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The Toronto Convention 1924 |
| Canadian hosted |
 Canadian
Rotary Clubs have hosted six international conventions. The 15th annual
convention and the second convened outside the United States was held in
Toronto -
an Ojibwa word meaning "Place of Meeting" - on 16-20 June 1924. A
total 9,187 registrants, representing 31 countries, and 1,543 of the
1,704 clubs in the Rotary world , made this Rotary International
Convention the largest to date. Participants came from as far away as
South Africa, Australia, China and Japan.(Photo "1924 Convention in Session at the coliseum, Canadian National exhibition") Delegates and visitors arrived by automobile, train and boat. There were several special district trains and chartered boats, some of which were used as living quarters during convention week. Those who came by train were met at the station by a reception committee wearing blue coats, white flannels, polkadot ties, and blue and gold-banded hats. One observer noted that after a swift fraternal greeting the delegates were lined up and marched off briskly to the shrill sweetness of a pipe band to the King Edward Hotel, the premier convention hotel. Similar scenes were seen at the wharves as various boats came gently alongside with their loads of Rotarians and guests. International conventions of any kind were novelties in most cities in 1924. Toronto reacted to the occasion by proving itself to be truly a "place of meeting." The welcome and hospitality left nothing to be desired. The city was beautifully decorated, and the route to the convention centre was decorated by Toronto City Council with flags of the nations represented at the convention. The stores, banks, and office buildings were resplendent in a display of national flags, the Rotary emblem, and Rotary colours. Convention headquarters was in the government building at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds. Here all visitors registered and delegates presented their credentials and received their official registration and delegates badges. The triennial Council on Legislation had not yet been created. Then all legislation was brought to the convention by a resolutions committee consisting of a small number of men chosen by the president. Much time was spent at the convention discussing the legislation but only official delegates could vote. All plenary sessions of the Convention were held in the coliseum. The large hall had been beautifully decorated, too. The outgoing President of Rotary International was Guy Gundaker, a restaurateur from Philadelphia. The Canadian Director on the international board was J. Gibson from Toronto. The Chair of the Canadian Advisory Committee was Montreal Rotarian Bill Cairns, and the President of the Toronto Rotary Club was Frank Littlefield. Many other Canadians participated in the program including Canada's two Past Rotary International Presidents Leslie Pidgeon and Crawford McCullough. Registration took place and a church service was held on Sunday. The convention proper started on Monday 17 June. After a welcome by the mayor and others and the invocation by PRIP Leslie Pidgeon, the work of the convention got underway. Greetings were received from King George V of England, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King of Canada, President Calvin Coolidge of the United States and a host of other heads of state. And, as was his custom, Paul Harris sent a message of support to the Convention. There was no overarching theme for the Convention but, in addition to much business and several formal reports, three themes were discussed and debated. First, mindful of one of the reasons for Rotary's creation, business practice and ethics were examined. RI President Gundaker delivered a major address on the subject. After a brief review of the status of business codes by RI President-nominee Donald Adams, a group of international Rotarians discussed the development of business methods in their countries. A second emphasis of the convention was Rotary Extension and Membership, especially in non-English speaking countries. Ever since Jim Davidson and Layton Ralston's historic journey through the antipodes creating Rotary clubs, Rotary extension had been a major interest of Canadian Rotarians. As Chair of the RI Extension Committee PRIP Crawford McCullough of Fort William, Ontario, reviewed Rotary's progress, and he led a discussion on the subject. The third theme and perhaps the most important was "International Friendship, Goodwill and Peace." Only three years had elapsed since Halifax Rotarian Donald MacRae introduced the Fourth (then the sixth) Object of Rotary at the Edinburgh Convention in 1921, so interest in this new object was high. Some formal speeches about international friendship were delivered, but in the main, the meaning and means of developing friendships were conveyed through the social atmosphere and activities at the Convention. For example, on Monday evening 20,000 Rotarians, friends of Rotarians and visitors attended the opening Goodwill Pageant at the grandstand on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds. The pageant picturesquely demonstrated the Fourth (sixth) Object of Rotary, using as its theme the understanding, goodwill, and international peace that had existed between the United States and Canada for over 100 years. It was agreed that the pageant was the most elaborate spectacle staged at a Rotary convention to that date. The story of the 100 years of peace was symbolically told in music, brilliant tableaux, ballets, marching and countermarching of legions in colourful costumes, the musical ride of the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police and, as a finale, a monstrous fireworks display. Another vehicle for promoting friendship was the "House of Friendship." A Canadian invention, paid for by Canadian Rotarians, the House of Friendship provided a place to meet friends, a place to make new friendships, and a place to be entertained. As predicted, it became the centre of social activities during the convention. The House of Friendship soon became an established institution, featured at every international convention and copied by many district conferences and zone institutes. Rotary's very first House of Friendship was located in the glass-domed horticultural building on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds in 1924. There was no shortage of entertainment. A gala president's ball was held on Tuesday night. There were district and reunion dinners, including a British Empire dinner, organized by Jim Davidson. Three bands played at these luncheons and dinners. The 2,300-voice Pageant Chorus, under the direction of Rotarian Herbert Fricker presented a special concert at the coliseum on Thursday evening. On Friday, Rotarians could attend a carnival of water sports, take a moonlight cruise on Lake Ontario, join in group singing and there were special programs for the ladies. Canada's first Rotary