Sitting here in my room at the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego. It's 10:45, pretty much finished packing, listening to the train blow it's horn as it passes through downtown. The sound of the engine is fading in the distance, but I can still hear the clanging of the crossing guard, and the screech of the trailing cars as they trundle through the city below. We are right on the bay, across from Coronado Island (where the US Navy SEALS train), and it has been an amazing week.
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View of the USS Midway Naval Museum
outside our window. |
We arrived here for the Rotary International Assembly last Sunday evening after a long flight from Reno through Phoenix Arizona. We were greeted at the airport by cheering Rotarians, smiling and waving little Rotary signs to welcome us and help us get to our hotel. We had a special need, since I had to stop and pick up some prescription medication on the way to the hotel, and so we expected to have to hail a cab. Instead, a local Rotarian named Dan Sundquist immediately offered to drive us to the pharmacy, and then to the hotel. Wow, we really felt the hospitality as if we were part of his family, as Dan drove us through town. It was a great start, to momentous experience. Certainly the most momentous experience of my Rotary life!
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Opening Session. The screen is displaying how to tune in
the simultaneous translation radio. |
Monday the Assembly got started with the first of nine plenary sessions. A plenary session is essentially the entire group together in one huge hall. It is run like a giant Rotary meeting with the ringing of the bell, announcements, an address by the President (or President Elect) of Rotary, and a program.
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| Parade of flags in the opening session. |
Every session had multiple speakers who were incredibly inspiring. Each day we were treated to a "Rotary Moment" presented by different speakers. Each speaker told their personal story of a moment when the value and rewards of Rotary service created a revelation in their lives. They were VERY inspiring.
Each day after the morning plenary session, we were dismissed to breakout sessions, workshops, lectures, and round table discussions. The topics included all the key aspects of leading a Rotary district, from the nuts and bolts of how our Foundation works, to public speaking and elements of good leadership.
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DG TVR and his wife Sashi from India.
We will be exchanging a team of young professionals
on a cultural/Vocational exchange with them. |
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LK and I exchange hats for a picture. Believe it or not
the hat was too small for me! |
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DG from Turkey and his wife. His vocation is
swimming pool construction |
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| This is Doris from Peru. Her Husband is a Forester! |
This doesn't seem like such a big deal. I have been to many professional conferences, in my profession and in Rotary. However, this one was very special. We were gathered here together with over 350 District Governors Elect from every single country and geographic region in the Rotary World (that is upwards of 250)! A couple of "geographic regions you might recognize are Antarctica, and Palestine! Kim and I engaged daily with peers from all across the globe with the single unifying purpose of learning and preparing for a year of helping Rotary Clubs in our respective districts become stronger and more effective in service.
Although I have long understood the "inter-nationality" of Rotary from an intellectual standpoint, the closest I have come to really feeling it was at the International Convention. This week was different however. These people are engaged in the same mission as I am, have similar Rotary experiences, and in short have a strong common bond
within the world of Rotary. To discuss membership issues with a Governor Elect from Mongolia, study the new changes in our Foundation with a Governor Elect from Slovenia, and practice public speaking with peers from Thailand, Finland, and New Zealand was utterly incredible.
What it imparts to you is the incredible power, the awesome unifying spirit of the Rotary movement. It is not so much learning of the mind but learning in your heart or spirit. It is very difficult to describe, it is a feeling of harmony and fulfillment that seemed to increase all week long.
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| Our theme motto for 2012-2013 is announced. |
Right now, it is getting late: 11:45, and I am too tired to make this post very intelligible. I just wanted to get a start at this. I know Kim and I will be processing this experience for the months to come as we work to make the final preparations for July 1 and the start of the new Rotary year. My year to carry the torch and make a difference in the world with the power of Rotary. Wow!
That's All!
