Rotary Engagements since July 1 329
Rotary International Conventions, like all conferences
have their goo d sessions and their bad sessions – and that perception will be
different for each attendee. I know
there was those for whom the opening plenary session missed the mark; for me it
hit the spot. And I’ve no doubt that
there will be plenty of people for whom Monday’s plenary session was just what
they were looking for. Sadly I wasn’t
one of them. Professor Jack Sim, aka “Mr
Toilet” started well, with his very clear message on the importance of
sanitation, in addition to clean water, and ways of putting local entrepreneurs
at the heart of the solution. However
his wider message, on something called the BOP hub was completely lost on me
and diluted the impact of the early part of his impact. Similarly Professor Martin Silink, taking us
through his efforts to raise the profile of diabetes was no doubt very worthy
but I didn’t see how we could use his message.
Tommy Spaulding had a good story to tell in terms of what Rotary had
done for him that would have been much more powerful had he been able to show what he was now
doing to repay Rotary. Australian
cricketer Brett Lee had a good story to tell about his work helping children in
India through music but I’m afraid didn’t quite hit the mark either.
For our first breakout session we went to see Michael
Angelo Caruso, who is a professional speaker on the subject of “Better Speakers
& Better Speaking”. Michael is
everything a Rotarian should be – proud of his Rotary, outspoken for his Rotary
and a brilliant communicator on his subject – go check out his videos on
Youtube – he has great stuff we can all use and subscribe to his Twitter feed –
always good value (note to organisers, when you have a great social media
communicator as a speaker, don’t put them in a building with no wi-fi!!!). Michael made some great points:
·
all our recruits will hear our speakers before
they join, so what will they think if the speakers are terrible?;
·
if we can get great speakers to talk to us, we
can make it worthwhile for them as well as our members;
·
get more female speakers – if we want to attract
more female members, give them something they want to hear
·
ditto younger people!
·
encourage social media use during speakers
Michael finished up featuring a great group of Rotarians in the audienec with a picture title of "It ain't your Grandpa's Rotary any more"!
Monday evening – a treat – in the company of a sold out
group of Rotarians for a concert at the Sydney Opera House. An unfamiliar programme to me (no surprise
there, classical music isn’t really my scene) but played superbly by what might
have been described as the second division of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
(and Sinfonia) but as ever when you give a group of talented young musicians
their chance under a young conductor they rise to the occasion. Fabulous atmosphere, a real treat in a
special venue.
Tuesday morning was essentially Foundation morning –
sometimes this can be the dull part of any conference. But far from it – great line-up of speakers,
all of them relevant and to the point.
Often we forget to celebrate our achievements but Foundation Chair DK
Lee reminded us that all of SE Asia is now polio-free with India celebrating
three years in January. This year’s
recipient of our Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award, Maja Ajmera is a real
bundle of energy – since her Scholarship in 1989 she has worked tirelessly to
support small-scale projects in developing countries building better lives for
Children through her Global Fund for children – a deserved winner. 
Mwila Chigaga, a “Senior Regional Gender
Specialist” for the International Labour Organisation is passionate about the
need for her continent to promote the role of women and very pointedly reminded
us that women are at the core of every aspect of Rotary’s six Areas of Focus
for our grant projects. Polio survivor
and Paralympian Ade Adepitan wowed the arena with his story of determination
and achievement in the face of the most adverse start in life. And finally for the day, as ever, Bruce
Aylward, Assistant Director-General was inspirational in reminding us why
Rotarians need to keep going until we have finished the job of eradicating
polio from the world.
Tuesday afternoon we took the afternoon off from Rotary
and went to explore my past – or more correctly the past of my great, great,
great, great grandfather, Richard Read, who found himself in Sydney in the late
1700’s. Taken there following his
conviction for being in possession of forged currency (£5 notes) he established
himself as the colony’s first portrait artist, making a name painting the
notables of the day, including Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his family. Many of his works are held by the State
Library of New South Wales and it was there we spent the afternoon with his
works, thanks to Head of Pictures, Louise Anemaat and the staff of the Mitchell
Library, to whom we are very grateful for a splendid close-up of works of 200
years ago – very special stuff.
Wednesday morning and a mixed bag at the Convention –
promotion for next year’s event in Sao Paolo, introduction of Ravi Ravindran,
RI President 2015-2016, and some interesting perspectives from our General
Secretary, John Hewko. As well as
updating us on the progress on funding the Polio End-Game – more than $5
billion of the $5.5 billion required has now been raised or pledged – he had
some direct words for those of us who wish to see Rotary make progress, saying
“Rotary’s long-term survival depends on our ability to open the door and let in
a breath of fresh air” – words we need to reinforce to all those who would keep
Rotary as it has always been. 
His words
were brought into clear focus by Ramkumar Raju, from India, whose Rotaract
District has recruited 2,500 new members this past year and Ronald Kawadda,
from Uganda who at 33 is considered an elder in a country where 70% of the population
is under 30. Food for thought!! Our breakout was a well-led session on the
use of Social Media, particularly on the use of Facebook & Twitter by clubs
and by members. Coming on the back of
the session on bringing in younger people we have to embrace the communication
methods that will speak to them. 
Also
had the opportunity to meet up Karen Tamayo, DG of District 3180 in Manila,
Philippines – Karen’s District really entered into the spirit of our Pounds for
Polio initiative earlier in this year and District 3810 was the District with
the highest percentage of individual Rotarians contributing to the
initiative. Given that Rotary’s Polio
eradication initiative started in the Philippines it seemed particularly
fitting that 3810 should respond so positively!
And so that pretty much wraps up the Convention – the
closing session featured this year’s President Ron Burton handing over to his
successor Gary Huang and linking this year’s Rotary theme and next year’s. Closing entertainment from the Ten Tenors and
Marina Prior and then back to the city for dinner with our successors, our
District Governor-Elect Tim Cowling and Linda at the top of the Sydney Tower
with the city stretching out5 below us – a great end to a great event!
Thursday saw us spend most of the day travelling before
arriving in the late evening in Singapore.
Singapore is a city I visited once on a business trip and as usual saw
nothing but put on the list to return to at some point. So Friday & Saturday we did the tourist
bit – getting our bearings on the open-top bus tour – always a good way to get
to know a city, but not necessarily a great idea when the heavens open, which
they did towards the end of our tour.
Stopped off in Little India, and also for a trip on the Singapore Flyer,
billed as the world’s highest observation wheel, at 30 metres taller than the
London Eye. 
Singapore Slings in the Long
Bar and dinner in the Tiffin Room of Raffles Hotel competed Day One, followed
by Chinatown on Day Two. Bit of a
whistle-stop but a great taster for a throbbing city which leaves you 
And Sunday back to the UK, via Dubai. Round the world in 25 days – 9 flights on 6
airlines in 8 different aircraft types and no luggage lost (although it is a
little heavier than when we left – we wait to see whether the same applies to
me!) Quite a trip. Oh, and the temperature difference
between the warmest place we went to and
the coldest – 45 degrees, and that’s Celcius, or 81 degrees Fahrenheit, from -3
(27) in Queenstown to 42 (108) in Dubai.
All of the countries we visited have English as an official language and
four of them, in which we spent 80% of our time, drive on the left. That’s probably enough mind-numbing
statistics!
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