International Convention was a memorable one and set the standard for other conventions that followed. The Toronto Convention 1942 (Learning How to Live Together) "Learning how to live together" was the appropriate theme of Rotary International's 33rd annual Convention hosted by the Toronto Rotary Club on the 21-25 June 1942. World War II made it difficult for Rotarians to attend. Sea lanes were blocked, rubber and gasoline rationing dulled the desire to travel, but many came - 6,671 of them. Three flew over from Britain for the event. Fifteen Latin-American countries sent delegates, a smattering of exiled Rotarians from invaded and war-torn lands in Europe and Asia managed to get there. In all, 33 countries were represented. Rotary International President Tom Davis from Butte Montana caught the spirit of the Convention when he declared to the delegates "Your presence is personal testimony to the faith we jointly hold. Learning to live together is not just a catch phrase but a declaration of purpose and challenge." And there were plenty of challenges to face. Tom Young, retiring Past President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (R.I.B.I), revealed how Rotarians in Britain were faring during the R.I.B.I. Rotarians had contributed four X-Ray units and many other projects that contributed to the war effort. Every fifth British dwelling had been damaged or destroyed and Rotarians had suffered along with their countrymen. Several Rotary meeting places had been razed by bomb and fire. But with Churchillian resolve, British Rotarians carried on. The Coventry Club missed no more than two consecutive meetings, after the intense bombing of the city. Though the membership of R.I.B.I. had decreased somewhat, the number of new clubs increased by eight. President Davis delivered an encouraging report on Rotary around the world. Despite the loss of some 400 clubs, primarily in occupied countries, on 1June 1942 Rotary International had 28 more clubs than a year previously and the number of individual Rotarians had increased by 610. Despite the optimism, a pallid gloom descended on the Convention when it was announced that the port of Tobruk in Libya had fallen to the Germans. The Canadian National Exhibition could not be used as the convention site as it was in 1924, because the spacious buildings had been taken over by the military. The convention centre was moved to the Royal York Hotel, the largest hotel in the British Empire, where the palatial banquet rooms proved to be admirable quarters for the House of Friendship, offices and booths. Plenary sessions were held in the Maple Leaf Gardens. A listing of the speakers and their subjects indicate the kinds of issues Rotarians were concerned about in 1942.  R.I.President Tom Davis - Learning How to Live Together First R.I Vice-president T.A. Warren - For Such a Time as This Canadian business tycoon Leonard Brockington - Brotherhood in Arms R.I. President Emeritus Paul Harris- Convention Message (photo: "Paul Harris Addresses the 1942 Convention") PRIP Almon E. Roth - Cooperation Between Employer and Employee in the Battle for Production PRIP Armando de Arruda Pereira of Brazil - Rotary's Contribution to American Solidarity PRIP in R.I.B.I. T.D.Young -Three Years as President of R.I.B.I. Detroit Rotarian M. S. Rice - Take Care of that Boy PRIP Walter Head - Rotary's Role in Post-War Planning Former American Ambassador Hugh Gibson - A World of Free Peoples Annual Reports were given by the following officers: RI Secretary Chesley R. Perry, his last of 32 conventions attended; Acting Treasurer John Gibson; Ed Johnson, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Rotary Foundation and PRIP Crawford McCullough Chaired Council on Legislation and presented the recommended enactments to the Convention for approval. There were a couple of pleasant surprises at the Convention. A dramatic moment occurred when Past RI Vice President Colonel Carlos P. Romulo of the Philippines spoke to the Convention by short-wave radio from "somewhere in Australia." As usual, President Emeritus Paul Harris sent a message to the Convention Chair to be read, but the Harrises surprised everyone when they walked into the Convention unannounced. Jean Harris spoke to the Convention briefly and Paul Harris read his Convention message himself. Typically the entertainment was spectacular. Because the Maple Leaf Gardens had a much larger seating capacity than was needed, tickets for the opening and closing galas were sold to the public. The Toronto Symphony orchestra under the direction of world-famous Sir Ernest MacMillan thrilled the audience, with its rendition of classical and semi-classical music. Mona Bates led the famous Ten Piano Ensemble in two inspiring series. Then the sweetheart of millions the world over - the incomparable Gracie Fields - performed. She sang beautiful war-time songs with a clarity of tone and feeling and she sang humorous ballads with verve. The grand finale on Thursday night was an ice carnival presented by the finest professional and amateur skaters on the continent. After a thrilling Victory Grand Finale came "Auld Lang Syne" and "God Save the King." The Toronto Convention 1964 (Trends for Tomorrow) The 55th annual convention of Rotary International held in Toronto drew 14,661 Rotarians and their guests, plus 1,295 young people under 16 years, most of them Interactors. It was the sixth largest convention in Rotary's history, and the second largest held outside the United States. They came from 72 countries. As in 1942, the plenary sessions were held in Maple Leaf Gardens, and the House of Friendship and convention offices were housed in the Royal York Hotel. Other activity locales were the Automotive Building at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, and Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto and the O'Keefe Centre. Delegates and their guests travelled around the city and to and from the convention sites by the subway, which provided Rotarians with passes, and shuttle buses which were also free. Convention Chair Halsey B. Knapp, past vice-president of Rotary International from Farmingdale, New York, got the convention underway on Sunday evening. In a welcome address, W. Earl Rowe, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario paid Rotary a fine tribute. "I believe," he said, "that your organization and kindred societies have done much more than people realize to eliminate racial distinctions, class prejudices, and religious differences. The fact that you represent different countries and have been able to get together those of different classes, colour, and language has contributed much to the understanding, the generous tolerance, and all that is so essential in a troubled and excited world." In a brief welcome R. I. President Carl P. Miller, a newspaper publisher in California,  reminded
the delegates that, "This had been a year of doing - a year in which
Rotarians found specific ways to advance international understanding."
