THE CLUB’S HISTORY 1995 – 2004 

The idea for a new Rotary Club being created in Nicosia arose when the District Governor of Rotary District 2450, Khaled Almoayyad, was making his annual visit to Cyprus in November 1994. 

A small group of experienced Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Nicosia formed a steering committee with a view to bringing together men and women who were of like mind in providing service in the community. 

A group of 33 had their first meeting in the Churchill Hotel, Nicosia on 17^th February 1995 under the chairmanship of PP Biland Sadek who had been appointed Governor's Special Representative by DG Almoayyad; the Extension Survey was signed on 23^rd February. 

The Churchill Hotel continued to be the venue for the weekly meetings and in due course PDG Takis Karakannas took over the role of DG's Special Representative and by June 1995 the club was meeting as a Provisional Club, PP Philippos Philippides of the Rotary Club of Kyrenia having been appointed President for the year 1995/96. 

Following the closure of the Churchill Hotel in August 1995, club meetings were transferred to the Holiday Inn which was the club's venue until September 2000 when meetings transferred to the Hilton Park Hotel and since 2003 they have been held at the Hilton Hotel. 

The Club was formally approved by Rotary International in October 1995, sponsorship being provided by the R.C. of Nicosia - Ledra and other clubs in Nicosia. The Charter ceremony took place on 5^th November 1995 on the occasion of the official visit to Cyprus of District Governor Salem Mashhour. 

The R.C. of Nicosia - Aspelia has, since its beginnings, been unique in that its Rotarians belong to differing groups and religious creeds.  English is the language used at meetings. 

Within a few weeks of the charter the new Club had completed its first community project - the sale of Christmas Tree Angels (Cy£10,000) in aid of the Elpida Foundation for children with cancer and leukaemia. This has been followed by similar projects with substantial sums generated to needy causes. 

A lottery was held in 1998/99, producing £46,034, which resulted in the establishment of a Scholarship Foundation Trust Fund, properly approved by the Ministry of Finance. Students applying for the annual scholarship are required to meet criteria for their eligibility viz. 1. be resident in the Nicosia District. 2. have a high standard of academic achievement for tertiary education, and  3. show deserving  financial need.    

In 2002-2003 three students were awarded scholarships, two for Cyprus University and one for Bristol in the UK. The Fund was further enhanced to cover these costs and in 2003-2004 six students were supported at universities during the academic year. To obtain funding for this increase in scholarships a world renowned academic was invited to give a lecture on his specialist subject of  Corporate Strategy; representatives from the public and private sectors (51 companies) attended this keynote event with all proceeds going to the Fund. 

The R.C. of Nicosia - Aspelia is twinned with the Rotary Club of Amman -    West in District 2450, also with the Rotary Club of Mandarin in Jacksonville following the completion in 2001 of a project for a Bronchofiberscope installed in the Gregorios Aids Clinic in Larnaca General Hospital. This was supported by The Rotary Foundation with a Matching Grant.

During the Rotary year 2001-2002 the club completed a project generating income for a Mobile Drugs Unit for the Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Cyprus Police. In 2003-2004 this vehicle was fully equipped to provide computerized equipment for educational purposes  at schools and army establishments to create awareness amongst young people against the use of drugs.  

Other projects have enabled donations to be made to the Association for the Welfare of People with Mental Handicap: the Armenian Relief Society: the Make A Wish Association for children with cancer and other life threatening diseases: scholarships for an international Gynaecological Endoscopy Seminar and Workshop: a Rotary International District 2450 Medical Convoy in Sudan.  The Club has also provided for the induction of people with special needs in the work place: a Public Speaking Project offering high school students from Nicosia assistance in learning the basic skills. Teaching materials and instructors were provided by the Nicosia Crusaders Toastmasters Club with the ten week sessions being enthusiastically supported by the Ministry of Education. The final major project was completed at the end of the Rotary year 2003-2004 when, with financial assistance from its twinned Club the R.C. of Mandarin, Florida, and cooperation from the Thalassaemia International Federation, medical equipment was given to a prenatal clinic in Albania. 

In the Rotary year 2004 – 2005 President Era Michaelides and her Board are mindful of the significance of this year, the Centennial year in which Rotary celebrates 100 years of  fellowship and service around the world. 

Aspelia will be participating with other clubs in Cyprus in two mega projects viz, the establishment of a Day Care Centre for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and the creation of a Cord Blood Storage facility in Cyprus. The Club’s fund raising activities will consequently be directed towards these two vital projects. Besides these it is the earnest wish of President Era, her Board and the Club membership to continue to actively support the further growth of the Aspelia Scholarship Foundation Trust Fund through fundraising events and prudent management of the Trust Fund.