A very modern Conference centre in the suburbs of Bangkok was the venue for the 103rd R.I. Convention where some 35,000 Rotarians and their partners from all over the world enjoyed fellowship and inspiration, among them a number from our District. Five Workington Club members, President John Mather, AG Alan Hoggarth, PP John Head, Secretary Rod Earlston and PP Ken K irkwood, were joined by Accrington PP Roger Brunt and PDG Ron Bailey from Carlisle South, each with their partners.
The party travelled via the Greentown club in Ipoh, Malaysia, to continue the friendship which started with the visit of the 2009 GSE team to our district. The visit to Ipoh was marked by the planting of a tree in a local park by the two club presidents, and great fellowship was enjoyed by the party during the four days they were there.
The party moved on to Bangkok together with a number from the Greentown club, staying in the centre of the city, some ten miles from the Convention Centre, which necessitated long bus journeys through the Bangkok traffic morning and evening.
The opening session , on Sunday, took place in two seatings as the vast hall was not able to accommodate all the attendees, when a speech of welcome was given by one of the daughters of the Thai King, whose family is revered here. She was followed by a Thai cultural Dance programme, and speeches of welcome by the chairman and the R.I. President Kalyan Banerjee. But the undoubted highlight of the session was the Flag Ceremony, where each of the national flags of all the countries of the world who host Rotary clubs were brought into the arena, some 203, finishing with the three new countries who have joined the Rotary family in the past year.
The event finished with a performance by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.
One of the better parts of Conventions is the House of Friendship, which gives attendees the opportunity to meet delegates from all over the world, to visit the multitude of project stands showing there, and to hear and indeed take part in the entertainment that is on offer in the huge hall. Local Thai entertainers were alternated with entertainment from all over the world, Jazz bands, drummers, Thai boxers, Romanion dancers and Rock bands were just some of the entertainment offered all day and every day in the vast room, together with opportunities to see the Thai culture and dress. Many R.I. accredited vendors were also present, allowing us to purchase Rotary branded goods such as scarves, ties, shirts, pins and many other items.
Each plenary session was preceded by entertainment, Indian Dance Troupes, Piano Trios, Thai Yoga Boys, Bulgarian Tenors to name but a few, and all the sessions included inspirational addresses from people such as Angelique Kido, from Unicef, Dr Mohammed Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Rotary Peace Fellows, and Dr Bruce Aylward, Asst Director General for Polio, WHO. In addition many break-out sessions took place over three days with titles such as Literacy, Education and the Future Of Humanity, Revitalising Rotary’s Impact, and Peace and Prosperity through Microcredit. It was impossible to attend all the sessions, so each of us chose those which interested us.
On the downside, the main plenary sessions were held in a hall so vast that it was impossible to see the speakers directly , having to rely on the huge TV screens that were dotted about the room. The sound system was excellent, so there was no problem in that way. The transport system, with so many people to move at the close of sessions, was under a great deal of pressure, but improved as the days went on.
On the other hand the registration was painless, and providing one wore one’s badge there was no problem moving from venue to venue. The House Of Friendship was well organised, and the availability of food of all kinds was excellent.
After the close of business on the Wednesday the 1190 party took off up country to Chiang Mai for a holiday, followed by a few days in Penang, Malaysia,
before travelling home.
No comments:
Post a Comment