District Conference - Sunday

And so to the final day!  The first session of the day was probably the least attended.  Many Rotarians were either still sleeping off the previous night’s excesses or visiting the famous Lord Street shopping area.  The early part of the session saw the presentations of various trophies for the golf competition and the Rotary club with the highest level of attendance at conference.   RI representative Lynne Deavin and RIBI President John Minhinick then summed up their conference observations.

Before we broke for coffee, the incoming GSE team from Nepal were introduced (see previous Blog entries), Rtn. Carolynn Stone of Ilkeston spoke about the district’s New Generation (Youth) programme and two causes regularly supported by Rotary, Rainbow and Blue Bell Wood Hospices, gave presentations.

The final session of conference commenced with the following year’s conference at Scarborough being publicized.

Rotary Peace Fellow, Sandra Fong from Fiji, then took the stage.  Sandra has a BA in Politics and an interest in conflict resolution, gender issues, dialogue process and facilitation, disarmament and human rights.  She spoke about her vision of working in the international peace sector and wanting to make a difference through the opportunities Rotary afforded her.

 

The Keynote speaker was Anne Wafula Strike, an inspirational paralympian.  Anne was an example of courage, commitment and determination and had overcome many obstacles in her life.  Anne was a fit and healthy child before polio struck at the age of two.  In 2004 Anne became the first wheelchair racer from East Africa to compete at the Paralympics in Athens.  The whole audience was moved by Anne’s account of triumph over adversity.

 

 

The musical group Cantata brought the Conference to a close with a musical “Celebration of Rotary” which began by a specially commissioned “Rotary Anthem” composed for the occasion by Cantata’s Musical Director, Lisa Mills.  A great weekend of Rotary Fun and Fellowship had drawn to a close.