German Rotarians team up with publisher on book project
By Sandra Prufer
Rotary International News -- 7 January 2009
Blue Planet: Together for a Better World was unveiled at the RI presidential membership conference in Vienna in December.
Rotary clubs in Germany have teamed up with science book publisher Wissen Media to release a 192-page book highlighting Rotary projects that are saving lives and improving the living conditions of people in the world.
Blue Planet: Together for a Better World was unveiled at the RI presidential membership conference in Vienna in December.
The book project was initiated by the Rotary Club of Dorfen. The book includes 77 groundbreaking Rotary club projects and discusses the vital contribution of volunteers in helping to address global challenges, such as natural disasters, epidemics, climate change, conflicts, and war.
"Initially, we just wanted to publish a photo book in a small edition to present our club projects and raise funds for PolioPlus," says Matthias Lange, who coordinated the project with his wife, Ute, also a Rotarian. The couple, who own a TV production company, consulted with the publisher of Wissen Media who suggested adding editorial content.
"After a brainstorm we realized that this could grow into a bigger, more ambitious project, and we invited all German clubs to join," says Lange.
In the following months, dozens of clubs submitted project descriptions. The German-language Rotary regional magazine and Rotary International staff provided additional content and photos to illustrate international projects. District 1840 (part of Austria; Germany) also received an RI Public Relations Grant for the book project.
A portion of the proceeds from sale of the book, available in Germany and through the German language Web site www.buchprojekt.org, will benefit PolioPlus.