DGE Reg's News
Posted by Reg Madison
ESCAPING TO SAN DIEGO
This month I wanted to share the trip we took to San Diego for the Rotary International Assembly. We left Buffalo early Saturday morning, January 15th and arrived just before lunch. After checking in at the Manchester Hyatt, we walked the Waterfront of Seaport Village and had lunch at a waterside restaurant. After our cold Brantford winter the sunshine, water and flowers made for a wonderful escape despite the only 60 degree temperature. We continued to walk along the water and came across USS Midway, a WWII aircraft carrier that is now a museum. We decided to make that our destination on Sunday.
While the Midway is small (70,000 tons) compared to today’s 90,000 ton replacements, it is enormous, particularly for a land lubber from Canada. The deck exceeds the length of two football fields and the crew numbered over 4000. Each day they went through 3000 pounds of potatoes. Retired servicemen staff the carrier at numerous locations and we walked a total of fourteen kilometres that afternoon.
Back to the Hyatt to change into our national garb, Olympic hockey sweaters, in preparation for the Grand March prior to the opening dinner. I don’t want to say that getting the 535 DGEs and spouses from al
l over the world was like herding cats, but I will! Countries marched in from one ballroom to the next in alphabetical order behind their flag and were announced by John Hewko our General Secretary. Upon entering the ballroom a live band switched to a song appropriate to the country. Ours was Canadian Sunset.
l over the world was like herding cats, but I will! Countries marched in from one ballroom to the next in alphabetical order behind their flag and were announced by John Hewko our General Secretary. Upon entering the ballroom a live band switched to a song appropriate to the country. Ours was Canadian Sunset. If this start was moving and exciting, the sessions Monday to Friday topped that. Each morning started with a plenary session followed by a breakout session for training in 5 languages. After lunch another plenary followed by a different breakout with new classmates and facilitators. The opportunity to get to know fellow DGEs were many and some excellent friendships were made. While Loretta and I had one joint session she had separate sessions for spouses all week.
One evening was left open and we chose well in advance to take advantage of home hosting. We joined Rotarians from many countries to be bussed to a large suburban home of a past local Rotary club president for a wonderful evening of hospitality and food. This club has been hosting the District Governors Elect and their spouses for 13 years. It was indeed a memory that added to so many others that week! Other than opening night and Friday evening, dinners were buffet style and you could arrange your own time and table. Prearranged seating was the order of business for those occasions. The food was very good and there was plenty of choice to meet the vast menus and appetites of people from so many countries.
We’re thrilled with our theme for 2017-18, Rotary: Making a Difference. It has already been introduced to President Elects during our on-line PETS sessions and also to the Area Governors. We are indeed fortunate to have an excellent leader in Ian Risely of Australia as our next president. At Friday’s closing session - he urged us all to attend the Toronto convention in June of 2018.There is still much planning, organizing and doing before July 1st but I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be your Governor as we embark on Making a Difference.