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International District 7820 ( a brief profile) Bonded by the North Atlantic and our rich marine heritage, we have been pursuing the Object of Rotary here since 1913, when the Rotary Club of Halifax was chartered. Subsequently, Rotary was introduced in Charlottetown (1917), Sydney (1920) and St. John’s (1921) in what was then the country of Newfoundland. The international character of the District was further enriched in 1989 when the Rotary Club of Saint Pierre et Miquelon of France was sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Sydney and North Sydney. Geographically one of the largest of Rotary International’s 529 Districts, we are a family of 46 Rotary Clubs and 1800 Rotarians in an area twice the size of Great Britain. We embrace the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador; Isles de la Madeleine (Québec) and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (France). Our current clubs are enclosed within a giant triangle formed by Yarmouth in the southwest, Labrador City-Wabush to the north (1025 air kms) and St. John’s (1185 air kms) to the southeast. Our 93 year legacy of service to the local and global community is a proud one. Today, we stand on the shoulders of many Giants of Rotary Service. People like Donald MacRae of Canoe Cove, Prince Edward Island and the Rotary Club of Halifax. In 1917, Donald became our third District Governor and went on to become the founder of the Fourth Object of Rotary – “the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace …”. We have served the international community with distinction, making multi-year financial and volunteer contributions to Rotary International’s twenty-one year quest to eradicate polio from the face of the earth (we are very close to realizing our goal!). There have been many other District-wide initiatives such as the Bethune Memorial Ambulance Project. Led by the Rotary Club of Yarmouth, the District supplied ambulances to two hospitals in China - in Bejing and Wutai. Continuing Rotary’s tradition of helping the neediest people on earth, much of our focus in recent years has been on Sub-Saharan Africa, in countries such as Cameroun, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Gambia. In 2003-2004, we initiated a club-twinning project with District 9150 (which encompasses ten countries, including Cameroun, Burundi and Central African Republic). Other projects in this part of the world include a Group Study Exchange, water management and the supply of surplus medical equipment. We combine our highly acclaimed Atlantic hospitality with Rotary’s quest for world understanding and peace by participating regularly in international exchanges of high school students (Youth Student Exchange), young professionals (Group Study Exchange) and Rotarians (Friendship Exchange). We are also enthusiastic participants in Rotary’s World Peace and Conflict Resolution program, with two of our shining scholars studying at Bradford University in the north of England. At home, we continue to pursue our ninety-three year old tradition of serving special humanitarian needs. From the Labrador coast to Saint Pierre et Miquelon to the Annapolis Valley, a prominent focus of our work has always been our youth, including literacy programs, leadership seminars and the sponsoring of Interact (high school) and Rotaract (post-secondary) Clubs. We have established across the District numerous facilities to serve the special needs of youth. Three provincial examples are Rotary Sunshine Park in St. John’s, Camp Tidnish in Amherst and Summerside Rotary Library and Park in Summerside. Rotarians in District 7820 and around the world live and work according to a high ethical standard exemplified by a 24 word Code of Ethics developed in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert Taylor. It impacts everything we do and has come to be known as the 4-Way Test: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER RELATIONSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? This code of conduct was used originally by Rotarian Herbert to help turn around a near-bankrupt company. Since being officially adopted by Rotary International in 1943, the 4-Way Test has been translated into over 100 languages, been planted on the Moon and appeared in labour contracts, courtrooms, billboards and monuments the world over. The heart and soul of Rotary resides in its more than 32,400 clubs worldwide. Providing them with the support they need to realise their goals is a top priority of the RI President and Board of Directors. In District 7820, the District Governor and a team of Assistant Governors and District Committees assist all 46 clubs with leadership training and the high quality information, advice and encouragement needed to maximize their opportunities for service. Ninety-three years after the Rotary Club of Halifax was chartered, the light of Rotary International and its motto “Service Above Self” continues to shine brightly throughout District 7820, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the many. With the inspiration of those who have preceded us, we look forward to writing new chapters of the Rotary story in our District. Dennis Knight, District Governor, 2006-2007, 709 726-9465. |
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| Rotary District 7820 |