International Toast: From Israel to California

Bill Boyd, President of The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise, received an International Toast via email from the Rotary Club of Beit-Dagan, Israel! The toast came from Past President and current PR Chair, Eli Arad. The toast recognized the January “Rotary Corner” article by Sunrise PR Chair on the history of Rotary International’s float in the annual Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. Mr. Arad was contacted as to the history of the International Toast. He explained that in Israel it is the custom of the Rotary club’s International Committee to raise a toast to a club in the spirit of “international goodwill and understanding”. They toast several different clubs per year making some lasting relationships. The Beit-Dagan club works with their local welfare and education departments helping youth and elderly as well as international projects. The club was chartered in 1999, has 24 members, and has won many District awards because of their activity. Beit Dagan means “house of wheat” and is located between Tel-Aviv and Ben-Gurion Airport.

The International Toast exemplifies this year’s Rotary International theme of “Building Communities, Bridging Continents”.

Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise meets at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the Santa Barbara Club, 1105 Chapala Street (www.clubrunner.ca/santabarbarasunrise).