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District Conference Wrap-Up
The 2002-2003 District 5030 Conference ended Sunday at the Victoria Conference Center amid congratulations to participants and leadership for an excellent Rotary gathering. With plaudits from Past Rotary International President (PRIP) Frank Devlyn of Mexico City, Conference Chairperson Sharon Edberg and her committee basked in the glow of a well-attended, inspiring, and informative conclave.
Official registration figures had 620 members and guests attending. The service offered by the Victoria Conference Center staff was outstanding; the weather was dry, cool, and pleasant. Thirteen BBRC members attended the conference: Kim Shrader, Brian Evison, Sharon Edberg, John Martinka, John Mix, Don Chandler, Earl Falk, Terry Peterson, John DeWater, Norm Johnson, Jim Owens, Terry Baker, and Margie Burnett. Counting spouses, the BBRC representation numbered 22. Also attending was former BBRC member and past District Governor Jim Givan, who brought his stash of 300 flags that brought a beautiful flash of color to the main conference center.
The Conference officially opened at noon on Friday, with the delegates being joined by 83 members of the 200-member Rotary Club of Victoria. This year, 2003, is the 90th anniversary year of the club, which was sponsored by Rotary Club of Seattle. Frank Devlyn delivered the major address at the noon luncheon.
District Conferences are marked by “Rotary Sessions” where several topics are explored in depth by the people who’ve been directly involved in the activity. Norm Johnson was in charge of these sessions, which took place Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Such topics as new immunization efforts worldwide, the Woodinville Rotary Centennial Park, West Seattle Rotary Duwamish Heritage project, Vietnamese GSE Team, Mercer Island Ethiopian water project, and the Issaquah Challenge Race were on the Friday agenda. Kim Shrader introduced several of the Friday morning speakers.
The Friday night dinner session featured Past District Governor Bill Ives of Detroit Michigan (District 6400), answering the question “Is There a Rotary Club in this town?” The evening’s program was devoted to Rotary’s relevance in our communities, awarding the coveted “Service Above Self” Award to John Friends, current District Treasurer. The SAS award is presented annually to 150 Rotarians worldwide. Also recognized were District Governor Rosemary Aragon’s impressive list of “Unsung Heroes” — Rotarians selected by each club as “Most Valuable Players.”
Saturday morning, after an address by Jim Lawrence, of the U.S. State Department, on Landmine Action Initiatives, Rotary sessions continued with a panel on Landmine action, a report from an Ambassadorial Scholar to South Africa, Southcenter Rotary books for 5th grade kids, USA GSE Team discussing healthcare issues in Viet Nam, and the Auburn Rotary project of Soccer Balls for Africa.
After an afternoon free for conference delegates, the Saturday evening banquet celebrated Rotary’s success with polio eradication and the Rotary Foundation. PRIP Devlyn spoke and Penny LeGate, KIRO-TV news anchor, presented her report on the documentary the station produced on the Ethiopian NID (National Immunization Days) and the 65 District 5030 Rotarians who participated. The Rotarian of the Year Award went to Ezra Teshome, District International Chairperson and leader of the Ethiopian NID. He and his family shared in the award.
During the Conference, three prominent attendees were made Honorary Rotarians: Luis Aragon, Rosemary’s husband; Jim Lawrence, U.S. State Department; and Penny LeGate, KIRO-TV news anchor. Lawrence informed the audience that upon his return to Washington, D.C., he would begin his quest of finding a Rotary Club that would invite him to membership. All three was also presented Paul Harris Fellowship certificates, signifying the District had donated $1,000 in their names to the Rotary Foundation.
A non-denominational church service was held Sunday morning, led by John DeWater. John Mix provided piano accompaniment to the songs selected. The Conference ended with a presentation by Shelley Rotondo of Northwest Harvest and David Bobanick, Rotary First Harvest, on the occasion of RFH’s 20th Anniversary. The BBRC received a certificate indicating it had met the requirements of Rotary’s Presidential Citations.
District Governor Elect John Jacob Gardiner gave his vision for the coming year (Growing Rotary) and Governor-Nominee Kathy Johnson put out the call for her term, which falls during Rotary’s Centennial (2004-2005).
Next year’s conference will be held at the Portland Hilton in Portland, Oregon, to mark the 94th anniversary of Rotary’s arrival in the Rose City, with sponsorship by clubs in the Puget Sound.
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