International Convention

Brigham Club President-Elect and President-Elect Nominee attend International Convention

President Elect Brad Barber and his wife Annette and President Elect Nominee Jim Moore and his wife Tere attended the Rotary International Convention in Birmingham England this past week, along with over 18,000 Rotarians from around the world.

Convention speakers included Rotary International President D. K. Lee, President Elect John Kenney, a special appearance by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow, herself a polio survivor, and renowned humanitarian Dr Jane Goodall.

Also, in the final plenary session, the body elected Ray Klinginsmith, from Kirksville Missouri, as the President-elect nominee for 2010-2011.

While there were many breakout sessions discussing numerous worldwide projects and humanitarian opportunities, as well as specific club program helps like leadership planning, membership retention and, of course, youth programs,

the main emphasis worldwide continues to be the eradication of polio.

As with all International Conventions, there were also opportunities to see local attrations as a Rotary group. Here are Brad, Annette, Jim and Tere visiting Warwick Castle.

The Convention was a great opportunity to hear from many knowledgeable and engaged people in the world of humanitarian service, but also provided opportunities to meet and talk with Rotarians from around the world about what is happening at a club level and feel the excitement that exists for this great service organization called Rotary.

On Monday evening, Brad and Annette were hosted at a dinner at the home of Mike and Sheila Pettigrew of the Rotary Club of Stourbridge along with a Rotary couple from Sturbridge Mass.

Pictured left to right:

Annette, John Savage (Stourbridge), Brad, Sheila Pettigrew (Mike's wife), Klaus Hachfeld (Sturbridge), Hilary Savage (John's wife), Glenys Hachfeld (Klaus' wife), Mike Pettigrew, President of the Stourbridge Club.

On Thursday, Brad and Annettte traveled to Merthyr Tydfil, Wales and were hosted by the local Rotarians to lunch and a tour of their city. We were presented with the local club banner as well as a traveling token of goodwill initiated by the Rotary Club of Knysna, South Africa.

Pictured from left to right:

Dr Subrahmanyam Ganesh, Past District Governor (Dist 1150) and past club president, Collin Parker, current club president, Brad, Annette, and Peter Brill, past club president.

“Is it not a miracle that Rotary has brought together good and influential men of all civilized countries?

And is it not gratifying to know that there is a platform broad enough for all men to stand on?

And is it not heartwarming to know that men of diverse faiths and allegiances can find so much in each other that is wholesome and good?

Rotary is an integrating force in a world where disintegrating forces are far more numerous.”
~ Paul Harris