97th Rotary
International Convention
Bridging the World
Malmo, Sweden and
Copenhagen, Denmark
June 11-14, 2006
Presided by Carl-Wilhelm
Stenhammer, RI President, 2005-6 (from
Sweden)
Inducted Bill Boyd, RI
President, 2006-7 (from New Zealand)
Highlights of the
Conference:
- Presentation of 171 flags of countries in Rotary
from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe by Danish and Swedish students
- Keynote speakers on literacy, Rotaract and
hunger/poverty/water
- Meeting some of the 14,000 conference
participants from all over the world
- Evening with Rotary Club of Herlev, a suburb of
Copenhagen, meeting the Mayor, tour of waste treatment plant, buffet
- Home stay with Swedish family in Lund after the
conference
- Delegates’ vote to uphold RI board’s decision to
overturn elections for RI President in 2007-8 and for a District Governor
in Brazil on the grounds of campaigning for those positions, contrary to
Rotary election rules
- Suggestions for recruiting members from Rotary
activities, such as Group Study Exchange teams, Youth Exchange
participants, former Rotaract and Interact club members, Ambassadorial
scholars, club scholarship recipients, club speakers, participants in
community service activities
- Suggested background checks on everyone involved
in youth activities, i.e. Youth Exchange, Interact
Suggestions for New Presidents from Workshops:
- Use the Club Leadership Plan and restructure
committees accordingly: club
administration, public relations, membership, service projects, Rotary
Foundation. Add others as needed,
e.g. fund raising.
- Set goals for the year with your board and club
members
- End of year report as to how you’ve reached
those goals
- Consider a three or five year plan for your club
Key Resources for Club Presidents:
- Club Presidents Manual, especially section on
President’s responsibilities
- Club Leadership Plan
- Manual of Procedure
- Advice of Past President(s)
- Advice of Assistant District Governor
- Advice of District Governor
- RI Web Site
How to Motivate and Lead your Volunteer Members:
- Have a vision and set goals
- Take action to achieve those goals
- Select committees wisely, delegate, and follow
up
- Lead by example
- Recognize achievements