UN ambassador meets with Canadian Rotarians

Above: Past RI President Wilf Wilkinson (third from left), Past District Governor Doug Vincent (second from right), and Rotaractors from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, at a special forum for Canadians attending Rotary-UN Day. 

Canadian Rotarians received encouragement to keep up the good work during a special meeting at the Canadian Mission in New York, one day before Rotary's big gathering at the United Nations.

Henri-Paul Normandin, Canada's ambassador to the UN, convened the special forum on 7 November for 125 Canadian Rotarians and Rotaractors, who were in New York to attend Rotary Day at the UN. Normandin encouraged them to build awareness on world issues both in Canada and abroad.

Normandin was joined by Past RI President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, of Ontario, Canada, and Douglas Vincent, past governor of District 7080 (Canada).

Emphasizing the importance of individual action, Normandin called on the Rotarians to continue their projects focusing on literacy, water, health, and poverty. He urged them to exercise "the power of one."

"I already know of the great work that Rotary does in support of our UN Millennium Development Goals, and we continue to need your network of precious resources, to make a difference," he said.

Normandin asked attendees to stay informed and to press their government to keep its promises concerning international development.

"Government representatives do pay attention to public opinion," he said.

Vincent said Rotarians can be proud of the image Rotary has with senior UN leaders, noting, "They see us as people who can get things done."