110th Rotary International Convention, "Rotary City"
Hamburg, Germany was "Rotary City" last week as 25,000 Rotarians from around the world gathered for the annual RI Convention. Past District Governor Jim Griesen and I were there from Rotary #14 for an energizing week, surrounded by people of action doing good in thousands of ways. There was the Opening Ceremony, what I call the "Olympics of Service" - including a parade of flags from Rotary countries. I have to admit I hadn't heard of some countries: Kingdom of Eswatini, Republic of Kiribati, Sao Tome and Principe. And we heard the good news that the first Rotary Club in Iraq launched last year.
There was the House of Friendship, tradeshow-like booths highlighting the amazing service projects Rotarians do in areas of clean water, literacy, health and more. And there were the encounters with Rotarians. It is like nothing else I've ever experienced. You see people with the Rotary lanyard, Rotary pin or Rotary clothing and you know you have an instant strong connection! I made friends with people at the airport, on the subway, in the coffee shop, and had dinner multiple times with strangers who became friends.
And I met Rotarians looking to partner with us. Our club was invited to participate with clubs from Hawaii in their international service project in the Philippines, bringing clean water to remote villages. Read here for more information. It is an experience of humanity to be a Rotarian. And going to a Rotary International Convention is life-changing. I hope you, my Rotary #14 friends, consider next year's convention in Honolulu. This event will add on a layer of Hawaiian Aloha to the Aloha that is already Rotary. Check out our Facebook page for more photos from the RI Convention.
There was the House of Friendship, tradeshow-like booths highlighting the amazing service projects Rotarians do in areas of clean water, literacy, health and more. And there were the encounters with Rotarians. It is like nothing else I've ever experienced. You see people with the Rotary lanyard, Rotary pin or Rotary clothing and you know you have an instant strong connection! I made friends with people at the airport, on the subway, in the coffee shop, and had dinner multiple times with strangers who became friends.
And I met Rotarians looking to partner with us. Our club was invited to participate with clubs from Hawaii in their international service project in the Philippines, bringing clean water to remote villages. Read here for more information. It is an experience of humanity to be a Rotarian. And going to a Rotary International Convention is life-changing. I hope you, my Rotary #14 friends, consider next year's convention in Honolulu. This event will add on a layer of Hawaiian Aloha to the Aloha that is already Rotary. Check out our Facebook page for more photos from the RI Convention.
Aloha and Danke! (Mailani Veney)
Pres-Elect Mailani Veney, Sam Veney and Rotarians from around the world
Mailani with delegates from Hawaii
