Report from the 2012 Rotary International Convention in Bangkok
The Rotary International Convention was held in Bangkok May 6-9 at Impact Muang Thong Thani, bringing more than 38,000 members from 181 countries and geographical areas to Thailand for its 103rd annual convention. Incoming Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs president Winnie DelliQuadri, her son Cash and District Governor Elect Mike Forney and his wife Janet Finley attended the convention from Steamboat Springs.
The Rotary convention is often described as “mini United Nations” because of its internationality and multiculturalism.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, representing His Majesty the King, presided over the opening ceremony. In her address she thanked Rotarians f or their good work around the world. “Rotary International is well-known the world over as a public charitable organization distinguished for its public service to humanity and for its tireless strive for public good. They include relief work for those who fall victim to natural disasters, campaigning for improvement in quality of life, as well as for the promotion of world peace.”
“I’m truly impressed by the unity of all Rotarians in devoting themselves to charity work in a spirit of selfless benevolence and dedication as befits Rotary’s own motto, Service Above Self,” said Princess Chulabhorn. “It is therefore a great pleasure to see members of Rotary International from all parts of the world, including their families, gathered here at the convention to reaffirm their faith and to remain steadfast in the ideals of Rotary, firm in their resolve ‘to do good in the world’. I am confident that your unwavering commitment and good intentions will reap due reward for our common cause.”
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The Rotary International Convention was held in Bangkok May 6-9 at Impact Muang Thong Thani, bringing more than 38,000 members from 181 countries and geographical areas to Thailand for its 103rd annual convention. Incoming Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs president Winnie DelliQuadri, her son Cash and District Governor Elect Mike Forney and his wife Janet Finley attended the convention from Steamboat Springs.
The Rotary convention is often described as “mini United Nations” because of its internationality and multiculturalism.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, representing His Majesty the King, presided over the opening ceremony. In her address she thanked Rotarians f or their good work around the world. “Rotary International is well-known the world over as a public charitable organization distinguished for its public service to humanity and for its tireless strive for public good. They include relief work for those who fall victim to natural disasters, campaigning for improvement in quality of life, as well as for the promotion of world peace.”
“I’m truly impressed by the unity of all Rotarians in devoting themselves to charity work in a spirit of selfless benevolence and dedication as befits Rotary’s own motto, Service Above Self,” said Princess Chulabhorn. “It is therefore a great pleasure to see members of Rotary International from all parts of the world, including their families, gathered here at the convention to reaffirm their faith and to remain steadfast in the ideals of Rotary, firm in their resolve ‘to do good in the world’. I am confident that your unwavering commitment and good intentions will reap due reward for our common cause.”Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee
In his opening remarks, Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee said Rotary is stronger today than it was at the beginning of his presidential term. “I came into this year determined to make a difference, to leave Rotary stronger at the end of my year. And those goals were met,” said Banerjee. “But if there is one thing I have learned in this incredible year, it is that the changes that I have seen, the lives that have been touched haven’t been because of me. They have been because of you.”Banerjee praised the Rotary projects that he and his wife, Binota, saw during their travels throughout the year, sharing how overwhelmed with pride and joy he was for their great work. This year, Banerjee visited projects from New York to the newest Rotary country, South Sudan, where Rotarians from several countries are working with the government to build a multimillion dollar hospital. He also highlighted the recent project partnership agreement between RI and Shelter Box, a grassroots Rotary club-sponsored disaster relief organization.
“We Rotarians pride ourselves on being the first to arrive when help is needed - and the last to leave. By partnering with ShelterBox, we’ll be able to do even more,” said Banerjee. “I hope this will be only the first of many project partners, as we look to expand our reach with more volunteers, in more places than ever before.”Speakers urge Rotarians to fight global poverty
Poverty and hunger were the targets of the plenary sessions of the 2012 RI Convention, as a variety of award-winning speakers encouraged Rotarians to use their ingenuity to solve these global challenges.
Microcredit pioneer Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, commended Rotarians for their work in developing microcredit loans for the poor. The founder of Grameen Bank also encouraged Rotarians to pursue social business enterprises that would work with microcredit-funded businesses not just to produce revenue but also to return profits to the communities where they operate. As an example, Yunus highlighted a joint venture between Grameen Bank and Danone, a European food company, to produce high-nutrition yogurt for children in Bangladesh. The goal is to reduce malnutrition while creating manufacturing and distribution jobs.
