Rotary International District 5170

World Community Service at It's Very Best!

Uniendo America means "Uniting America," and that is just what Uniendo America Project Fairs aim to do. Since 1994, Uniendo America has held a Fair in a different Central American country each year where Central American Rotarians have presented World Community Service projects to North American Rotarians in hopes of forming international partnerships. Meeting face-to-face at the Fairs in Central America has created lasting friendships, forged new working relationships and facilitated the implementation of hundreds of WCS projects, benefiting countless Central (and North) Americans. It is what Rotary International is all about: creating goodwill and understanding through international cooperation.

Throughout the past decade there have been more than two thousand projects proposed by Central American Rotarians. There have been attendees from well over 200 Clubs, representing over 55 Dis-tricts from outside of Central America. There have been as many as 250 North American attendees at a Project Fair. There has also been a representative from Rotary International Headquarters at each Fair.

Uniendo America Project Fairs are not official programs of Rotary International, but rather they are grassroots efforts, being organized by the hosting countries. This has been a very effective and reward-ing way to introduce new Rotarians to International service and to re-kindle the fires in more experi-enced Rotarians. The concept has been so successful that it has spread to South America and Europe. There are now annual Fairs in Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Poland, and West Africa.

The next Central American Project Fair will be held January 24-26, 2008, in San Jose, Costa Rica. Contact for information about the Fair is: Donna Brown, Hayward. For more information, go directly to www.uniendo-america.org

Howard Tours is arranging a special group trip for people from our District to attend the Fair and also explore some of the natural wonders of Costa Rica. Cost, schedule, and other details of this trip may be found in: 08-01-UniendoAmericaTour.pdf or go directly to Howard Tours at www.HowardTours.net

We are also selling wheelchairs for $75.00 ea., which will be distributed in CR during the Projects Fair. Contact me: Donna Brown