Afghanistan is Rotary's 166th country with reinstatement of Kabul club The Rotary Club of Kabul, Afghanistan, was welcomed back into Rotary International this week, ending a 24-year absence of Rotary in that country and raising the total number of countries in which Rotary clubs are active to 166. The club had previously existed from 1968 to 1979, but more than two decades of war and political instability made it impossible for it to remain active. The addition of the reinstated Rotary Club of Kabul marks another milestone in Rotary's expansion into Muslim countries. Before Afghanistan, The United Arab Emirates was the most recent predominantly Muslim country to join Rotary's family when the Rotary Club of Dubai was chartered last year. Boasting 41 charter members, the newly formed club will be a part of District 3270 with Pakistan. RI President Bhichai Rattakul was instrumental in facilitating the work of the Rotary Club of Hayward Sunset, California, USA, which is comprised almost entirely of Afghan immigrants, to sponsor the provisional club along with the Rotary Club of Uni Town Peshawar, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. As a new member of Rotary's international association of clubs, the Rotary Club of Kabul can make use of the many resources that exist within Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation - not to mention the vast network of clubs and their 1.2 million members - to partake in projects that will help the country continue to rebuild its infrastructure and address a plethora of humanitarian concerns following recent events there. Although Rotary has been away from Afghanistan for years, the Foundation has supported polio eradication activities in the country. Also, in Rotary year 2001-02, during and immediately after the war that ended the rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Rotarians rallied to the aid of Afghan refugees and internally displaced people. The RI Afghan Refugee Relief Effort Committee worked in tandem with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to help purchase and distribute aid, impacting the lives of thousands of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. ************************************************************************************* When it comes to the polio eradication fundraising campaign (PEFC), there's nothing Rotarians won't do to reach the goal of US$80 million - including changing their appearance. Take James Barrington, a member of the Rotary Club of Hampton, New Hampshire, USA. For the past 25 years, Barrington has been known in the community for his handsome and meticulously trimmed white beard. So when he offered to shave it off on live TV if his club raised $2,500 over and above its initial commitment to the polio eradication campaign, there was a lot of excitement. So much excitement, in fact, that the club not only raised the money but surpassed its goal during its annual TV auction with pledges totaling more than $3,000 - just to see Barrington take it all off. The idea came to Barrington, who is chairman of the club's polio eradication committee, while planning the annual fundraising effort to raise money for the club's community fund. As part of the Hampton club's contribution to the PEFC, the members decided to commit the first $10,000 to the campaign, and began brainstorming ways to increase the auction's profits. "We are on the verge of eradicating polio from the face of the earth," Barrington told his fellow Rotarians. "Every idea that we can find to raise further funds for that goal is worthwhile. "To that end, I offer to shave my beard on live TV." To ensure Barrington followed through with his offer, the local chief of police was on hand to handcuff him to a barber's chair once the goal was met. With the cameras rolling, off came the beard, moustache, and any remaining facial hair that could be found. While not as dramatic a change, Wiley Vincent, a member of the Rotary Club of Sidney, New York, USA, also was willing to sacrifice his looks in the name of the PEFC. Each week, his Rotary club auctions off items to raise money for the polio eradication campaign. At a recent meeting, a blueberry pie was up for bid when one of the members generously offered to pay $25 to throw the pie in Vincent's face. A bidding war ensued and before it was over, this brave Rotarian was sporting a pie that had earned $126 for PEFC. As Jim Vance, president of the Sidney club, explained, "We're proud to be contributing all that we can for the elimination of polio around the world." ************************************************************************************* Updated ABCs of Rotary now available The newly updated version of The ABCs of Rotary, an ideal Rotary education tool for club members old and new, is now available. A compact guide through Rotary's history, customs, and traditions, this collection of informative and colorful pieces is written in a lively, informal, and easy-to-read style. The ABCs of Rotary originated as a compilation of short articles first written by 1992-93 RI President Cliff Dochterman for the weekly bulletin of his Rotary club. Since it was first published, the book has undergone several revisions, each time adding new, informative articles about Rotary and its programs. The new ABCs of Rotary (363-EN) is currently available in English and may be ordered for US$3 a copy through RI's Publication Order Services Section by telephone: (847) 866-4600 or fax (847) 866-3276. The book can also be ordered from the online catalog on the RI Web site at http://shop.rotary.org/catalog/. ************************************************************************************* Register early to attend RI/UN Day This year, Rotary International/United Nations Day will be observed on 4 October, more than a month earlier than it was last year. District governors in the United States, especially those in the northeast, are encouraged to appoint a district promotion chair to help spread the word and to include information on the event in their monthly newsletter. Additional materials and registration forms will be sent out to districts by the start of the new Rotary year on 1 July 2003. The RI/UN Day presents a unique opportunity for Rotarians to tour the UN Headquarters, and to attend panel discussions featuring senior Rotary leaders and representatives from non-governmental organizations and UN agencies. Also, the event underscores RI's commitment to the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through partnership with the UN and other like-minded organizations.

To obtain more details, contact Past District Governor Bradley Jenkins, Registrar RI/UN Day, by telephone: 908-766-4790; fax: 908-766-7904; e-mail: bradjenkins@att.net