At the center of each Rotary International Convention are the general sessions where thousands of Rotarians from around the world gather to hear speakers, enjoy some entertainment and, most importantly, meet one another and share ideas.
The opening general session of the 2026 convention in Taipei took place on Sunday, June 14. The more than 37,000 Rotarians were split into morning and afternoon sessions to be accommodated in the Taipei Dome.
The session opened with some traditional drumming, followed by the parade of flags – always a highlight of every convention. Rotarians were selected to carry the flags of the 150 countries represented at the convention. As each flag was announced, that country’s place in the world was highlighted on a map projected onto the screen. At the same time, that country’s representatives cheered and waved their own small flags.
As he welcomed his fellow Rotarians, Francesco Arezzo, the 2025-2026 Rotary International president, noted that “we gather in peace and understanding.” That echoed the theme of the session: “Planting Peace, Growing Hope.”
RI President Francesco Arezzo said that “we gather in peace and understanding.”
“Rotary means friendship made useful,” President Arezzo told the crowd. “Our message still speaks to people.”
He told about going to Pakistan on a polio vaccination trip and seeing a young girl, paralyzed from polio, dragging herself across the floor. “She is why we cannot stop,” he said, referring to Rotary’s primary focus: the eradication of polio.
Noting that “music is the universal language,” host Jason Browne introduced the Lan Yang Dancers, who were followed by the HJO Jazz Orchestra from Sicily, home of President Arezzo.
The opening session combined serious talk with entertainment, setting the tone for the convention.
The second of three general sessions took place on Tuesday, June 16 with a theme of “Bringing Communities and People Together.” John Hewko, the RI general secretary and CEO, opened the session by saying he had tried bubble tea – and liked it.
“Rotary spreads one person at a time – try this,” he said, urging every Rotarian to ask friends and relatives to try Rotary.
Hewko went on to focus on loneliness, which he said is a global problem. “People feel alone,” he said, noting that WHO has declared loneliness a global crisis.
“Members stay in Rotary because they like people. They can’t wait to see them; they share a purpose. It’s the friendship inside the project.
“The world is hungry for that conversation,” Hewko said, adding that doctors are even writing prescriptions for this type of conversation.
“For Rotary to thrive,” he said, “we have to adapt. New club models break down barriers. The heart of Rotary is belonging through purpose.”
Hewko pointed to the Rotary Club of Formosa Happiness. Can you imagine, he asked, having a club called Happiness? “Happy members create strong clubs,” he noted.
“Share Rotary with someone. Show them the Rotary magazine. Put Rotary into conversation,” he said. A key to growing Rotary is offering what people want. “Use what you learned here to empower and energize,” Hewko urged.
Natalie Emery, a Rotary Peace Fellow alumna, has spent a lifetime volunteering – in orphanages in India and in humanitarian efforts in more than 10 countries. “You don’t need to be extraordinary to make a difference,” she said. “You just need to show up.
“Peace building begins with human connection,” Emery said. “Keep showing up and offering acts of kindness. Peace is not a destination – it’s a daily practice.”
Dr. Alberto Domenighini of Milan began his Rotary journey as a Youth Exchange student in Texas. He went on to become involved with Rotaract and Rotary at the club, district and international levels. “Our strength lies in our diversity,” Dr. Domenighini said. “Engage youth in projects, as speakers. Imagine what we could achieve if every young person in Rotary felt heard.”
Holger Knaack, a past RI president and current Rotary Foundation trustee chair, asked: “Can we deliver change in places where change is hardest? Yes, we can.” His presentation drove home the importance and value of contributing to the Rotary Foundation.
Malala Yousafzai, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, shared her thoughts on the importance of education, especially for girls.
Mike McGovern, chair of the Rotary International PolioPlus Committee, and Valerie Wafer, who will take over as chair, summed up the progress on eradicating polio. There have been fewer cases this year than last, they reported. “We will get this done,” McGovern said. “Together we will end polio.” The two were also part of a breakout session on a polio-free world; details to come in the July 16 issue.
A highlight of the entire convention for President Arezzo was the presentation by Malala Yousafzai, the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and founder of the Malala Fund. Since the age of 11, Malala has been a fierce advocate of education for girls. That activism caused her to be shot in the head by the Taliban.
“People choosing to act together can accomplish extraordinary things,” Malala said. “Girls are desperate to learn.” What can you do? “Ask your teachers what you can do to help. Find girls on the verge of dropping out. The good work you do together will travel further than you can imagine.”
Malala then participated in a question-and-answer session with Yin Khvat, the host of Taiwan Talks. When asked if she has noticed changes in attitude toward education for girls, Malala said a network of education activists has been created through the Malala Fund. She was pleased to add that the law has been changed in Tanzania, allowing girls who are pregnant or have had a baby to remain in school. That drew great applause from the crowd in the Taipei Dome.
“There is so much each person can do,” Malala said. “We forget about the power we have. I believe in the power of the individual but that multiplies when we come together.
“The question that keeps me awake is why millions of girls have no access to education. We have to keep going. Learning is an act of resistance. Every act matters. Think of how you can support education in your community,” Malala said.
The closing ceremony – with the theme “The Future We Sow – on Wednesday, June 17 began with a stunning performance by the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe. Then Brad Howard, chair of the 2027 International Convention, told the tale of the ever-changing location: Honolulu, Dubai and finally Barcelona. He announced that the 2028 convention will be in Minneapolis, 2029 in Dubai, 2030 in Chicago for the 125th anniversary of Rotary and 2032 Honolulu.
Dr. Foteini Papadimou of Greece – who has been active with Rotaract and Rotary – said that “because someone believed in me, I made a promise to help young people, especially women. Empowerment is about removing the silence that hides strength. The important message is how we show up for each other.
“We don’t just build a project,” Dr. Papadimou said. “We build people. The future is in our hands – let’s choose peace.”
The Rotarians were then treated to the poetry of Salome Agbaroji, the seventh National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. Outside of poetry, she focuses on promoting educational equity and literacy, advocating for the importance of the arts. She read her poem “Hope,” which includes this stanza:
HOPE is not the way that we cope,
But the way that we conquer.
So this year and beyond,
We aren’t crossing our fingers,
We’re crossing finish lines.
President Arezzo then brought onto the stage Olayinka “Yinka” Babalola, the 2026-2027 RI president, and Larry Lunsford, the 2027-2028 president.
Lunsford, of the Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza, said he believes in the power of education.
Yinka, of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi in Nigeria, introduced his family, including his wife, children and mother. He noted that his family has chosen service as a way of life.
“Rotary changed me,” Yinka said. “As a Rotarian helping people learn to read, I watched a woman write her name for the first time. Rotary is more than a service organization – it is a transformative experience.
“To create lasting impact (his theme for the coming year) we have to ask: What comes next? We are planting the seeds of transformation that will grow for generations.”
As President Arezzo brought the convention to a close, he told his fellow Rotarians that “the real test of the convention happens when you go home. You don’t just go to Rotary – you do Rotary every day.”
While at the International Convention, Rotarians have hundreds of breakout sessions to choose from. Watch for a description of some of those sessions in the July 16 issue of the Alpine Mountaineer.
0 Comments