STORIES
Service With Heart: Rotary Club of Metro NYC’s 2nd Annual Holiday Social & Care Package Project
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PRESIDENT MUJDAT ALTAY - November 21, 2025 
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
It is my pleasure to share an exciting new initiative that will enrich our club’s international engagement and strengthen our ties with the global diplomatic community.
Beginning January 2026, the Rotary Club of New York will launch a special program entitled.
“The World Meets in New York: A Consular Speaker Series”
Hosted at The Turkish House
With the generous collaboration of the Turkish Consulate General in New York, this distinguished series will bring together Consuls General from ten countries serving in our city. Between January and May 2026, each session will feature a Consul General who will share insights on global affairs, bilateral relations, cultural diplomacy, and their nation’s engagement with the United States and the international community.
Why This Series Matters
New York is the world’s most international city home to one of the largest diplomatic communities on the planet. This program reflects our club’s historic mission of fostering peace, dialogue, and understanding across borders.
The series aims to:
- Strengthen meaningful dialogue between diplomats and civil society
- Offer our members unique first-hand perspectives on global priorities
- Highlight the international spirit of Rotary and our club’s longstanding leadership
- Celebrate the cultural and diplomatic diversity that defines New
All sessions will take place at The Turkish House as Club dinners, which will start 6:30 pm.
Each session will run approximately 45–60 minutes, including time for Q&A.
We look forward to your active participation in this meaningful and globally minded initiative —
one that embodies the spirit of Rotary and the international character of our great city.
Yours in Rotary
Cemil Mujdat Altay, President
Malika Abrous (Chair of RCNY Breakfasts at the UN) with Gerard Schriffen (Past President RCNY) and our respected guest speaker Dr. Maureen Dunne presented with Honorary Membership in our club
Rotary Club of New York Holiday Party 2025
The Penn Club of New York
December 12 @ 6.30PM
Dr. Maureen Dunne - Globally renowned cognitive scientist - Author of "The Neurodiversity Edge"
Guest speaker on November 20 at our RCNY International Breakfast at the UN
Food for the Soul: Help Feed Harlem |
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the Rotary Club of Harlem and community partners will package meals to support our neighbors across Harlem. Your donation will help us purchase rice and beans and mac and cheese for meal packages distributed through local partners.
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Past President Jan Brown with our host Rev. John David Van Dooren
and Visiting Rotarian from the Netherlands Patrick Marin
Our member Pat Duffy during her summer travels to Geneva, Switzerland
here doing a banner exchange with then President Oceane Martinoty
RCNY International Breakfast at the UN on October 9, 2025 with Stephen Schlesinger as our guest presenter
Join Us for a Special Collaborative Event
Hosted by Sant’Egidio • Food SOSpeso • Rotary Club of New York - October 16, @ 2PM
Steve Schlesinger guest speaker at our RCNY International Breakfast at the UN
RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 9 at 8.30AM UN Church Center, 11th floor
Author of: "Act of Creation: The Founding of the United Nations"
Community Service Opportunity this Saturday, September 20 in collaboration with Rotaract at the UN
Concert at Carnegie Hall on Monday, October 6 will be our official Rotary event that week to support our
great member Nargiz!
Pickleball Social Event on September 14 was a great success!
Special appreciation to our friends at Overgreens Salads and Juice for their sponsorship and truly delectable and nutritious offerings!
Rev. John David Van Dooren
Guest speaker at the "Little Church around the Corner"
catered by our friends from Overgreens Salads & Juice
RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 30
Leila Doering our board member during her most recent presentation as guest speaker
at the Rotary Club of Dokuz Eylul Turkye
Please note the new location for tomorrow's Pickleball outing to:
P.S. 006 Lillie D. Blake
45 East 84th Street
New York, NY 10028
This change was made to offer an enhanced experience with better bathrooms and staging area for our catering sponsor. If you signed up a guest please send the new location to your attending friend(s).
If you need to reach me tomorrow for any questions my cell is 646 300 3865.
Pickleball outing in collaboration with Metro NY Rotary Club and Rotaract Club of the UN on September 14 at 11AM
SPONSORED BY OVERGREENS Salads & Juice
President Shawn inducting six new members at the Installation Event at the Penn Club of NYC
Elke Gruhn, Past President of our Sister Club Wiesbaden-Kochbrunnen presenting Malika Abrous, President Elect RCNY with a nice steel 60th anniversary Rotary Statuette
Celebration of 117 years of Rotary Club of New York Excellence
July 11, 2025, 6.30PM - 9.30PM
Penn Club of NY
30 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
Food SOSpeso presentation by Anubis Abuddon and Alexander Litvinov at the Harlem Sanctuary Club
on June 19 2025
President Shawn and Board Director Alexander mingling with our Rotarian friends in Vienna Austria
Photos from our June 12 2025 RCNY Breakfast at the UN with
Angus Rennie -Head of Partnerships and Strategic Projects
United Nations Global Compact
Session conducted by incoming Board member Nyaguthie Ngetha
Grateful for a Night of Purpose and Connection
On Friday, June 6th, 2025, we had the pleasure of attending the Gala & Fundraising Event hosted by the Rotaract Club at the United Nations in New York City. It was an inspiring evening filled with music, meaningful conversations, and a shared commitment to service.
Laurent Valosek presenting on behalf of the Peak Leadership Institute
Via Zoom on June 26, 2025 at 12 noon ET link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83772951943
Angus Rennie
Head of Partnerships and Strategic Projects
United Nations Global Compact
RCNY International Breakfast at the UN June 12, 2025, at 8.30am
UN Church Center, 777 UN Plaza, 11th floor
Rotary Club of New York Launches New Project: FOOD SOSPESO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY – June 2, 2025
The Rotary Club of New York (RCNY) is proud to announce the official launch of FOOD SOSPESO, a new initiative inspired by the Italian tradition of “caffè sospeso” — the act of paying in advance for a coffee for someone in need.
What began as a simple gesture of kindness in Naples has grown into a global symbol of compassion and solidarity. Today, this concept has expanded beyond coffee to include prepaid meals and other essentials for those facing hardship.
Building on this beautiful tradition, FOOD SOSPESO aims to provide hot meals to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, or other life challenges — starting with Harlem, one of the most diverse and dynamic neighborhoods in the city.
The initiative was unanimously approved by the RCNY Board of Directors at its April 10, 2025 meeting. A dedicated committee has been formed to lead the project’s implementation, coordination, and fundraising efforts.
What began as a simple gesture of kindness in Naples has grown into a global symbol of compassion and solidarity. Today, this concept has expanded beyond coffee to include prepaid meals and other essentials for those facing hardship.
Building on this beautiful tradition, FOOD SOSPESO aims to provide hot meals to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, or other life challenges — starting with Harlem, one of the most diverse and dynamic neighborhoods in the city.
The initiative was unanimously approved by the RCNY Board of Directors at its April 10, 2025 meeting. A dedicated committee has been formed to lead the project’s implementation, coordination, and fundraising efforts.
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If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Andreas Runggatscher at executivedirector@nyrotary.org |
Make a Donation
