The Rotary International Convention in New Orleans by Jerry Brecke
Posted by Steve Frazier
on Jul 05, 2011
Our own Jerry Brecke presented the Program on July 12th. He went to the annual Rotary International Convention in New Orleans in May.
Jerry attended as a delegate representing our club. The convention, held May 21 thru 25, was in the New Orleans Convention Center. Jerry went four days early to "get the feel of the place", and did most of his sightseeing prior to the meetings. It appears, from his report, that he attended a number of the sessions, at a convention that had 19,000 registered delegates and guests.
Most of the sessions provided extensive information on various Rotary programs, including Rotaract and on the object of Rotary. Bill Gates spoke, and his large donation to the Rotary Polio Plus program was given because ONLY Rotary can overcome the individual barriers erected by countries around the world, and accomplish something as difficult as immunizing every child in the world against a disease. Jerry said that the goal is very near, and the number of new polio cases is in the hundreds not the thousands at present.
He went to the scheduled Interdenominational Faith Service, and described how five ministers from the five major divisions of faith groups conducted the service.
The convention will be held for the next five years on different continents so it may be difficult (but fun) to attend. (Story by Tad Shaw and posting and photo by Steve Frazier)
Jerry attended as a delegate representing our club. The convention, held May 21 thru 25, was in the New Orleans Convention Center. Jerry went four days early to "get the feel of the place", and did most of his sightseeing prior to the meetings. It appears, from his report, that he attended a number of the sessions, at a convention that had 19,000 registered delegates and guests.
Most of the sessions provided extensive information on various Rotary programs, including Rotaract and on the object of Rotary. Bill Gates spoke, and his large donation to the Rotary Polio Plus program was given because ONLY Rotary can overcome the individual barriers erected by countries around the world, and accomplish something as difficult as immunizing every child in the world against a disease. Jerry said that the goal is very near, and the number of new polio cases is in the hundreds not the thousands at present.
He went to the scheduled Interdenominational Faith Service, and described how five ministers from the five major divisions of faith groups conducted the service.
The convention will be held for the next five years on different continents so it may be difficult (but fun) to attend. (Story by Tad Shaw and posting and photo by Steve Frazier)