International work

Twinning visit 2013
23rd - 27th May 2013

Participants

Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper - 15 people (and a dog)

Rotary Club of Breda Mark & Aa - 7 people

Rotary Club of Sophia Antipolis - 4 people

Organisers

Rotary Club of Roma Castelli Romani, President Maria Teresa Lo Bianco and Int. Chair Franco Catalano

Venue

All guests stayed together at Grand Hotel Helio Cabala in Marino and a bus was hired to transfer us to different places including airports, Country Club and restaurants throughout the visit

Programme

23rd May

We started off with drinks at the poolside with a wonderful view over Rome with even the dome of St Peter visible in the distance. This was followed by a rich dinner. Those not accustomed to the Italian habit of eating two “primi” after the antipasti hardly made it to the roast piglet main course let alone the puddings, coffee and digestives at the end.

24th May

The following morning we visited Villa Chigi in Arricia. This 16th century villa belonged to the Chigi family who has produced two cardinals and one pope of the Catholic Church. Very special were the original leather wall coverings, portraits and pharmacy.

We then visited the Cooperative Cantina Gotto D'Oro of which Luigi Caporicci, last year's Rotary President is the Director. We were shown round the impressive winemaking and bottling plant and afterwards tasted some delicious prizewinning wine with a plate full of local specialties.

In the afternoon we strolled along the Tiber in Rome and learned about the history and biology of the river.

In the evening the splendid Twinning Dinner took place at the Club's seat, the Castel Gandolfo Country Club. With views over the golf course laid out inside a volcanic crater we enjoyed a superb meal interspersed with speeches and music. Most of the members of RC Castelli Romani as well as a representative of the Governor attended. There are now three Rotary Clubs from different countries which are twinned with each, and the French RC Sophia Antipolis is very interested to be part of this International Rotary Quartet.

25th May

Saturday was spent in Tivoli where we visited two villas. The first one Roman belonging to the 2nd Century Emperor Hadrian and the second the Villa d'Este of Cardinal d'Este, a 16th Century masterpiece known for its Italian gardens full of fountains, nymphs and caves fed hydraulically by the river Aniene without the use any electricity.

Lunch was at Hotel Torre S.Angelo housed in a beautiful old monastery.

Another delicious buffet dinner was held at Villa degli Angeli, overlooking Crater Lake Albano. We were just in time for a splendid sunset.

26th May

Club Projects:

• Castelli Romani: The Club took part in two medical projects together with other Rotary Clubs in the District, one providing a bowel cancer detection machine and the other arranging for the screening of schoolchildren re celiac disease. The main achievement this year has been the organization of a national competition of chamber music for young musicians playing duos and trios in collaboration with the town of Castel Gandolfo. This is planned to become a yearly event during the first week of May and all Clubs are invited to publicize and look for possible participants so that the competition may become international next year. RC Castelli Romani has a tradition of organizing competitions for gifted young people, be they musicians, scientists or journalists/writers
• Breda Mark & Aa: Fundraising projects include the sale of wine and miniature replica historic buildings in Breda. The Club has supported the local foodbank, organized a day out for lonely people in an old people's home, supported handicapped children and helped man the call center of a national television fundraising campaign for charities. They also took part in a Santa Run together with other Rotary Clubs in Breda. One member is working to found another Rotary Club
• Sophia Antipolis: The Club's main fundraising event is a golf tournament, the Golf Club of Sophia being the seat of the Club. Another fundraising activity was an auction of paintings from local artists. With the money raised they support French doctors and dentists going out to Kosovo, Madagascar and Afghanistan, the training of a guide dog for the blind, equipping a primary school in Dakka Senegal, the local foodbank and handicapped people
• Abingdon Vesper: The Mubende microcredit project being the only project supported by all four Clubs was the obvious subject of the presentation. All Clubs were keen to hear about its progress, successes and challenges. A brief outline was also given of the new Learning for Life school development plan. For the French Mubende had been the main reason for taking part in the meeting and we can expect some members of other Clubs to join us on a future visit

After the presentations we had time to discover Rome individually until it was time for the Concert organized by RC Castelli Romani at the Anglican Church S.Paulo entra le Mura. We heard beautiful music performed by two choirs and orchestra directed by Gianmario Cavallaro, honorary member of the Club. The concert was followed by a pizza meal with lots of extra specialties in the best Roman pizzeria.

27th May

As if the programme had not been amazing enough, we were granted special access to the papal gardens in Castel Gandolfo. These superb Italian style gardens built on the grounds of the former imperial villa of Domitian (1st C. BC) are something most people will never see unless they become Pope. We even visited the secret garden were a succession of popes come to pray for holy inspiration.

A short walk then took us to the centre of Castel Gandolfo with its intimate piazza with a fountain designed by Bernini in front of the papal Summer Residence.

A last espresso and cappuccino before it was time to leave with the bus.

And finally...

We cannot thank our hosts enough for their generous hospitality and the fantastic days they organized for us. Franco, used to be the commanding officer of a military airport near Rome, had arranged everything to perfection and dealt with every individual wish from 26 unruly Rotarians, keeping a cool head at all times. A remarkable achievement. We maintain fond memories of our friends in Rome, Breda and Antibes. We mixed and exchanged ideas quite naturally. It was an excellent opportunity to get to know each other better and to appreciate Italian culture.

We look forward to the next International Meeting which will be organized by our Dutch friends in Breda.