Estoi Palace International Rotary Club (RCEPI) received a visit from Rotary International District Governor (DG), Ilda Braz of RC Ponta Delgada (Azores). This was an opportunity for the Algarve club to show the work that has been done in the local community and internationally.
During the visit, Ilda Braz gave the club a certificate of merit for the funds donated to the End Polio Now campaign, following a successful sponsored bike ride last November.
President Bruno Sousa Costa, Past President Manuela Robinson and Chair of RCEPI Service Committee Maria José Pires met the DG and her husband José Braz at the São Brás Bombeiros where they were given a guided tour of the fire station and shown the ambulance which RCEPI were instrumental in purchasing five years ago.
On arrival at Estoi Palace Pousada, the Governor was able to view “Wheely”, a van donated to the Algarve Oncology Association last year in a joint effort between RCEPI and Wolf Valley Charity. The Algarve Rotary Clubs will be funding equipment for the van which will be a mobile lung and skin testing unit. This will be operational by June.
Forty members and guests joined DG Ilda Braz for lunch. Her husband presented a project on literacy in Mozambique and guests were asked to support the cause by purchasing educational material.
RCEPI is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and played a video outlining 10 of their main achievements during that time, including purchasing a refrigerated truck for Faro Food Bank, helping to purchase two mobile units for the Algarve Oncology Association, supplying 50,000 litres of milk to needy families and helping to purchase a van for the Estoi Casa do Povo (community centre).
In her speech, Ilda Braz outlined the special area of focus for Rotary in February which is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution. Rotary International has peace centres worldwide and trains peace scholars.
The District Governor presented President Bruno with a small statue featuring a whale tailfin to represent the Azores, and RCEPI presented the Governor with a cork handbag and a donation of €300 for Rotary causes.
Following lunch, Ilda Braz was taken to Olhão to see “Pinky”, the mobile breast screening unit, in action.
For further information about RCEPI, email [email protected] or visit www.rotaryestoipalace.org
Photo: RCEPI Past President Manuela Robinson, RCEPI President Bruno Sousa Costa, District Governor Ilda Braz, Assistant District Governor Isabel Lopes, RCEPI members, Maria José Pires, Jim Ditheridge and Sven Gustaf Lindroos
 received a visit from Rotary International District Governor (DG), Ilda Braz of RC Ponta Delgada (Azores).){kind=link}