Next, the presentation of the flags of the 72 countries in the Rotary
family of nations thrilled the assembly. Then the curtains opened on a
"Canadian Musicalette, West by North," produced and directed by Toronto
orchestra leader Howard Cable. The audience enjoyed a bright and lively
evening of entertainment.(Photo: "President Carl. P. Miller and Mrs Miller being piped into Maple Leaf Gardens, the site of the 1964 Convention") Taking a clue from President Miller's international theme "Meeting Rotary's Challenge in the Space Age," the organizing committee chose "Trends for Tomorrow" as the theme of the 1964 Convention. A number of prestigious speakers developed the theme. At the first plenary session on Monday morning, welcoming speakers included Ontario Municipal Affairs Minister Wilfred Spooner, Toronto Metropolitan Council Chair William R. Allen, Toronto Mayor Phillip Givens, and Toronto Rotary Club President Clare D. Carruthers. The keynote speaker at this session was Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson who spoke about Canada's international relations, especially with the United States. He informed the audience that Canada intended to build a separate Canadian nation on the continent with a separate Canadian identity. U.S. Senator Clinton D. Anderson, Past President of Rotary International, titled his talk Together to the Stars. He predicted that space travel would bind together all earth men and nations that together they may explore the stars. Carlos P. Romulo, President of the University of the Philippines and Past President of the United Nations General Assembly related some inspiring reasons for Why I am a Rotarian. Canadian newspaper entrepreneur British Lord Thompson of Fleet talked about Making Peace with the Soviets. He was convinced "that if we are to contemplate a peaceful, happy existence for our children and our children's children we must develop friendship and agreement with the Soviet Union." He made headlines by suggesting that the time was ripe for a Rotary Club in Moscow. Special features, designed among other things to promote and achieve international understanding and fellowship included the following: fifty-four craft assemblies at which Rotarians displayed their hobby crafts; Interact "Buzz Sessions" sought new and better ways for the 400 Interact Clubs in 32 countries to serve their constituencies; twelve international friendship meetings; international fellowship dinners; reunion lunches; more than 3,500 Rotarians, their wives and children participated in home hospitality dinners in 375 homes; reports by 12 participants in President Carl P. Miller's great matched district exchange program and, of course, informal meetings in the House of Friendship. One plenary session was spent discussing and voting on 39 enactments and eight proposed resolutions recommended by the Council on Legislation whose 253 members representing districts and regions from all over the world met all day Saturday and half of Sunday debating. All the Council's recommendation were approved. Activities for the ladies and young people consisted of square dancing at band leader Mart Kenney's ranch, an all-day trip to Niagara Falls, a fashion show at the O'Keefe Centre, a demonstration of training techniques by the students at the National School of Ballet, sight-seeing tours of old Fort York, Casa Loma, museums and art galleries, teas, and shopping. As was the case in 1942, the 1964 Convention wound up with a spectacular "Ice Revue" in Maple Leaf Gardens featuring Canadian and world pairs figure-skating champions Otto and Maria Jelinek and 200 other skaters. The Montreal Convention 1975 (Renew the Spirit of Rotary) (photo: "Montreal, site of the 1975 International Convention")  The total paid registration at the 66th annual Rotary International Convention held in the 333-year-old bilingual and multicultural City of Montreal, Quebec, was 12,975. In addition there were 450 guests under 16 years of age for a total attendance of 13,425. They came from 87 of the 151 Rotary countries around the world. Sleek subway cars and buses transported the participants to and from their 65 hotels and motels to the Montreal Forum, the Convention Centre. Pre-convention activity on Saturday night consisted of a superb concert by the 60-voice V'la l'Bon Vent Choir from Quebec attended by some 5,000 convention-goers. On Sunday afternoon, more than 200 youth exchange officers, parents, and students met to exchange ideas on a program that each year resulted in an exchange of 6,000 young people across national boundaries. The opening session of the convention convened in the Montreal Forum at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday 8 June, with Jack Pride of Bath, England, Chair of the 1975 Convention Committee, presiding. The flags of Rotary nations were paraded smartly by young boys and girls. In his welcoming remarks to the assembly, RI President William R. Robbins of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida said: "You have demonstrated over and over again that the true strength of Rotary lives in the dedicated hearts of individual Rotarians. The theme of this Convention is ‘Renew the Spirit of Rotary.' Every convention event was designed to help the individual answer the question, ‘What can I do?' to help meet the needs and solve the problems." The keynote speaker, Commissioner Arnold Brown, Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army for Canada and Bermuda and a member of the Rotary Club of Toronto, averred: "This assembly confirms that the sprit of Rotary is international - one of the few truly binding forces in the world. It is one of its greatest strengths. It subscribes to the principle that true fellowship and service will survive the platforms of presidents and the decrees of dictators." His inspirational address emphasized the importance and the uniqueness of each human being. His trilogy of questions (What am I?) (Who am I?) (Whose am I?) emphasized that any person can make a contribution to a better world. