ROTARIANS WORKING TOGETHER

Marty Weber, Williamsburg Rotary Club

Güneş Ertaş , Dokuz Eylul Rotary Club

Uğur Gürel , Kusadasi Rotary Club

Celebrating our 40th Anniversary

We planned a Cruise from Turkey to the Greek Islands.

On our anniversary date we would be in Kusadasi, Turkey near the ancient city of Ephesus.

I planned a surprise proposal to my wife Pat in front of the Amphitheater and ceremony at the site of The Church of Mary nearby. If she said NO???

Christian Missionaries Mark and Michelle Moore preformed the Ceremony.

Güneş Ertaş, Dukuz Rotary and, Uğur Gürel, Kusadasi Rotary made this all happen.

The plot unfolds…

We meet Mark & Michelle Moore

Güneş Ertaş, Marty, Uğur Gürel

What a Backdrop… The 25,000 seat Amphitheater at Ephesus. Used for Theater, Plays and Gladiator fights.

The Proposal…

She laughs,I laugh…

On the way to the ruins of the Church of Mary

Pope Paul VI blessed these ruins as Holy

Ground in 1967

The ceremony begins at the Altar…

A Prayer and a Kiss…

…and a tour of the ruins

3 Rotary Clubs exchanging Flags

A surprise 7 course, 2 hour traditional Turkish lunch

Then came the Media, 5 in all. Local TV Stations, Newspapers and Magazines

A Cake with Candles and Sparklers followed by a Gift…

We made the news, lots of News…

We all were winners;Kusadasi Rotary receives local exposure.

Güneş Ertaş, incoming District Governor 2012 District 2440.

Mark and Michelle Moore’s Church receives local exposure.

We renewed our Vows…

We Thank, the Turkish Rotarians who made this happen:

Sıla Özalp - President Kusadasi Rotary Aysun Akçagül - President Elect İbrahim Durak - Club Secretary Uğur Gürel - District 2440 Membership ChairGüneş Ertaş - District 2440 Secretary, Governor Elect

OUT TAKES

Marty & Güneş comparing

American and Turkish shoe

styles…

and finally…

Pat explains to the Turkish Rotarian

ladies why she so eagerly said…

“YES”

to my proposal to renew our vows.