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Although I've gone to many conventions (15 and counting), my best was probably my first!!!I was an Incoming President and had an invitation to attend a 'President's only luncheon'. Sitting right next to me was a "PRIP" (Past Rotary International President), and it was none other than Frank Devlyn. If you happen to have known Frank, you know also that he'd talk 'till the cows come home', but only this time he did the listening and I was so awe struck that I must have 'blabbered' the entire luncheon. There was never a dull moment with the 'late' Frank, he had soooo many stories!! And too, what about his book "Frank Talk" among his others? Frank always carried a pocket full of business cards and would give one to you even if he had just seen you 30 minutes ago. So once I asked him, why did he gave out so many cards? His reaction was ''Why not, I want you to remember who I am"!! That's just how Frank Devlyn, the Amigo was.
Each year 'The Amigo' would would have an Amigo Cruise and if you were lucky enough to get a ticket (I was always lucky) you would meet up with friends from the past. Frank always wanted the 'Amigo 
Rotarians' to have a great time and he would wander throughout the boat, or restaurant shaking hands and meeting up with old friends, fortunately I was one of them.
Rotarians' to have a great time and he would wander throughout the boat, or restaurant shaking hands and meeting up with old friends, fortunately I was one of them.The year my son, Keith, was Incoming President, I asked Frank to install him. He tried to rearrange his schedule to do it but a conflict with Mexico's Optical Association caused the dates to conflict and he was the Chairman so the occasion wasn't realized. Frank would also give out eyeglass wipes as part of his family's business.
I was at the Rotary UN Day at the United Nations and he grabbed me and ask, "Haven't we met before"? This guy has a memory like no one I've ever known.
There's no other place I'd rather be than at a Rotary International Convention. You meet up with friends from the past, hear outstanding presenters, wander through the 'House of Friendship' and reconnect with folks from the past.
Like last year in Houston: I'm coming down the escalator and hear a Rotarian call out my name, "Hey, Bob Artis!". It happened to be PDG Osay (as in the American National Anthem) from Chicago who I had met a few years earlier (I think in Atlanta). But just before Osay called to me, I had offered to assist a female Rotarian from Nigeria with her baggage. Wouldn't you know she and her husband were with Osay and had been guests in his home in Chicago before coming to the convention. What a cool thing uh? To be 'called out' by someone that you haven't seen in years and reconnect.
Oh well, enough of my 'blabbering' about RI Conventions. "Imagine" what would happen if you attended your first or perhaps one of many. Try it, you might enjoy it! Oh yeah talk about presenters, last year in Houston one of the topics was Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The presenter was an incredible person who 'knocked it out of the park. Those who were there may remember the individual who was severely handicapped and told a story about being rejected in a training camp because of it. In spite of the handicap status he, him, his was successful in completing the training and graduated number 1 in the class."
Look for another spotlight on the convention from Sandi Chard and Tommy Wegge in March newsletter and for more about Australia 2023 click here - https://rotarymelbourne2023.org/