Ed Futa, (the man in the middle above) the General Secretary of Rotary International, was just introduced as master of ceremonies. East meets West is the theme of this year as the president is Eastern (Korean) meeting in England (West).

I start this blog at about the half way point of my first Rotary convention, sitting at the First (and main) plenary session.  The LG arena is as big a venue as I have ever seen, and in a little while it will be filled with 10,000+ delegates.  My connection to Rotary is the international aspect of the organization.  Here I can assume certain values (service above self) in all the people I meet.  I can also assume a certain relative affluence, which while not completely true allows for the values of service above self to manifest.

My convention time so far has been perfect.  My list of reasons I came to Birmingham were three fold: 1) To find the Ugandan club through which the Cork Bishopstown Club can send computer, printer, and years internet to the school supported in part by Bead for Life.  2) To connect with more partners for the Future(s) Project that I facilitate and 3) To connect face to face with people who are active on the internet.

#1 (above) was taken care of during my first breakout session on Thursday – sitting with Rotaract groups (21-30 year old Early days Rotarian family groups) I met two women with fantastic energy from Uganda.  We exchanged phone numbers and yesterday, when Collette our incoming club president arrived, the deal was sealed.  Completing an international project is good for their new group, and having people on the ground in Uganda who are yound and willing to help is a big plus for us.

#2  was as easily completed (although I hold the possibility of more partnerships being formed).  On my first walk through the hall of Friendship I met Brenda, who is promoting an advanced early stage literacy program.  She not only has missing information on literacy development through sounds that should prove useful to my partners in India.  She also is running a school that seems a good mix of many of the concepts that we have been discussing in our online meetings. 

#3Turned out to be the least of the three - there is a ROTI (Rotarians on the Internet and there are completely virtual Rotary groups.  so if anyone needs Rotary intformation these litsts add interest and variety to all the resources available.  But unexpectedly.....

#4 I had a great time with People - people from the Malahide Rotary group being the top of the list but really all of the Rotarians who attended the evening with outgoing District Governor Paul Hutchinson were fantastic.

The convention had great speakers - Jane Goodall spoke the last day and Mia Farrow the day before.  Desmond Tutu spoke to the peace fellowship and the Secretary General of the UN on the first day - one could say, "we got our money's worth!"

Talking to a man from Zambia – discussing (as  have heard before) the power of the Irish missionaries in Africa.  As we discuss mobile technology and its applications within his country again I see the picture of the very poor – with mobile phones – and realize that this will be the education technology that will bring global understanding to the world.

I was once again made aware of how Rotary is an amazing infrastructure of international ideas as Ed Futa went through the roll call for voting delegates at the convention.  33,641 clubs in RI 3752 of which are represented, 1744 delegates attending but with proxies 4179 votes in all are eligible to be cast.  Therefore, a quorum (of 10%) has been reached and international policies etc can be cast.