Brigadier General Jim, Guests, Rotarians, President Annie:
Most of my very special moments in Rotary were accompanied by tears wetting my check, at times uncontrollably.
These tender moments hooked me to be a Rotarian for last 50 years plus one month.
Most of these precious moments would not have incurred if it were not for PD Governor Dan Graham, Jerome Martin and my incredible wife Doreen.
*Jerome Martin, unknown to him and I were in a challenge to have the longest perfect attendance record; i.e. attending a Rotary meeting each week no matter where you may be. This meant making up at one of Rotary’s 38,000 Clubs worldwide.
After one of these make-up meeting in Guatemala City I was invited to join a group discussion that became the first meeting of Uniendo America (Uniting America), which finds C.A. Clubs partnering with Canadian and U.S.A. Clubs to conduct a C.A. Community Project.
In subsequent years Uniendo America rotated C.A. Countries to display hundreds of Club Projects seeking financial and material Partners. Uniendo America annually sees 100 to 300 Rotarians from Canada and the U.S.A. attending and offering to promote a project to their District Clubs. Doreen and I have attended 11 of these Project Fairs.
*It was this type of Partnering that led to our Club’s annual Ben Doz “Hue Hue Tenango, Guatemala Eye Project”, which many of you have attended. I am sure many experiences with Ben helped to keep you hooked to Rotary and have reached a soft part of your heart, possibly creating a tear.
*A meeting with Dan Graham led him to write to then RI President Glen Kinross about how our District had participated in hundreds of Uniendo America’s International Service Projects. Also that our Edmonton West Club was active with an incredible 12 Projects in one year.
Dan asked President Glen to consider replicating the Uniendo America experience worldwide. Almost immediately Glen invited a Rotarian from Australia, Poland, Guatemala, two from the U.S.A. and a Canadian, which was me to attend a meeting at the RI office in Skokie. At the 4 day gathering with Past Presidents, President Elect, as well as some RI Director and Foundation Trustees occasionally in attendance Uniendo America received moral and financial support.
Encouragement was given for Uniendo to replicate itself; and this was tried, but never came close to duplicating the Uniendo model. Maybe one of us will continue to advance the Uniendo Project Fairs model worldwide. President Glen also stimulated RI staff to attend many Uniendo America Project Fairs.
Today RI “Convention Friendship House” is more than a place to just meet and mingle with thousands of world Rotarians. The last decade has a buzz of activity at hundreds of booths where Clubs were seeking Partners to complete their Community Projects.
*Back to trying to outpace Jerome I set off to a attend a 7 p.m. meeting at a country club on the outskirts of Bangkok.
It was late and Doreen decided to stay and catch up on her rest. I asked the taxi to wait for a few hours until the meeting ended. The facility was dimly lit with lawn Polynesian torches as I entered to find the meeting room. Most of the crowd I passed were well dressed and friendly.
Finally I learned the Rotary Club had moved to another location and that I was in the midst of a high end brothel. This would not pass as a legitimate makeup.
*My disease is Rotary where exist some of my best friends and most satisfying moments. Most in this room have the disease. It is contagious and new members may acquire it if you approach President Annie and offer to help her with our October District Conference, which all of us are attending. This is Annie’s big responsibility and we must elevate her.
.JPG)
