Rotary Hod Carmel concludes a year of community work on the evening of the change of presidents

(Hai Pa) – On Saturday night, July 4, 2026, members of the Hod Carmel Rotary Club gathered for a presidential exchange conference, which marked the end of the 2025-2026 operating year and the transfer of the position from outgoing president Tommy Vera to incoming president Amnon Perlman. The event was held on the roof of the Colony Hotel in the German Colony in Haifa, at sunset, and opened with a social gathering, a group photo, dinner, and a year-end presentation. The conference featured a wide range of community activities, along with congratulatory remarks, reflections on the club’s future, and an emphasis on the contributions of Rotary members to the local community, children, families, veterans, and other social initiatives.

The conference at the Colony Hotel and the basis for community action

There are several Rotary clubs operating in Haifa, and each of them serves as a social framework that promotes contributions to the community through projects that the club members choose to lead. The economic model on which the activity is based was presented at the Hod Carmel conference: club members pay membership fees of several thousand shekels a year, which are used both for the meetings themselves and to support community projects. In addition, additional funds are collected through fundraising events. In June, a gala evening was held with a performance by the Suburbs, the purpose of which was to raise donations for the club's continued social activities.

Nesia Melek spoke about peace being made from below and projects in Cyprus

In her remarks, Nesia Melek presented the topic she chose to highlight this year: the activities of Rotary clubs around the world to improve the quality of life, useful work, and connect people and communities. After focusing in previous years on various cities around the world, including Washington, Melbourne, Vienna, Copenhagen, and San Francisco, this time she chose to move closer to our region and talk about Cyprus and the conflict between the Greek and Turkish communities. According to her, Rotary is not trying to resolve the political conflict, but rather operates from the perspective that peace begins with connections between people. She mentioned the Rotary Club of Nicosia, founded in 1938, and operates in humanitarian projects in the areas of health, medical equipment for hospitals, pediatric and oncology departments, education, scholarships, computers, young leadership, assistance to needy families, food and clothing distribution, environmental quality, recycling, and water conservation.

Attorney Yitzhak Reinfeld on democracy and the club's resilience in the face of difficulties

Attorney Yitzhak Reinfeldt made a connection in his remarks between the date of the conference, July 4, and the United States Independence Day and the values ​​on which democracy is based. He spoke about freedom, equality, the rule of law and human dignity, and reminded that democracy is not a permanent gift but an ongoing task that requires engaged citizens, vigilance, tolerance and responsibility. Alongside this broad observation, he also referred to the year of activity of the Hod Carmel Club, which took place in the shadow of difficulties, warnings, missiles and a complex reality. Despite this, he said that the club was able to launch significant projects, thanks to the insistence of Tommy Vera, the team and the club members who donated, assisted and continued to work for the community.

Arnon Barnea on the need to renew Rotary and attract young people

Arnon Barnea, Governor of Rotary Israel, described the path that led him to the position and the training he received within Rotary International. According to him, when he looked at the state of Rotary in Israel, he saw an organization with quality people, abilities and a desire to do good, but also aging clubs and a clear challenge in attracting a younger generation. Barnea presented the need to establish new clubs around shared interests, and not just around a geographic community. He suggested reaching out to busy working-age people through what they lack: regular meetings with friends, meaning, a field of interest and good deeds. As an example, he told of the establishment of a club around design and visual arts, led by Ruthie Russo, who has already formed a group of designers, artists, photographers and professionals from various fields.

Tommy Vera on the heritage trips for children from the clubs

Outgoing president Tommy Vera summed up the year of activity and particularly emphasized two projects that the club has been leading for several years. The first is the Heritage Trips project, led by former president Avi Avissar. According to him, the club works with children's clubs, which house children who have nowhere to go after school. At the clubs, they receive a hot meal, do lessons and stay in the program until the afternoon. The club takes these children on trips to places that, he said, they would not otherwise go to. Among the destinations mentioned were Ramat Hanadiv Park, the Turtle Bridge, the Alexander Stream Reserve, Agmon Hula, the Qumran Caves, Rosh HaNikra and the Jerusalem City Walls. Vera noted that this is a project that has been ongoing for many years and continues this year.

At the end of his remarks, Tommy thanked his wife Shoshi Vera, who worked throughout the year in coordinating the club's activities.

The guitar project at the Dinur School

The second project that Tommy Vera highlighted is the guitar-building project, which he also attributed to the initiative and contribution of Avi Avissar. According to him, the project began with the inspiration of singer David Broza and takes place at a Dinur school for children from difficult families. This is the fifth year that the club has been operating the initiative, in which a teacher is brought in to teach the children the guitar. In the first two years, 60 guitars were purchased, and later another 48 guitars were purchased. The children study in groups every week for two years, and then take the guitars home when they already know how to play. Vera expressed deep appreciation to Avi Avissar for his leadership, professionalism, attention to detail, and the humane way in which the projects were managed.

Cooking therapy, Gaza village and equipment for fighters

Tommy Vera also presented additional projects that emerged in the past year of activity. He spoke about a pilot of cooking therapy, which was tested in the north, inspired by a similar activity in Sderot, and noted that the club members traveled to see how the project was being conducted. According to him, this is a very significant treatment, and in order to implement it in Haifa, space, kitchens and partners are required. He thanked Danny Keren, who contacted the Interdisciplinary Clinical Center at the University of Haifa, the Education Administration in the municipality and the school. In addition, Vera noted that the club raised approximately 60 shekels from donors abroad for a cactus garden in the village of Gaza in memory of the victims of October. He also mentioned assistance to the 1863rd Battalion, which included the supply of neck warmers and winter equipment for the fighters.

Danny Keren on the Cooking Therapy Project

Danny Keren, who leads the cooking therapy project, expanded on the significance of the initiative for children with social difficulties. According to him, these are children that the school defines as "transparent children," meaning children who are almost invisible from a social perspective. He said that the professionals who experienced the project were enthusiastic about it and couldn't believe how much it helps children who are not doing well in school, either socially or mentally. Keren expressed hope that the club will continue with the project, and even said that it would be good for Rotary clubs in other cities to adopt it. According to him, this is a distinctly Rotary project, operating from the local area and offering children a practical, connecting and strengthening experience.

Doron Branson on the role of president and the nature of the club

Doron Branson, the club's secretary, dedicated his remarks to expressing gratitude to Tommy Vera. He noted that every year the club looks a little different, because the president who leads it brings with him his own emphases and style. According to him, the president is not just a representative figure, but someone who represents the club externally and has many powers to promote initiatives and launch projects. Branson mentioned that Vera took up the gauntlet at a time when there was no designated president for the club, and did so successfully. He emphasized that Vera maintained the club's DNA: social gatherings with the participation of couples, and hosting in pleasant and tidy places where members are happy to meet.

Incoming President Amnon Perlman spoke about leadership and recruiting new members

Amnon Perlman, the incoming president of Rotary Hod Carmel, began his remarks by reflecting on the definition of Rotary as a business, professional and social organization that works for the community, and emphasized that it is not a political organization. However, he chose to talk about leadership, which he said is measured by the ability to make difficult decisions under conditions of uncertainty, build trust, create hope, show determination and define challenges. Perlman addressed what was said about the need to rejuvenate the club and recruit new members, especially at younger ages. He said that the club will have the goal of recruiting new members in the coming year, and expressed confidence that with the help of its members and friends, the club will be able to meet the challenges it has set for itself.