Excitement at the RI Convention Singapore:
If you ever get the chance to attend a Rotary International Conference GO! You won’t be disappointed.You will meet like-minded Rotarians from all over the world. You will hear top notch speakers on a variety of topics related to the key actions of Rotary. You will be inspired and forever changed as a Rotarian.
In June 2025, the RI Convention is hosted in Calgary, Canada!!
I and my Co-President Elect, June Mergl, had the opportunity to attend the Rotary International Convention in Singapore, in June, 2024. What an experience! It has given us ideas to consider as we begin our year as Co-Presidents of the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls, Canada.
PHOTO (L to R): June Mergl, Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Co-President 2024-2025; Jennifer Jones, Past-Rotary International President 2022-2023; and Donna Dalgleish, Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Co-President 2024-2025
- Donna Dalgleish
Prior to the convention, our current President, Robb McLeod, suggested to volunteer. I arrived in Singapore ahead of June and thought, heck why not volunteer. In May, I clicked the volunteer button on the RI Convention website and soon after I received an email. They congratulated me for being selected as a flag bearer at the opening ceremonies. At first I thought, “I wonder if I could do it?” It involved committing to a rehearsal the day before the convention and to participate in both opening ceremonies (AM and PM). It required a lot of walking and waving!! It turned out to be an amazing opportunity. I met so many people and got to wave the Canadian flag. How proud it felt as a Canadian to wave the flag in front of 18,000 Rotarians!
On a personal note, my father was a Rotarian in Napanee, a small town in eastern Ontario in the 1970s and 80s. Growing up as a child, I helped my Dad go door to door fundraising, by selling cans of peanuts. My Dad has since passed away. When I got up on the stage in Singapore, I couldn’t help but think that my Dad would be proud that I had the opportunity at a Rotary International Convention to be a Canadian flag bearer.
Below are a few photos:
We even go to meet up close Rotary International President Gordon McInally, 2023-2024
