Rotarian Mahmood Al-Yousif, the current Honorary Secretary and Incoming President (2010/2011) was the featured speaker at the Rotary Club of Adliya’s regular meeting held on 24 May 2010.

Rotarian Mahmood has just returned from a trip to Berlin, Germany where he was at the invitation of the German Federal Foreign Office on an organised workshop for citizen journalists and bloggers from 15 countries extending from China to Costa Rica.

While in Berlin, he took the opportunity to visit two local clubs: the Rotary Club of Berlin Humboldt who meet at the same time that our own club does – on Monday evenings at 6pm at the Berlin International Club, and the Rotary Club of Berlin International who meet for breakfast every Friday at the central train station. Mahmood took the opportunity to extend RC Adliya’s regards to both clubs visited and informed them of RC Adliya’s activities and programs.

On his return, Mahmood presented the exchanged flags of both Berlin clubs to the RCA President and did a short presentation on his experiences in the German capital.

These days, it’s often cheaper and more convenient to buy a new PC than to upgrade an old one. But what happens to those old computers once they’ve been abandoned for newer models?

The refuse from discarded electronics products, also known as e-waste, often ends up in landfills or incinerators instead of being recycled. And that means toxic substances like lead, cadmium and mercury that are commonly used in these products can contaminate the land, water and air.

Fareed Bushehri, the UNEP’s ROWA DTIE officer, and an acknowledged expert who provides technical assistance to countries of the West Asia Region to promote Sustainable Development, will be speaking to us at our regular meeting tomorrow evening (April 19th, 2010).

Mr. Bushehri covered:

• What is E-Waste and Why E-Waste is an issue?
• The Arab region and Its ICT Industry
• E-Waste Projects & Initiatives currently undertaken by UNEP
• Results of the Desk Study on E-Waste Management in the Arab Region
• Potentials for Environmentally Sound Management of E-Waste in the Region.

Please listen to the podcast of the meeting and Mr. Bushehri’s talk by clicking Play below:

Download audio file (RA-100419.mp3)

You can also download Mr. Bushehri’s accompanying presentation by clicking here [pdf].

disclaimer: some text copied from Wired.com

There is one constant in the IT business and that is change! So how would a business – regardless of size – get a grip on how to enact an effective IT strategy that would ensure business success?

To explore this and other issues, our club invited Abdulkarim Abu Jaber, Managing Director of Primus Bahrain to discuss this topic and share some of his experience to start the attendees on the right path of creating or strengthening their company’s ICT strategies. Some of the topics to be discussed include:

• General IT industry Trends
• IT in business and personal life
• How IT can help organization grow and reduce cost
• Adoption of new IT trends
• How in the current economic downturn technology can drive innovation, as people and enterprises need new technologies and new products
• How can IT and technologies provide companies with a competitive advantage
• How running a business and overseeing IT is a tough task in the best of times. But in today’s environment—with consumer and business spending shrinking, budgets declining, the stock market sinking, and the pressure to adopt new tools and technologies growing—many organizations are finding themselves stretched to the limit.
• Software as a Service

You can listen to the talk and download the Podcast here:

Please click here to download the accompanying presentation.

Our very own Rotarian DG Nijad Al-Atassi took the floor during our 3rd regular meeting of the year and shared with us his vision and plans for the district. Being the district governor for this year, he is also responsible over all for the organisation of the forthcoming conference to take place in Bahrain From April 29 – May 2, 2010.

One of the important exciting announcements he made last night was the confirmation that His Royal Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain will patronise the proceedings at the conference. This should give the Rotary Club in the whole region a big boost in our quest to help our local communities.

To download DG Nijad Atassi presentation, please click here [pdf, 1.9MB]

This is our last regular meeting before the Holy month of Ramadhan. Our next meeting will be a social evening on July 27th, 2009:

Location: Coral Beach Club
The Main Restaurant
Dinner: Hot and Cold Maza
Mixed Grills
Fruits
Soft Drinks (One Drink per Person)
Water
Timing: 8:00PM for 8:30PM
Price: BD 10 per person

Let me also remind you that an updated RCA member’s leave and clubs activity register is available for download here.

