Thousands arrive in Chicago to Celebrate Rotary 18 June 2005
CHICAGO — Just three miles from where Paul P. Harris and four colleagues began the Rotary movement a century ago, masses of Rotarians converged at Chicago's McCormick Place to prepare for the most anticipated meeting in Rotary's history — the 2005 Rotary International Convention, a celebration of the Rotary Centennial.

Throughout Friday, 17 June, a steady stream of 37,886 paid registrants from 156 countries arrived for the first day of preconvention events. Among them were some 200 Rotary club members from Minnesota, USA, who rode into Chicago's Union Station aboard three vintage rail cars to pay homage to Rotary history. These Rotarians wouldn't have traded the thrill of traveling in mid-20th century luxury for anything. The train's previous passengers included Frank Sinatra and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Others rode on vintage cars from the Wisconsin Valley and Super Dome trains.

While registrants continued to pour in, drab gray concrete gave way to blue and gold as Rotary International staff and others transformed one of the world's largest convention centers into the home of Rotary's greatest celebration. For the hundreds of participants taking part in preconvention meetings, the centennial celebration got off to an early start. At the 2005 International Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), participants discussed how to foster leadership skills.

At the Rotaract meeting, dozens showed their enthusiasm by participating in an energetic pep talk led by former Rotaract Committee Chair Barry McConville. RI President Glenn Estess, Sr. and RI President-elect Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar were among the featured speakers.

Youth Exchange Officer workshops explored methods and practices to promote the group's cultural understanding goals, while International Institute participants examined the RI Strategic Plan, discussed The Rotary Foundation, and explored the importance of cooperation. Busloads of Rotarians also made a pilgrimage to RI Headquarters through Host Organization Committee-arranged tours.

Later, Estess and RI General Secretary Ed Futa dedicated the new Penny Press. The machine transforms a penny into one of four different Rotary and Foundation logo souvenirs. After the convention, the press will move to RI World Headquarters in Evanston.

Convention kicks off with a hearty Chicago welcome 19 June 2005
CHICAGO — On 18 June, Rotary International kicked off the first official day of the 2005 RI Convention with fanfare that only the City of Big Shoulders — and Rotary's birthplace — could deliver.

It was a day filled with the excitement of a much-anticipated moment, a day when the true international spirit of Rotary, and the momentous occasion of the centennial celebration, became palpable the minute Chicago's McCormick Place opened its doors to some 40,487 registrants hailing from 159 countries.

Meandering the exhibition space, groups in colorful native dress and Rotary's blue and gold filed past a museum-like historical timeline exhibit that chronicled 100 years with historical video and audio footage, photographs from Rotary's archives, and more. Attendees took pictures next to a life-sized photo of Founder Paul Harris and pressed pennies to help benefit The Rotary Foundation.

Then it was on to the House of Friendship, where thousands packed the aisles to network, shop for licensed Rotary merchandise, and explore booths dedicated to fellowships and projects. The aisles were abuzz with the laughter and sometimes-spontaneous singing of jovial Rotarians exchanging pins and ribbons as groups ranging from a Haitian drum and dance troupe to a Filipino choir performed in the background.

All day long, Rotary club presidents and presidents-elect flocked to the popular Rotary time capsule to offer letters explaining their achievements and aspirations. The brushed stainless-steel vessel will be opened again in 2105 — for Rotary’s bicentennial celebration. The House of Friendship also featured an exhibit by renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado depicting the human side of the international polio eradication effort.

Rotary's human side was evident elsewhere as well. The spirit of fellowship served as a universal language to members of the Rotary Club of Ambato, Ecuador, who despite a language barrier managed to exchange contact information with a group of Malaysian Rotarians about possible future clean water projects.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley joined Rotary International Vice President John Germ and Richard Galitz of the Rotary Club of Chicago in a ceremony Saturday to dedicate the RI Centennial Garden on Chicago’s Northerly Island. "Rotary, I want to thank you for your birth 100 years ago," Mayor Daley said. "Rotary is a great symbol of Chicago, a symbol of really reaching out to the less fortunate."

At a Rotary Foundation alumni reunion Mayor Daley's words were echoed as participants discussed the impact the program has had on their lives and renewed their commitment to making the world a better place by connecting to others through service. "When organizations like the Rotary Foundation can foster and harness collective change through millions and millions of relationships, wonders can happen, and wonders have happened through the Family of Rotary," said Dr. Khanh Nguyen, this year's recipient of the Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award.

World leaders, Estess welcome the RI Convention crowd 20 June 2005
CHICAGO — In a festive and poignant opening plenary session, Rotary President Glenn Estess Sr. and world leaders welcomed thousands of Rotarians to the centennial convention with a call to Celebrate Rotary.

The program began against a panoramic backdrop of five gigantic video screens projecting stunning images and videos from Rotary's past and present. Dancers and singers soon swooped into the area with a rendition of the popular song "Celebration" bringing the crowd to its feet.

"The great wheel of Rotary has turned through a hundred years and brought us back to where it all began," said Master of Ceremonies Roger Climpson of the Rotary Club of Lane Cove, Australia.

Then in a stirring moment, five senior Rotarians brought to the stage the Centennial Bells which began journeys around the globe at the 2003 RI Convention. They called the Convention to order by simultaneously ringing the ceremonial bells.

Adding a new twist to the traditional opening flag ceremony, a group of cyclists swarmed in on vintage blue bicycles carrying 168 flags from around the globe. The cyclists represented countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and included new additions to the Rotary family Equatorial Guinea and Tajikistan.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, U.S. President George W. Bush, and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan sent video letters of congratulations. Annan praised Rotary for its hard work in polio eradication and for supporting peace. "You remind us of the true meaning of the word humanitarian, by uniting around the things we have in common as human beings," said Annan. "I hope [Rotary] will keep going on and going strong for centuries to come."

Calling the convention the "biggest family reunion in the world," Estess discussed the Rotary Service Above Self ethic using a health project of the Rotary Club of Vapi as an illustration. "Rotarians never look at a problem, shrug their shoulders, and walk away," Estess said. "They give the problem a hard look and then roll up their sleeves and get to work."

A colorful video honored all of Rotary’s past presidents highlighting the organization's one hundred-year history. After the video, dozens of past presidents, current and incoming directors and trustees, and their spouses came on stage to wave to the thousands present, representing the past and the future.

The plenary halls echoed with rhythm and color as the percussion group Jelly Eye performed. The acclaimed Trinity Irish Dancers and Grammy award winning duo of Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. concluded the festivities. Also part of the plenary was a segment on the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 that featured interviews with Southeast Asian Rotarians who were involved in the immediate relief efforts.

Sunday's events also included the Race to the Finish 8K run/5K walk. Symbolizing the dedication and persistence of Rotary and its global partners in the race to eradicate polio, more than 700 runners and 3,300 walkers from over 80 countries — most of them Rotarians — laced up for the annual run/walk on Sunday morning to raise money for PolioPlus (see sidebar). The lakefront race near Soldier Field brought in an estimated US$50,000 for polio eradication, according to Mike Ericksen, a Host Organization Committee member who set up the event. Download 2005 R. I. Convention Secretary's Report