party. In the following several days, the Progres gallery was the venue for the programmes organized by the Belgrade clubs, which were opened to the general public and the exhibition visitors: the Rotary Club Zemun held a joint meeting with the Rotary Club Skadarlija and organized an interesting lecture on Djordje Weifert on Tuesday, 16 May; the clubs Beograd Stari Grad and Beograd Kalemegdan had a joint meeting on 17 May, at which the club Stari Grad presented its publishing and humanitarian activities, which was followed by a short entertainment programme; on Thursday, 18 May, the club Cukarica organized a concert featuring the

talented musicians studying at Page7 the Music School V. Lisinski, a play performed by the students of the 13th Belgrade Grammar School and a lecture and joint meeting with the club Beograd Centar. All these activities were open to the general public and the clubs had invited non-Rotarian guests. The Rotary clubs Beo- grad Dunav, Beograd Vracar and Beograd Dedinje provided valuable help by mobilized their members to help with the gallery watch. The exhibition “Rotary in Ser- bia” has been included in the programme of the Museum Night and received great public attention. In only one day, between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m., the exhibition was visited by 2,000 to 2,500 people. That Night, an expert guidance through the exhibition was organized, and this was the first contact with the Rotary concept for a great majority of visitors. The culmination of the evening was when, after the sound of the bell, the Presidents of the clubs Beograd, Nenad Sakovic, Metropolitan, Nikola Mitic, and Kalemegdan Dusan Stojanovic held a symbolic joint public meeting and briefly explained the essence and purpose of our activities. The Belgrade clubs concluded that the exhibition was a great success, perceived as a Rotary Festival, and that was the first time that the Rotary had such a great public exposure. Although already closed in Belgrade, the exhibition continues its life in Sremska Mitrovica on 1 June, and is available to all clubs in Serbia. 

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Museum Night - Rotary Club Novi Sad-Dunav \"LIGHT UP ROTARY\" – THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SERVING MANKIND The Rotary Club Novi Sad-Dunav had a presentation at this year’s Museum Night featuring a documentary and educational exhibition of the Rotary move- ment, targeting the local com- munity, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. The exhibition “Light up Rotary” was open for the visitors bet- ween 20 and 27 May 2017 at the Novi Sad-based gallery Bel Art (17 Mihajla Pupina Blvd). The authors of the exhibition are the members of the RC Novi Sad – Dunav, Vesna Latinovic and Milan Dimitric. The goal of the exhibition was to explain and demystify the role of the Rotary movement, through “socialising and ser- ving” the community, which is the motto of the largest non- governmental organization in the world. The Rotary move- ment was presented to the audience, as well as the history of the movement in Serbia, and the visitors, who also had an opportunity to hear a story about its achievements, were invited to join the Rotarians in an interactive programme. The motto of this year’s Museum Night was Great and Small Revolutions. Revolution is a word whose meaning we associate with the historical turning points, changes of the systems Page9 and epochs. Apart from the great “historical” revolutions, there are small ones, which are “less important”, persistently happening every day. However, these “small revolutions” are what changes us and our attitude towards culture for the better. The greatest revolution is to always work on yourself and actively contribute to your environment. That is the reason why we are part of the Rotary! 

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Elections for the District Governor 2019/20 GOVERNOR NOMINATED Nominating Committee nominates Zorica JESTROVIC, RC Kragujevac The Nominating Committee of District 2483, comprising PDG Vigor Majic, PDG Dragan Brajer, PDG Dejan Cikara, PDG Nikola Obradovic and PDG Velimir Stefanovic, considered the candidate proposals of the Rotary clubs for the District Governor for 2019-20 and adopted a decision on nomination of the District Governor for 2019-20. Within the envisaged timeframe, after a two-month period for suggesting the candidates, four applications and suggestions were submitted, all of which met the formal criteria defined by the Rotary International. The clubs proposed the following Rotarians for the District Governor 2019-20: 1. Zorica Jestrovic, RC Kragujevac, 2. Ljiljana Lainovic, RC Novi Sad-Dunav, 3. Svetislav Milovanovic, RC Beograd-Stari Grad 4. Ivica Savic, RC Leskovac. After three meetings and interviews with all candidates, the Nominating Committee adopted a DECISION to nominate ZORICA JESTROVIC, member of the Rotary Club Kragujevac, for the 2483 District Governor for the Rotary year 2019-20. Pursuant to Article 14.020.8 RI Bylaws, the clubs that suggested their candidate for the District Governor, and whose suggestions were not accepted by the Nominating Committee, have been informed that they are entitled to CHALLENGE the decision of the Nominating Committee within 10 days (until 2 June 2017 at noon), inviting all clubs in District 2483 to vote. The club has to adopt a decision on challenge at a regular meeting. If a club (whose candidate was not accepted by the Nominating Committee) adopts a decision on challenge, all clubs will be informed about that and will be allowed to concur with the challenge. According to the criteria defined by Article 14.020.9 of RI Bylaws, any challenge that has been concurred to by at least 13 clubs may by accepted as valid, which will be followed by a vote of all clubs in the District.  Page11

