The Rotary International Convention kicked off on Sunday, June 22 with not one but two opening ceremonies. The crowd was so big – estimated at 15,000 Rotarians from 140 countries – they had to be split into two groups. One-third of the attendees were at their first international convention.
Following the singing of the national anthems of the U.S., in honor of President Stephanie Urchick, and Canada, in honor of the host country, the Rotarians were reminded that peace is not the absence of conflict but rather the presence of understanding.
Past District Governor Rudy Westervelt gave a “Hub Chat” on how to organize and convene a peace conference.
Musician and speaker David LaMotte urged everyone to keep their relationships strong enough to handle the most difficult conversations.
“You are changing the world, whether you like it or not,” LaMotte said. He added that “health and peace go hand in hand – you can’t have one without the other.”
Referring to Rotary’s goal to eradicate polio, LaMotte said that “you had the audacity to start the job and the tenacity to finish it.”
Those two issues – peace and the eradication of polio – were at the heart of the entire convention.
Nine mountain Rotarians – Elizabeth O’Neil, Michelle French, Jenny Hueter, Richard Savich, Jeri Simpson, Teri Ostlie, Rudy Westervelt, Karyn Westervelt and Mary-Justine Lanyon – attended the Calgary convention.
In addition to the daily general sessions, there were breakout sessions, short “Hub Chats” and special events.
Michelle French and Mary-Justine Lanyon attended a breakout session called “A Polio-free World is Possible.” Moderator Mike McGovern, chair of the International PolioPlus Committee, reminded the large audience that, because of Rotary’s efforts, 20 million children who would have been paralyzed by the disease were not.
Moraine Lake astonished the local Rotarians with its turquoise water.
“We have to get this thing done,” McGovern said. “We made the promise. It matters to every last child. Together we’re going to end polio.”
Crestline resident Rudy Westervelt – who had organized peace conferences held in Ontario in 2016 and 2020 – gave a Hub Chat on planning and convening such a conference. He was joined by Will Ratliff, who had implemented a peace conference in Birmingham, Ala., in 2023.
The two men reiterated that “peace is a lot more than the absence of violence.”
The local Rotarians also enjoyed Calgary and the surrounding area. Jeri Simpson and Teri Ostlie had explored western Canada before arriving in Calgary. Michelle French, Elizabeth O’Neil, Jenny Hueter and Mary-Justine Lanyon took a day trip to Banff, exploring four lakes: Two Jack, Minnewanka, Moraine and Louise. It was Moraine Lake that left them speechless with its bright turquoise waters.
Seven of the mountain Rotarians participated in the District 5330 event at the Calgary Zoo where they enjoyed a delicious dinner after exploring the zoo a bit. They had also attended the Grandstand Spectacular where they witnessed relay races on horseback, Indigenous dancing and drumming and square dancing.
All the Rotarians returned to their home clubs energized for the 2025-2026 years, armed with new ideas and great enthusiasm.
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