In 2008 Almancil International Rotary Club, (AIRC) for the first time joined with other Portuguese Rotary clubs in sponsoring young students to participate in the Rotary Summer Camp Scheme. The camps are organised by Rotary clubs all over the world, with the aim of introducing young students to their counterparts from different countries and cultures. In that first year AIRC sponsored two students to attend a camp in Manchester in the UK. 

Since then the number of applications has grown exponentially. This year AIRC Rotarians Dr Raymond Parfait and Patricia Doling, together with Sra Lourdes Seidenstricker of Dra Laura Ayres School in Quarteira had the unenviable task of interviewing 22 students, from which 18 were chosen to spend two weeks at camps which included Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Slovakia and, of course, Manchester in the UK. The total number of students attending for the whole of Portugal was 27.

Having thought long and hard about its future as a charitable Association, Riding for the Disabled in the Algarve (Associação de Equitação para Deficientes no Algarve) has decided to move its therapy sessions in order to ensure it can offer the best riding environment to its participants.

Therefore, when the new riding year begins in October, RDA (AEDA) riding therapy will be held at Albufeira Riding Centre in Vale Navio and Centro Hipico Vilamoura.

On Friday 21st September, at Moi O'Connor's villa in Boa Vista, Carvoeiro, the St. Patrick's Society held a very enjoyable end of summer party.
The members and guests were wonderfully entertained by Bradley O'Connor with a great programme of songs well chosen for the occasion.

It was a warm summers day on September 20th when 41 motorcyclists of ASB met at Sao Bras de Alportel at 10am for a ride organised by Hans, Phil Smith, Peter Kenyon, Steve Wills and David Shirley.

Split into two groups for a ride east to Alcaria de Cume in the hills with great views to the coast. This ride was dedicated to two ASB members, from opposite ends of the Algarve, who both lost  their personal battle with cancer recently.

ASB Members did not have an organised ride during August due the extreme high temperatures. Instead a well attended social lunch was organised my Mike Sanders on the shaded terrace at the Moto Clube de Faro.

The next events will be the Sept 14/15/16 World Superbike Championship Racing at the Autodromo do Algarve, in Portimão and Sept 20th ride through the hills, starting from Sao Bras de Alportel, finishing with a BBQ lunch at the Cooperative at Montes Novas.

Although no lives were lost during the Monchique fires, there were injuries, houses and other properties destroyed or damaged; considerable destruction to the environment; death and injury of animals; people who have lost their homes and were displaced, and livelihoods destroyed, writes David Thomas of Safe Communities Portugal.

Not only physical damage, but also psychological damage to those who lived through this terrifying ordeal.

ASB riders turned up at our new meeting point “A Choupana” restaurant on the N125 near Odiáxere for our July rideout. The first part of the ride was to Sao Teotónio via Casais and Marmelete. We parked on the main square with the beautiful white and blue church at the side and enjoyed coffee (and cake) at the cafe on the square whilst the locals had a good look at all the bikes.

Rotary Club Estoi Palace International (RCEPI) held its Presidential Handover in Faro on Friday, 29th June with almost 100 guests including representatives from other Algarve Rotary Clubs listened to Manuela Robinson as outgoing President reflect on her year in office. The Club raised 27.000 euros of which the majority was spent on improving the lives of the local community.