RDU magazine online

FROM WHERE I SIT
by Bob Aitken
Managing Editor
Rotary Down Under

THERE’S STILL TIME TO PLAN TO
ATTEND CHICAGO CONVENTION!

Good news came from Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, U.S.A., during the month by way of an announcement that a large block of standard hotel rooms has become available during Convention Week from June 18 to 23.

These rooms are all located in “down town” Chicago hotels and are obviously rooms released by tour operators and groups that have not filled bookings.

This provides real encouragement for Rotarians still wavering about attending Rotary’s Centenary Convention in the McCormick Place Convention Centre.

There are plenty of rooms available in the medium Chicago price range from $US150 to $200, and most are located on the main R.I. Convention bus routes.

Rotarians may book their reservations on line now at www.rotary.org, or contact One-Stop Chicago today on
1-1800-282-2529.
Remember, the R.I. Convention Housing deadline is May 15, 2005!

••••• ••••• •••••

A RECORD NUMBER OF COUNTRIES
The Chicago Convention will be an exciting, colourful and entertaining event. R.I. Past Vice President and Chairman of the Chicago Promotion Committee, Lou Piconi, advised in early April that the number of countries already represented by registrations for the R.I. Convention was a record 156!

Total registrations have now topped 41,000 and R.I. President Glenn Estess is hoping to be able to announce representation from every one of Rotary’s 166 countries at the opening ceremony.

••••• ••••• •••••

DICK WHITE IS STILL WITH US!
Thankfully the obituary report of the passing of Dick White in the April, 2005, issue of The Rotarian magazine is incorrect. We’re not quite certain how such mistakes occur but District 9690 Past Governor Dick White, of the Rotary Club of Blacktown City, N.S.W., is still with us and enjoying good health.

NEWS BULLETIN

Artist Linda El-Mer adds the finishing touches to the Rotary tartan pole in Rotary Park, Maclean, under the watchful eye of Rotarian Rex Wiseman.

Another tartan for Maclean: The Rotary tartan now has pride of place on an electricity pole in Rotary Park, Maclean, N.S.W. Maclean is one of Australia’s foremost Scottish theme towns and a major tourist attraction is a collection of electricity poles painted in a variety of Scottish tartan colours. The Rotary tartan pole is now located in Rotary Park amidst a grove of trees planted by Rotary Youth Exchange students before leaving at the end of their year-long exchange. District 9640 Governor Margaret Hayes, of the Rotary Club of Kingscliff, N.S.W., was recently in Maclean to open the Rotary Centenary Helipad at Maclean Hospital and praised the concept of Rotary Park.

Rotary store to re-open: Good news for visitors to One Rotary Centre, Evanston, U.S.A. R.I. General Secretary Ed Futa has just announced that the Rotary store on the 16th floor of the Headquarters Building will re-open soon.

The store will be staffed by on-call staff from R.I. and The Rotary Foundation on a rotation system, and will stock a limited line of One Rotary Centre souvenirs.

Another successful Carer’s Camp: From Governor Michael McNamara in District 9670 comes news of another successful Young Carer Camp at Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre in February. The Rotary Club of Warners Bay combined resources with The Hunter Commonwealth Respite Centre and Carers N.S.W. to host 29 Young Carers, including children from isolated country areas and special needs groups. Young Carers are defined as young people involved in the ongoing care of a sibling, parent or close family member with a disability or long-term illness and the camp provides these people with the opportunity to have fun in a safe environment for some days free of all caring responsibilities.

Twin Paul Harris Fellows: The Rotary Club of Parkes, N.S.W., is the latest club to claim a world first as a result of Centenary celebrations! On February 25, to mark the conclusion of Rotary’s 100th birthday week, the club held a number of special celebrations, including a community breakfast in Cooke Park in the centre of town, a Civic Reception in conjunction with Parkes Shire Council and Mayor Robert Wilson, and a celebratory dinner attended by 150 Rotarians and guests in the Parkes Services Club.