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rotarian Franz-Paul Decker presented a lively Viennese program to round out the opening evening. Featured were Montreal soprano Collette Boky and Holland-born John Van Kesteren, tenor. On Monday 9 June the sub-theme of the Convention was Renewing Vocational Service. After welcoming speeches by Montreal's dynamic mayor, Jean Drapeau and Montreal Club president Drew Webster, the vocational service emphasis of he day was launched by the Governor of Bermuda, His Excellency Sir Edwin Leather. "Everything Rotary means by vocational service is inherent in the adage ‘ Practice what you preach,'" he said. "What is true of Rotary is equally true of human society," he added. "The crisis of our time," he claimed, "can be fairly depicted by the question, ‘Will the ideal of personal voluntary dedication to public service in a free society survive?'" He called for greater self-discipline, stronger family bonds, and a sense of mutual responsibility. In his major address, President Bill Robbins drew upon impressions gained in his travel to 32 countries during the year. "Rotary does not live in the high offices of the organization," he said. "It lives on main Street- in your heart and in mine -in your club and in mine. Your Rotary Club is the sum total of the men of integrity who come together, first as strangers and then as friends. It is here men find mutual understanding, inspiration, and motivation. The true test of a Rotary Club is the kind of men it produces." On Monday afternoon, Rotarians met in 55 different discussion groups called vocational craft assemblies, each related to a business or profession for discussion centred on ways of achieving high standards of work. Also. in the afternoon, the 400 young people in attendance at the Convention set off on the first event of a four-day program that included visits to an airline base, to an aircraft carrier in the St. Lawrence River, a bus trip to the Laurentian mountains, a St. Lawrence Seaway/Montreal harbour tour and bowling. On Monday evening, the Forum was once again the setting for a beautiful program presented by Les Grande Ballets Canadiens. On Tuesday, the emphasis turned to renewing the international service aspect of Rotary. The plenary session opened with a report on The Rotary Foundation by Chair William E. Walk rand 11 trustees. During the previous year, 4, 000 new Paul Harris Fellows had been created and an estimated $7 million had been raised. Three of the original Rotary Scholars participated in a panel discussion, moderated by RI Vice-president Wolfgang Wick, on the role of the individual in promoting international understanding. The panel consisted of Sylvia Bacon, Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Owen S. Freed, an attorney in Florida, and the Honourable Marc Lalonde, Minister of National Health and Welfare in the government of Canada. All agreed that the individual can play an important role in promoting international understanding and gave examples from their experience. In the afternoon and evening, more than 2,000 Rotarians and their guests were invited to the homes of Rotarians within a 100-mile radius of Montreal. "Developing the Leadership Spirit" was the theme of Wednesday's plenary session. The entire audience was asked to constitute itself as the nominating committee of the Rotary Club of Conventionville. As such they were tasked with choosing the president of the club for next year, from among three candidates. The club was having problems: declining attendance, poor participation, little growth, lack-luster activity. It needed good leadership. Max, Matthew, and Orville - pseudonyms for three specialists in leadership motivation - presented themselves as candidates for the office of president. Each candidate offered a different style of leadership: Max was authoritarian; Norman was a consensus seeker; and Orville a delegator of responsibility. After each candidate read his prepared statement, the three men engaged the audience in a lively discussion, moderated by RI director-elect Dave Smith from Texas. A vote was eventually taken and Orville, the delegator, won. Ten international fellowship dinners filled Montreal ballrooms in the evening. Following the dinners, Rotarians and friends enjoyed dancing, fellowship and entertainment at the Forum. "Action on Youth" was the theme of Thursday's plenary session. With Montreal as host of the Summer Olympic Games in 1976, it was fitting that Rotary had invited Jesse Owens, winner of four gold medals in the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936 to address the audience. Referring to his own experience, Owens spoke about faith and dreams. He recalled his thoughts at the start of the 100-metre dash in 1936, when his dream of being the world's fastest human being was about to be realized. "I thought about the hours of counselling, of work, of coaching, and the men who helped me have faith in a dream." He told of several Rotarians he knew who had helped youths reach their dreams. He was particularly grateful that Rotarians had helped his fellow track team members in a poor Cleveland school to acquire shoes and uniforms. Jesse received a long standing ovation. The final word of the Convention went to RI President-elect Imbassahy de Mello of Brazil who announced his theme for 1875-76 as "To Dignify the Human Being." The Toronto Convention 1983 (Mankind is One - Build Bridges of Friendship Throughout the World)  (Photo: "Toronto Symphony Orchestra Performs for Convention-goers.") Toronto was the site of the 74th Annual Convention of Rotary International and the fourth time in the history of Rotary International that the Convention was held in that city. The theme of the Convention was that of RI