The Rotary Club of Adliya wishes you a joyful, relaxing and healthy summer break!

Please do subscribe to our low frequency email bulletins to be informed of the Club’s events and activities.

Consultant Psychiatrist Speaks at Regular Meeting

The Rotary Club of Adliya welcomed Dr. Tariq Al-Maadawi, the consultant psychiatrist with the Private Clinic in Budaiya Medical Centre who talked about the debilitating psychological and physical condition of depression.

In this featured presentation attended by 60% of the RCA membership and 5 guests as well as the honourable speaker, Dr. Al-Maadawi shattered the usual stereotypes about both psychiatry and depression especially in our local Arab and Muslim communities. He went further to explain that depression is the most disabling condition in the world for women, 25% of whom suffer from it at some point in their lives.

President Hasan Al-Balooshi (L) and Dr. Tariq Al-Maadawi

He emphasised that Depression is a treatable disease. Treatments can range from counselling sessions through to modern medicines which correct the chemical imbalance in the brain which causes this condition.

“Depression,” stated Dr. Al-Maadawi, “covers a range of related conditions in which the primary disturbance is thought to be one of mood or effect.”

“There are 48 types of depressions defined so far,” he continued, “varying from mild states which befall its victims when a live changing event happens, to those experienced by losing a loved one, to severe conditions which require hospitalisation and a concerted effort at medication, diet and counseling.”

Hanan Al-Yousif (L) with Rotarian Ahdeya Noor

Dr. Al-Maadawi’s brief presentation is available from download on our website. Please click here to download Dr. Tariq Al-Maadawi’s presentation on depression in pdf format.

Should you wish to contact Dr. Al-Maadawi for further information or consultation, we would be very happy to provide you with his contact details. Please contact us by sending an email to contact@rotaryadliya.org. All communications will of course remain confidential. Should you wish to contact Dr. Al-Maadawi directly, please do so by contacting the Private Clinic in the Budaiya Medical Centre.

Do give us your feedback please.

The Rotary Club of Adliya held its first meeting of the new Rotary Year 2009/2010 with a set of excellent early achievements.

The board has voted to convene regular meetings in a new location, one that is easily accessible, has plenty of parking, cost less than what it used to pay thus dedicating more fund to help the community directly and be a pleasant place in which to invite guests. All of these point have successfully been achieved by adopting the Marina Club in Manama as the new venue.

Thanks should be rendered to Rotarian PP Redha Faraj who suggested the venue and did an excellent job at negotiating the new rates with the management, our current President Hasan Al-Balooshi and Rotarian Mahmood Al-Yousif for their efforts in securing this location. Judging by the reaction of the good Rotarians in attendance, the choice is a success.

President Hasan Al-Balooshi chairing the inaugural meeting of RY09/10

The meeting’s attendance broke the usual record for RCA meetings with 69% of registered members in attendance! One of the board’s main priorities is to maintain and increase this attendance rating throughout the year, with the board’s principal commitment this year is actively engaging members in club’s activities.

The Club also celebrates the new year by strengthening its service to the community. Rotarian Dr. Faiza Ghabrial requested that the Club find a way to donate 4 new computers to The Hope Institute as they are rebuilding their computer lab. Computers were secured by the efforts of PP Redha Faraj through a generous donation from Al-Moayyed International Group. Further, PP Faraj also secured another computer from AIG which he suggested the Club donates to the Aisha Yateem Family Counsiling Centre. President Hasan expressed his thanks to Rotarian Dr. Ghabiral, PP Faraj and Al-Moayyed International Group for their generosity and commitment to the community.

