Around 2200 delegates will be in Blackpool for the annual conference of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland to be held at the Blackpool Opera House from April 11th – 13th, where the accent this year will be on youth. It is the largest annual gathering of members of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland.
The conference activities will be underlining one of the key principles of Rotary – that of Service Above Self and that Rotarians work to improve the quality of life for others. A keynote address will be given by Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson on Rotary programmes for literacy, water, health and poverty. Henrik Skovby of Dalberg will speak on Global Development Strategies.
An address from Gautam Lewis, a Rotary International Ambassador for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, will focus on polio eradication and his experience attending a National Immunisation Day in India in November. He will emphasise the need for Rotary Clubs to raise $100 million to match the recent donation for polio eradication from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The achievements of young people are being recognised by the Rotary Young Citizens Awards in association with BBC News 24. The awards ceremony presented by Laura Jones will recognise the achievements of five young people and will be broadcast live from the conference on Saturday morning. These awards celebrate the positive citizenship and vital responsibilities assumed by many young people in these islands.
New this year is the Ordinary Rotarians Doing Extraordinary Things Awards. Five awards will be presented in the following categories: Marketing and Membership; Innovative Projects; Working with Young People; Volunteering; Working with Other Organisations. Sir Nicholas Winton who has been a Rotarian for more than 40 years will be interviewed on stage by President Allan Jagger and given a special Rotary Award in recognition of the remarkable contribution to humanity made by Sir Nicholas.
President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland Allan Jagger said: "Rotarians work in many ways with young people on Rotary programmes, projects and initiatives to assist them in achieving their goals. We are very proud of the RotaryYoung Citizens Awards and our other competitions for youth including Young Musician, Rotary Young Chef, and Rotary Youth Speaks. The Rotary Youth Leadership awards afford an excellen topportunity for young people to develop and mature in an outward bound environment. The work of Rotary will be on display in the Rotary Road Show and we welcome visitors from Blackpool and beyond to visit the Road Show and learn more about Rotary. "
Rotary is an organisation of business and professional persons united world-wide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help to build goodwill and peace in the world.
01/04/08