President Hiroji Mukasa of Japan for 1982-83 : "Mankind is One - Build Bridges of Friendship Throughout the World." Between 5 and 8 June 1983, 16,250 Rotarians and guests from 100 countries built bridges of friendship as they gathered at the Royal York Hotel, site of the House of Friendship and many other Convention activities and at Maple Leaf Gardens, the location of all plenary sessions. There were a number of pre-convention activities and special events. District Youth Exchange officers held a two-day meeting with more than 300 in attendance. On Saturday evening the Toronto Rotary Club sponsored a performance of the 100-piece Toronto Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Andrew Davis. On Sunday morning, an ecumenical church service at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church was attended by many Rotarians, including President and Mrs Hiroji Mukasa. The first plenary session with the theme "Mankind is One" took place on Sunday evening. The session opened with the presentation of R.I. President Hiroji Mukasa and his wife Kiyoko, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honorable John Aird and Mrs Aird, who were escorted by the 1983 Convention Committee Chair, Tibor Gregor a member of the Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club and Mrs Gregor.  (Photo: "Convention Chair Tibor Gregor (left) with Host Club Chair Ray Bosley") Following a welcome by the Lieutenant Governor and a stirring procession and presentation of the flags of the Rotary World by 30 Youth Exchange students, Committee Chair Tibor Gregor declared the 74th Annual Convention of Rotary International open. Addressing the Convention on the theme "Mankind is One," President Mukasa said, "We have seen how the human spirit proudly binds all peoples together through service … we have seen Rotarians at work building bridges in their own communities and in the world community at large." Highlighting the unity of mankind, he said," I believe that the very future of the human family depends on our accepting the concept that truly we are all cousins, the concept that Mankind is One." He observed that "only human beings deeply feel the need for friendship and peace," and he added," to get from the abstraction of what we believe to the reality of serving others means we must mobilize the talents and resources within our organization." He stressed the need for emphasis on the extension of Rotary and especially membership development. Following the taking of the official photograph of the Convention, the Rotarians and guests were entertained, delightfully, by a colourful, vibrant, and exciting group of young Canadian entertainers in a special program of music and dance entitled "Singin' and Dancin' Tonight," choreographed by Alan Lund. The theme of the second plenary session on Monday was "Building Bridges of Friendship Throughout the World." Incoming President of the Rotary Club of Toronto, Grant Dickinson, welcomed the persons in attendance at the Convention on behalf of his club and District 7070. General Secretary Herbert Pigman, Evanston, Illinois, read messages from Governor General Schreyer of Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and Prime Minister Nakasone of Japan. Carlos Conseco Jr., of Monterrey, Mexico, was elected President of Rotary International for 1984-85. The first speaker was Dr. John Evans, former president of the University of Toronto and recently appointed director of the Population, Health, and Nutrition Department of the World Bank. Evans' speech titled "Health Versus Poverty: Can We Tip the Balance?" was preceded by a special audiovisual presentation entitled "The World Room," a film which shows how population, hunger, and poverty are interrelated. Using statistics and drawing from his own experience, Evans showed how poverty of the family and the individual will perpetuate the cycle of illiteracy, high fertility, wastage, and under-nutrition of children and limited opportunities for women. He noted that the Rotary Foundation had risen to the challenge of the health needs of the developing world through the Health, Hunger and Humanity (3H) Program, launched in 1978. Following Evans' address, Hiroko Suenaga, wife of one of the R.I. Directors and one of the most renowned pianists in Japan, played Chopin's "Fantasie Impromptu" and Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsodie No. 6." The final speaker of the second plenary session was Dr. Rosey Grier, a star American football player, entertainer, actor, and founder and chair of the board of Giant Step, a not-for-profit organization that helps youth and seniors. Rosey's address was titled "Are You Committed?" He soon had the audience's rapt attention as he discussed why children turned to drugs and other problems. A sell-out crowd of 1,860 attended a luncheon and fashion show at noon. In the afternoon there were the well-attended International Idea Exchange Assemblies on "Club Presidents" and The Future of Rotary." In the evening a sell-out crowd of 4,800 Rotarians and guests attended seven International Fellowship "Mystery" Dinners. When they arrived at the various hotel sites, they discovered special entertainment features centred on national or regional themes. Tuesday's plenary session highlighted youth with the theme "Youth Shows the Way To build Bridges of Friendship," but the early part of the program concentrated on management matters. Election of those who had been nominated as Directors of Rotary International took place and reports were presented by the General Secretary and the Treasurer of Rotary International. John C. Spragge, member of the Rotary Club of Toronto and vice-president of programming at the radio station CFRB, talked about "The Business of Rotary" in which he discussed the meaning of The Four-Way Test. President Mukasa presented a special presentation citation to Mrs. Margerie Abramson, the