Cooperation with neighbouring districts Page12 DISTRICT CONFERENCES IN CROATIA AND SLOVENIA The District Conference of Croatia – District 1913 was held in Bol on the island of Brac, between 19 and 21 May, and attended by over 300 Rotarians from all over Croatia. District 2483 was presented by DG Velibor Zolak and PP RC Budva Krsto Niklanovic. Bearing in mind many common interests and the need for cooperation, the ICC Croatia – Montenegro was established at the Conference, at the proposal of Croatia. The District Conference of Slovenia – District 1912, which was held on 27 May 2017 at the Grand Hotel Union in Ljubljana, was also attended by over 300 Rotarians. As opposed to the Conference in Croatia, which lasted two and a half days, the Conference in Ljubljana lasted less than a full day. The governors of both Districts – D1913 Croatia, Goran Racic, and D1912 Slovenia, Joze Zadravec, will attend the District 2483 Conference to be held in Budva between 23 and 25 June.  

 ARRFC Velimir Stefanovic RI REPRESENTATIVE AT THE CONFERENCE OF D1380 300 clubs and 6 districts in Finland In the capacity of representative of the RI President John F. Germ, ARRFC PDG Velimir-Kica Stefano- vic, attended the District 1380 Conference in Pietarsaari, Finland (6 – 10 April 2017). The confe-rence was attended by around 60 Rotarians. The first Rotary club in Finland was established in Helsinki in 1926, and the Finish Rotary currently has approximately 10,900 members organized in more than 300 clubs and 6 Districts. The Rotary Inter- national ranks Finland among the top 10 countries with highest financial contribution per member.  District 2483 Beach Conference, Budva 23 - 25 June 2017 PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME DEFINED The District 2483 Conference, organized at Montenegro’s elite summer resort in Budva, will be held at Page13 two venues: on the island of Sveti Nikola (known among Rotarians for the Rotary Summer Party held every summer on the third Saturday in August) and at the high-end Montenegrin hotel Splendid Conference & Spa Resort 5*. The Conference programme will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday (24 June) and close at 1 p.m. on Sunday (25 June). On Friday evening, 23 June, the host club – Rotary Club Budva will organize a celebration of its 15th anniversary.

Preliminary PROGRAMME OF D2483 CONFERENCE Friday, 23 June 2017 (Venues: Hotel \"Splendid\" and Budva Old Town) 18.00 - 20.00 Registration - Hotel \"Splendid\" 21.00 - 24.00 Celebration – 15th anniversary of the host club, Rotary Club Budva – terrace of the Hotel \"Mogren\" Saturday, 24 June 2017 (Venues: Island of Sveti Nikola and beach of the hotel \"Splendid\") 08.30 Boat transfer to the island of Sveti Nikola (Skolj) - restaurant \"Jadran kod Krsta\" 09.00 - 09.10 Opening ceremony - DG Velibor Zolak 09.10 - 09.15 President of RC Budva 09.15 - 09.20 Mayor of Budva 09.20 - 09.40 Foreign guests (DG, ICC, 2-3 minutes each) 09.40 - 09.50 PRID Gideon Peiper 09.50 - 10.10 Representative of the RI President - PDG Ashok Gupta 10.10 - 11.00 Presentation of the Rotary programmes and projects (cca 10 minutes each) Rotaract, Interact, Friendship Exchange, Rotary Fellowships, ICC 11.00 - 11.15 Coffee break 11.15 - 12.30 Presentation of the results achieved in the current Rotary year 2016/17 Successful projects, reports by the District Committees and Clubs 12.30 Cocktail party 13.00 - 14.30 Lunch break 13.00 - 17.30 Music, dance, summer games 17.30 Boat transfer 21.00 - 24.00 Splendid Beach Grill & Party – beach of the hotel \"Splendid\" Sunday, 25 June 2017 (Venue: Hotel \"Splendid\") 10.00 - 10.30 Resolution on Election of the Governor-Nominee 10.30 - 11.00 Financial reports - PDG Dejan Cikara 2015-16 and RID 2483 - Association 11.00 - 11.30 District Awards 11.30 - 11.45 Coffee break 11:45 - 12:00 Presentation and speech DG 2016/17 12.00 - 12.10 Presentation and speech DG 2017/18 12.10 - 12.20 Presentation and speech DG 2018/19 12.20 - 12.35 Representative of the RI President – PDG Ashok Gupta 12.35 - 12.40 Closing of the District Conference – DG Velibor Zolak Registration fee for the District Conference: the fee amounting to €58 is paid at the registration, at the hotel Page14 Splendid, to the treasurer of the RC Budva. The fee covers: info material, boat transfers, coffee breaks, lunch on the island of Sveti Nikola and a barbecue dinner on the beach of the hotel Splendid. Fee for the Celebration of the 15th Anniversary of RC Budva: the free amounts to €30, or €20 for Rotaracts. It is paid at the venue to the treasurer of RC Budva. Registration: registration to the Conference and Celebration at the email: [email protected], no later than 15 June 2017. For further information, please call +382 69 240 630. Svetlana Ivanovic, Technical Secretary of RC Budva. Accommodation: organized individually by participants in the Conference or by the agency CIPA TRAVEL, [email protected], +382 69 456 772. 