During the meeting President Hasan Al-Balooshi shared with members and guests the Roadmap for his year and encouraged everyone to put in as much effort as they could to elevate the Club, it’s programs and reputation in the local community.

The outline of the President is available for download here in pdf format.

PP Redha Faraj, who holds the office of honorary treasurer for this year, then took the floor and explained the Club’s finances and outlined his plan which if followed will ensure not only the continued Club’s survival, but also continued sustainability.

The Treasurer’s presentation is available here for download in pdf format.

Comedian Ali Esbai (left) with local celebrity/DJ Imran Al-Aradi

Mr. Ali Esbai, the Bahraini up and coming talent in stand-up comedy then did his bit much to the enjoyment of everyone present. His topical biting remarks on the worsening traffic situation in Bahrain, the “benefit” of a botched bank robbery, and various other mundane aspects of life in Bahrain which he twisted and wove into excellent comedy. Everyone present thanked Mr. Esbai for his gig and wished that they had more time to enjoy his comedy, hopefully in a future function they could!

Please click to view the Secretary and Treasurer’s report for the Club’s meeting on 6 July, 2009.

You might also wish to view some of the pictures taken of the gathering in our Flickr stream. Please click here to view them.

Excerpt from RI President John Kenny’s speech:

In Rotary, everything we are, and everything we aspire to become, lies in the hands of Rotarians in their clubs. If our clubs are congenial and our meetings well run, if our service is carefully planned and competently carried out, if our members are qualified, honest, and respected in their vocations and communities, then all of Rotary will thrive. This is why I say The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands.

At the Rotary Club of Adliya, we are determined to make 2009/2010 a year where we redouble our efforts to better serve the community, increase our membership and demonstrate leadership.

Under the leadership of our President Hasan Al-Balooshi, programs are already afoot and changes are already in process to achieve this commitment and vision.

We would like to welcome the new Board of Directors of the club and thank the outgoing Board for their efforts in a difficult year.

click the “more” link to view the Rotary International President’s speech:

During the regular meeting of the Club on 8th June, 2009, Mahmood Al-Yousif was elected to the post of President for the forthcoming Rotary Year 2010/2011 while Dr. Sajida Tabbara was elected to the position of Honourary Secretary for the same year.

The Rotary Club of Adliya wishes to extend its heartfelt congratulations to the Board of 2010/2011 and looks forward to continued commitment of the Club to worthy local community causes under their leadership.

As part of the Rotary Club of Adliya’s branding strategy, Rotarian Mahmood Al-Yousif demonstrated to the members how to set up their rotaryadliya.org’s email and encouraged everyone to start using it to aid the branding of the club.

If you are an RCA member, please contact Mahmood Al-Yousif to assist you with your rotaryadliya.org email.

After the presentation, Rotarian Ahdeya Ahmed managed the “fun session” by displaying endearing videos and got those present to participate in a fun quiz to the enjoyment of all.

You may wish to listen to the following podcast (33 minutes) which summarises the activities of the evening.

No one can deny the good regular exercise does to people, but the demands of work sometimes stands in the way of going to the gym or participating in other sports which might lead people to a state of unhealthyness.

Well, Dr. Samia Al-Qattan, our guest speaker of the evening demonstrated how even in this situation and with little space and time, people can and should exercise while sitting in their chairs!

Dr. Samia and her assistant Sayed Hussain got all attendees to do just that and through simple exercises, showed how fun they could be too. Unfortunately as the podcast is audio-based, you won’t be able to see the exercises (you might hear some groans though!) but if you visit our Rotary Flickr Stream, you will see some of us participating.

The Incoming District Governor, Nijad Al-Atassi then took the mic and shared with us his quite extensive presentation which he used during the recent training seminars in Egypt – available here for you to download – introduced the Incoming Rotary International President to us and inspired us with a touching song by Declan Galbraith to end the evening on a very good note.

Please enjoy the much shorter Podcast (I edited out most of the groans!) and also view and enjoy Declan’s rather touching song too.