“In today’s world, we use money to make money, not solve problems,” said Yunus. “If we use money creatively in a business framework, we can solve any problem.” Recently, Grameen Bank also joined forces with Adidas to produce shoes that cost less than US$1 per pair. The affordable shoes help prevent infection by foot parasites in poor communities. “My dream is to one day take poverty out of our society and put it in a museum that our grandchildren can visit to see what it was like,” Yunus said.Hugh Evans, cofounder and CEO of the Global Poverty Project, said Rotary can use its considerable influence to fight poverty. “Like Rotary, we believe that mass mobilization of individuals can effect real change in the world,” Evans said. “When we focus on the needs of others, our own burdens become lighter. Our perspective sharpens.”
United Nations connection
Gillian Sorensen, senior adviser and national advocate at the United Nations Foundation, encouraged Rotarians to work with governments to solve global problems including poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and lack of access to clean drinking water and sanitation.
“What is clear is that problems like this are too great for governments alone to resolve,” said Sorensen, who has served in many positions at the UN including assistant secretary-general for external relations. “They need partners of every kind, from private sector to civil organizations like yours, who have the means to contribute and lead.” Sorensen said Rotary, which has a 66-year relationship with the UN, continues to be an active and influential presence at the organization’s headquarters in New York. “You play a similar role with UNICEF, UNESCO, and WHO,” she added.
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Peace through Service Incoming RI President Sakuji Tanaka outlined the plans for his term, which will begin on 1 July. Tanaka will ask Rotarians to achieve Peace through Service. “Through service we learn that the problems that may seem large to us are really very small,” said Tanaka. “We learn empathy for others. We come closer to people who seem very different from us. And we begin to understand how much we are all the same.” “Through our Rotary service, we know that cooperation is more productive than conflict,” he said. “We know that every one of us has something to give, and everyone has something to teach.” Jose Ramos-Horta, president of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, talked about his country’s struggle to achieve peace. He told Rotarians that peace can be difficult but, with the right people in place, it’s attainable. “Peace is a process - sometimes a long one, too long. It can be a formal political process,” he said. Rotarians celebrate two major milestones in the organization’s decades-long fight to rid the world of polioDuring the third plenary session Rotarians were congratulated for meeting and exceeding Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge, Rotary’s response to $355 million in matching grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for polio eradication efforts. Attendees also celebrated India’s removal from the polio-endemic list in February, which leaves only three countries where transmission of the virus has never been stopped. But speakers reminded the festive assembly that the work is far from complete, because the ultimate goal has not been reached. “We know that we haven’t reached our goal. We haven’t ended polio,” said John F. Germ, chair of Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge Committee. “Our clubs are still planning polio fundraisers for the coming years and encouraging donations from people in their communities.” Germ announced that, as of 4 May, Rotarians and supporters have raised $215.7 million for the challenge, which runs through June. But with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative facing a significant funding shortfall for 2012 and beyond, it is vital for clubs and districts to keep pushing forward with their many creative fundraisers. Bruce Aylward, assistant director-general for polio, emergencies and country collaboration for the World Health Organization, said India’s removal from the polio-endemic list is “perhaps the most important milestone ever on the long road to eradication.” “It’s a magnificent achievement. And it is a Rotary achievement,” he said. “Today, Rotary’s vision of a polio-free world is much closer to reality.” But an upsurge in cases of paralysis from polio in Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and recent polio outbreaks in China, Congo, and Tajikistan have also prompted what he called an “unprecedented push” to finally end the disease. He said 192 ministers of health will meet next week and declare polio a public health emergency. “The world understands the full consequences of failure,” he said. “We must be faster, we must be more focused and each one of us must be fully accountable.” Indian philanthropist Rajashree Birla, who has given more than $4.2 million to the Foundation for polio eradication, said she has been “overwhelmed with Rotary’s polio efforts.” Birla’s late husband, Aditya, built the family business into one of India’s largest. Today, Birla and her son, Kumar Mangalam, head the Aditya Birla Group, a Fortune 500 company. Birla stressed the need for business accountability and community service. Her Giving to Living campaign encourages corporations to “embed giving into their DNA.” “When a corporation pushes its energies and helps resolve social sector issues through engagement, it indirectly stimulates its own business development,” said Birla. “There is much to be gained when business leaders take giving to heart, and set the mandate of making a difference by caring for people in their community.”
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