Tuesday, May 31, 2011

2011 Rotary International District 9200 Conference



Rotarian Kim Lorenz is the lead person between Rotary International and World Vision . 
Rotarian Tim Murphy, Edina, MN, USA is speaking about the Rotary International/World Vision Project.

The third week of April (20th-23rd) I attended the Rotary District 9200 Conference in Kampala where Rotarians from 5 countries came together for fellowship; Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It is a District that is soon to be divided as it is very large. The Conference had so many great speakers. It was very educational and exciting to attend. But really, the best part was the fellowship dinners in the evening. They always had great music, amazing food and wonderful entertainment, and yes, lots of fun and laughter.
Betina is speaking in behalf of World Vision
 Members of World Vision staff and Rotarians from the United States, involved from the beginning of this great partnership, spoke at the conference. The Rotary Club of Gulu Uganda wanted to do a large water project to help facilitate displaced persons moving back to their villages. District 5950 and Edina Rotary Club donated money that was matched by Rotary International and then partnered with World Vision to bring almost $1 million to Northern Uganda for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Incoming President of the Gulu Rotary Club, Rotarian Gerald Obai, has been involved with the World Vision/Rotary project from the beginning. 
Rotarian Dr. Ben Abe helped bring Rotary and World Vision together for this great partnership.
I mingled with Rotarian friends I knew from Ethiopia, Uganda, and the United States. Yes! Even Rotarians I know from Seattle and Minnesota were there. Friends I knew from World Vision were also there. The whole event took place at the beautiful Speke Resort and Conference Center in Munyonyo on the shores of Lake Victoria, the 2nd largest fresh water lake and the main source of the Nile River.
Rotarian Tim Murphy from Minnesota, USA
The whole weekend was educational and inspiring. A lot of brilliant minds were brought together to focus on what Rotary International does best; changing lives and making the world a better place to live. I am so proud to be a Rotarian!
Rotarian Dr. Ben Abe, Me, and Mary Howard, who works for Rotary International, enjoy a meal together.