daughter of James W. Davidson, who as Honorary General Commissioner of Rotary organized Rotary clubs in eleven countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. In a Youth Exchange presentation entitled "Pearls of Friendship," 125 young people from Districts 7070,7040, and 7090 entertained the audience with song, dance, and pageantry. Following the special presentation, Sharon Keith, the winner of the President's Youth Exchange Essay Contest from Zimbabwe, delivered her essay, entitled "Mankind is One." The final speaker of the morning session was Dr. Bernard Lown, President of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, whose subject was "A Physician's Perspective on the Threat of Nuclear War." Following Dr. Lown's address, the audience viewed a slide program entitled "Lighting Candles for Peace- International Service in Action." After the plenary session there was a luncheon meeting, chaired by PRID Harold H. Henderson, at which incoming RI President William E. Skelton addressed the incoming club presidents and wives and district governors-elect and wives. For the rest of the afternoon and evening approximately 5,600 Rotarians and guests were hosted by Rotarians and their wives in the Toronto area. The theme of the final plenary session on Wednesday was "Building Bridges to the Future." The first speaker was Finlander Rolf J.V. Klarch, incoming Chair of the Rotary Foundation, who presented a report on the Rotary Foundation entitled "Living in a Changing World." President Mukasa presented the 1983 Rotary Award for World Understanding to Canadian humanitarian Dr. Lotta Hitschmanova, founder of USC, a Canadian sponsored program that provided food, shelter, and medical care to refugees, especially to the children of Asia, Africa, and Europe. A major address entitled "The Shape of The 80s" was presented by Dr. Robert M. Bleiberg, editor and publisher of Barron's National Business and Financial Weekly, New York. The families of President Mukasa and President-elect William E. Skelton were introduced. Following his final address to the Convention President Mukasa offered his heartfelt best wishes to Skelton who addressed the Convention on the theme of Rotary International for 1983-84: "Share Rotary-Serve People." To implement the theme for 1983-84, President-elect Skelton announced the launching of the Presidential Citation Program that would challenge Rotary Clubs to meet goals in growth and service.(The author served as club president in 1983-84 and had the honour of receiving a Presidential Citation.) In the afternoon there were 15 discussion groups on the programs of Rotary. In the evening thousands of Rotarian and guests gathered for the President's Reception and Family Night at Ontario Place, a lake-side theme park of islands, walkways, boat harbours and uniquely-shaped buildings. The Calgary Convention 1996 (Act with Integrity Serve with Love Act for Peace) The eighty-seventh Annual Convention of Rotary International was held in Calgary, Alberta, on 23 to 26 June 1996. The Saddledome, constructed for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, was the focal point for the historic international gathering. With an attendance of 24,963 Rotarians and guests from 126 countries and geographical areas, this was the largest Rotary International Convention ever staged in North America. Because of the large number of registrants, the first plenary session took place in two seatings. The first seating and opening feature of the Convention convened on Sunday afternoon at 1530 hours with RI President Herbert C. Brown of Clearwater, Florida, presiding. The session opened with "Let there be Peace on Earth," a musical multimedia celebration of the President's theme. This performance featured 4-year-old piano virtuoso Wesley Chu, Canada's Children's World Chorus, and a large cast of singers, dancers, ice skaters, and musicians, accompanied with special effects. Next, President Brown introduced Jack Forrest, Chair of the 1996 Convention Committee who welcomed the Rotarians and guests. Forrest introduced RI Vice President Richard Slager who gave the afternoon's invocation. Then Forrest introduced PRIVP Curly Galbraith and a member of the Calgary Rotary Club and Vice-Chair of the Committee, who spoke briefly. The next order of business was the roll call of Rotary's 154 countries and geographical areas by RI Director John Kenny of Grangemouth, Scotland, who read the list as the flags were presented - for the first time ever on ice - by members of the Calgary Skating Club. Following the presentation of flags, VP Slager introduced the 1995-96 RI President Herb Brown who performed, in sequence, the following activities: asked the audience to stand for the national anthems of Canada and the United States; as the audience watched a screen, President Brown pressed a button that ceremoniously lit the Calgary Torch of Peace, located in top of the Calgary Tower in downtown Calgary. Reminiscent of the Calgary Winter Olympic Games, the torch celebrated the opening of the Calgary Convention, and like the Olympic torch, burned until the Convention was over; after introducing a short video highlighting the history of Rotary in Canada, the President introduced his Excellency, the Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada who addressed the Convention. After the Governor General's remarks, President Brown introduced and thanked his aide Frank Devlyn - a future President of Rotary International - who, in turn introduced the President's family members. President Brown then delivered his opening address to the Convention.  Concluding
both seatings of the Sunday plenary session was a dazzling entertainment
program called "O Canada: Land of Beauty and Bounty." Canada's
multicultural heritage was the them of the program that included
spectacular performances by singers, musicians, dancers portraying
