Report from Conference 2010
500 Rotarians gathered in Cavan for the 2010 District Conference
District Governor Wes Armstrong welcomes his guests President McAleese and her husband to the Conference T
he Rotary Club of Coleraine ‑ under the leadership of this yearsʼ President Martin Dinsmore undertook the mammoth task of organising the Annual Conference, which saw some 500 delegates converge on the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan. The location is central to everywhere in Ireland and provided a fantastic location for such a high profile event. At the conference, the main speaker was Mary McAleese, President of Ireland. During her keynote speech she congratulated Rotary on 100 years of service in the community locally and across the world and said: “One of Rotaryʼs key features and particular witnesses in our world of strangers, who too often demonise one another, is its non‑religious, non‑denominational status and, in Ireland, your all‑island status is a particular and respected hallmark. For Rotarians there are no barriers to harnessing the energies of the values they share in common, especially the belief in Rotaryʼs motto of Service Above Self”.
The delegates had the opportunity to listen to some thought provoking and entertaining speeches from Dr Ian Adamson, Peter Sheridan, Gavin Bate, and Gary Mabutt. Delegates also heard from a range of Rotarians as the business of Rotary in Ireland was discussed in detail. During the District Council meeting, held on the Friday, the votes were counted for the election of District Governor for the Rotary year 2013 /2014. Verity Swan from the Rotary Club of Dublin North was successful, and will succeed Jack Cunningham of the Rotary Club of Galway–Salthill – congratulations to Verity.
As well as the business of the conference, there was an opportunity to enjoy the facilities of the hotel and surrounding area. Delegates, from the USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, as well as closer to home in England, Scotland, and Wales, also enjoyed a banquet and ball and an excellent variety concert during their stay.
Our Group Study Exchange visitors from British Columbia and Washington State attended the conference and added an extra international flavour to proceedings.
Delegates also had the opportunity to hear about the Shelterbox, the brainchild of Rotarian Tom Henderson OBE. The box contains pre‑packaged humanitarian aid in the form of a family sized tent, blankets, cooker, tools and water purification and life saving equipment. ShelterBoxes are rapidly deployed to areas of humanitarian need and already 100,000 ShelterBoxes have been sent to needy families in over 70 countries, including Haiti. Rotarians in Ireland have been responsible for helping to fund many of these projects.
Another worldwide effort from Rotary has been the battle against polio and it is something DG Wes highlighted, he said, “Perhaps the most important achievement of Rotary worldwide is the commitment to the
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Verity Swan from the Rotary Club of Dublin North was elected as District Governor for the Rotary year 2013 /2014.
children of the world to eradicate the polio virus. In 1985, when Rotary made the commitment, 363,000 cases of polio were recorded that year. Today, thanks to billions of man hours and over $6 billion in funding the latest figure is less than 350 in isolated pockets of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Nigeria. The program is ongoing and Rotary is determined to achieve the goal of total eradication soon”. DG Wes reminded delegates of the commitment made by clubs worldwide to match the gift given to Rotary by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation by raising $200 million before June 30, 2012”.
A truly great conference was enjoyed by all who attended – congratulations to DG Wes, the Rotary Club of Coleraine, ably assisted by the Rotary Club of Enniskillen, the staff of the Slieve Russell Hotel and all the willing helpers.
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