Rotarians from Ukraine meet with counterparts in two U.S. cities (06/27/04)

Rotarians from Ukraine meet with counterparts in two U.S. cities

by Jan Sherbin

CINCINNATI - Rotary Club leaders from Ukraine recently visited Chicago and Cincinnati to look at how Rotary operates in the United States and to study Rotary's leadership practices.

"This leadership exchange is designed to develop a cooperative relationship between area clubs and respective districts for the purpose of furthering the ideals and work of Rotary around the world," explained Judie James of the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, who organized the visit. She said she sees future joint U.S.-Ukrainian service projects resulting from the visit.

Members of Cincinnati's Rotary Club helped start Rotary in Cincinnati's sister city of Kharkiv in 1993. Rotary in Kharkiv and all around Ukraine is expanding and growing stronger, establishing more clubs and initiating more service projects. There are now 33 Rotary Clubs in Ukraine, with more than 3,000 members.

"That means we're seeing more and more Rotary community and civic projects in Ukraine," Ms. James noted. "These projects are making positive impacts on the well-being of their communities and citizens there."

The visiting Ukrainian group attended several Rotary meetings in Cincinnati and Chicago, as well as toured Rotary International headquarters in Chicago. At Rotary headquarters, topics covered included starting new clubs, planning effective meetings, service and exchange programs, leadership education, member retention and humanitarian programs. The visit included a meeting with U.S. Rotary President-elect Glenn Estess.

The visiting Rotarians belong to Rotary District 2230, which encompasses Kharkiv and other parts of eastern Ukraine. The delegation included: Eugene Liberman, president, Kharkiv Rotary; Anatoly Volok, Kharkiv Rotary (delegation leader); Karina Movsesyan, founding member and past president, Kharkiv Rotary; Anatoly Levit, founding president of Sloviansk Rotary and Mayor of the city of Sloviansk; and Svetlana Petrova, past president, Cherkasy Rotary.

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