different nations and cultures, ice skaters, and an acrobatic display by
the Cirque du Soliel of Montreal.President Brown called the second plenary session to order at 0930 hours and invited Harold Greyeyes, of North Battleford, Saskatchewan to give the day's invocation. Then RI General Secretary Geoffrey Large read greetings to the Convention from Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrẻtien, United States President Bill Clinton, and Florida Governor Lawton Chiles. Large made a few routine announcements and informed the Convention that the reports of the secretary and treasurer were available in the House of Friendship. Then President Brown introduced Ralph Klein, Premier of the Province of Alberta, who addressed the Convention. After the Premier's speech President Brown introduced and thanked the members of the 1995-96 Rotary International Board of Directors. He then called to the stage and recognized 12 Past Presidents of Rotary International, from 1978-79 on. The next part of the session featured a special singing group from Novosibirsk, Russia. Known as the Rotary Russian Peace Ensemble, the group had recently completed a concert tour in the United States and Canada. The five member ensemble delighted the Convention with the singing of three songs of peace.  Much
of the rest of the session was taken up by the presentation of awards to
winners of " The Calgary Challenge"- a Rotary district membership growth
challenge issued by then President- elect Herb Brown at the Rotary
International Convention in Nice, France, in June 1995. To qualify for
an award at the 1996 Convention, a district had to increase membership
to a goal representing the total set by all club goals in the district.
Each Rotarian was asked to sponsor a new member. A winning district was
selected from each of the 34 Rotary zones in the world, and 16
additional winners were selected as the top districts overall. In each
winning district, a winning club was identified. President Brown invited
Past RI Director Richard D. King, Chair of the Membership Task Force to
the stage to explain the program and announce the winners. As the band
played, King announced the 50 winning districts and their governors, 35
of whom filed on the stage to receive from President Brown the crystal
award, specifically designed for the Rotary Challenge.King then announced the three district runners-up. Next, King asked the audience to join him in welcoming to the stage the world champion winner of the Calgary Challenge, District Governor Dong-Kurn Lee and his spouse Yung-la, from District 3650 in Korea. His District chartered 32 new Rotary clubs and increased membership by nearly 1,783 new Rotarians. Awards were given to two other Governors of small districts. King then recognized the Zone Co-ordinators and announced the total increase worldwide as 800 new Rotary clubs chartered and an increased membership of 66,876. President Brown then presented PRID King with a Calgary Challenge crystal award for his leading role in the membership drive. The President spoke briefly about his year-long effort to focus the attention of Rotarians around the world on the plight of families. He informed the audience that the RI Board of Directors had designated the second week in February each year as "Rotary Family Week" - a time for Rotarians to demonstrate their commitment to family and community through projects, activities and events. The audience then viewed a video depicting Rotary projects targeting families and communities in need and calling on Rotarians to expand their efforts in these areas. President Brown then introduced his wife, Diane Brown, who gave a speech titled "Family Values: A Foundation for Peace." During her address she introduced Margaret Aileen T. Castillo, the 12-year-old girl from the Philippines who won the 1995-96 RI children's poster contest. At the conclusion of Diane's speech President Brown adjourned the second plenary session. President Brown called the third plenary session to order on Tuesday morning at 0930 hours, and asked Donald Kwait of the Rotary Club of Chagrin Highlands, Ohio, to give the invocation. After General Secretary Large made announcements, President Brown introduced Calgary Mayor Al Duerr, who addressed the Convention. Next he introduced Nobel laureate Betty Williams, who addressed the Convention. The president gave her a crystal globe and his theme pin. The President then introduced Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Paulo V.C. Costa, who, in turn, introduced and thanked his fellow trustees for 1995-96. Next, Chair Costa recognized the 31 districts whose members successfully met a challenge established four years before, in honour of the 75th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation: to enrol 75 new Benefactors in each district within a five year period. After that, Chair Costa gave his speech to the convention. President Brown then announced United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs Sadako Ogata, that year's recipient of Rotary's highest honour - The Rotary Award for International Understanding. A video was shown, depicting Sadako Ogata's work for Refugees around the world. At the conclusion of the video, the President introduced Mrs. Sadako Ogata, and presented her with the crystal flame statue, symbolic of selfless service. Mrs Sadako Ogata then addressed the audience. After a musical interlude, Foundation Chair Paulo Costa was again introduced. The rest of the session was taken up with a discussion by the trustees and PRIPs about the programs of the Rotary Foundation, with great emphasis placed on the magnificent PolioPlus Program. Two awards were presented by visitors and supporters of the Rotary PolioPlus Program. Dr William H. Foege, one of the world's foremost immunologists and Chair of the UN's Task Force for Child Survival, presented an award to President Brown on behalf of UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, UNDP, and UNFPA in recognition of Rotary's commitment and work in the eradication of Polio. On behalf of Rotarians worldwide, President Brown accepted the award on behalf of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. Dr Bill Cochrane and Dr Randal Chase, representing the President of the Connaught Laboratories, one of the leading manufacturing pharmaceutical laboratories in the world, with two awards. Dr Cochrane presented Foundation Chair Paulo Costa with a plaque dedicated to the continuance of eradication of polio, on behalf of children everywhere. Dr. Chase presented Costa with one million doses of oral polio vaccine. Chair Costa accepted the vaccine on behalf of The Rotary Foundation and the children of the world. Then children of all ages carrying balloons filed onto the stage as a pianist played "It's a Small World" on the piano. The youngsters lined up and joined hands with the Rotarians on the stage for the remainder of the song as the audience applauded. President Brown then adjourned the third plenary session.  The
Family Fellowship Roundup on Tuesday evening gave visitors a preview of
the world-famous Calgary Stampede with a parade, chuck wagon races, and
a grandstand show. President Brown called the fourth plenary session to order on Wednesday morning at 0930 hours, and asked RI Director Kalyan Banerjee of India to give the day's invocation. After the invocation, President Brown advised that the next part of the session would be devoted to preserving planet earth as he presented a project undertaken by many Rotarians to promote awareness of environmental problems. The project was the Preserve Planet Earth Marathon. In 1990, under the leadership of then President Paulo V.C. Costa, Rotary International launched a program known as "Preserve Planet Earth," which encouraged Rotary clubs to help solve the environmental problems of their communities. In 1992, the United Nations Environmental Convention, ECO-92, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was there, on World Environment Day, that Rotary announced its inauguration of the Preserve Planet Earth Rotary Ecology Marathon. The marathon spanned a five-year period from June 1992. Its purpose was to encourage 1,000 Rotary clubs along the main route to organize 1,000 environmental-awareness events that would provide 1,000 solutions to existing ecological concerns. For more than 1,800 days, Rotarians of the Americas carried an environmental awareness award to these clubs, districts and countries along the route. The award, accompanied by a Rotary flag, depicts two pairs of hands holding up a clean, clear, transparent globe. Since it began four years earlier, the Rotary's ecology marathon , with side trips to Antarctica and Siberia, passed through 17 nations and 150 cities of the Americas with the help of 57 Rotary districts and 7,000 Rotarians and volunteers. A video describing the marathon was shown, including clips of its leader, Mexican Rotarian Jorge Rojo. At the conclusion of the video, President Brown announced that they were about to celebrate the arrival of the marathon in Calgary. Another video was shown, picturing Jorge Rojo running on the streets of Calgary, carrying the Marathon flag and statue. The camera followed him into the plenary hall and onto the stage, at which point Paulo Costa joined him and jogged a few paces. Rojo addressed the audience in Spanish and handed a Preserve Planet Earth statue to President Brown, who gave Rojo a presidential crystal. He then introduced Oscar Arias Sanchez, former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize winner, who addressed the Convention. Next, the Rotary Russian Peace Ensemble sang "Let There Be Peace on Earth." President Brown then announced the annual election of RI officers and called General Secretary Large to the podium to conduct the election. RI directors and district governors were elected and then, there being no other nominations for the position, General Secretary Large announced that the President had declared Glen W. Kinross of Hamilton, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to be the president-nominee of Rotary International for 1997-98. President Brown presented president-nominee Glen Kinross and his wife Heather to the Convention. The president-nominee then delivered his acceptance speech to the Convention. RI president-elect Luis Vicente Giay from Argentina introduced members of the 1996-97 RI Board of Directors. President Brown introduced Glenn Estess Sr., aide to President Giay and his wife Mary who then introduced the family of the President-elect. The President-elect then addressed the Convention. Next, President Brown directed the transfer of the presidential banner from his Rotary Club in Clearwater, Florida, to President-elect Giay's Rotary Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Next, slides were shown promoting Glasgow, Scotland, site of the 1997 RI Convention. Afterwards, Scottish bagpipers and a drum corps marched on stage, followed by dancers in kilts who gave an animated entertainment preview. After a humorous review of Scottish history and customs, by host Organization Chair George Boyd, President-elect Giay introduced Lord and Lady Provost of Glasgow who were applauded as they appeared on stage wearing the Rotary tartan. Lord Provost extended a welcome to all Rotarians to visit Glasgow, the city of architecture and design. Following another video promoting Glasgow-area attractions and another Scottish dance performance, President Brown adjourned the fourth plenary session. Prepared by PDG Jim Angus, with considerable assistance from Rotary International Archivist Francine Keyes Montreal 2010 The 101st Convention of Rotary International Montreal, Canada 20-23 June 2010 (The Centennial of "The Rotary Organization") |
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