Recounting the RI Convention Experience in Singapore
Singapore is a remarkable experience—the city is very densely occupied by unique architecture sky scrapers. Singapore is rich, cosmopolitan, diverse and amazing. Singapore became an independent nation from Britain in 1965—so she is a young country, and very modern. Everything about this city/country puts other countries to shame in terms of efficiency, ease of transportation, cleanliness, signage, speed of service, friendly helpful staff, and rest rooms with HEATED toilet seats! Singapore Airline is rated # 1 in the world and the Singapore airport is rated in the top 3 airports in the world. Singapore is home to several of the best hotels in the world and Singapore has the largest concentration of wealthy people in the world. Singapore Is another world! But specific laws keep everyone behaving. Do not chew gum. Only catch a taxi at a taxi stand; you are required by law to flush the toilet! In five days, I only saw ONE piece of paper lying on the street. ORDER RULES the day!
But Rotarians were the best part. The Singapore Rotary clubs (6 clubs with over 800 members) put on a superb Convention—well organized and well managed. Many Singapore Rotary volunteers helped guide the 14,000 visiting Rotarians from place to place and answered endless questions. And the Rotary visitors! What a mélange! Every country, culture, language, religion, skin tone and favorite project that you could imagine was represented and they all had in common a commitment to building a better world with dedication to “service above self”. Did you know Rotary is involved in more countries than the United Nations is?
The projects on display in the House of Friendship ran the gamut of water, waste and welfare issues. From clean water as a basic human right to the WTO (World Toilet Organization) to the acknowledgement that “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
The endless ways in which the “Haves” can reach out and help the “Haven’t enough” were presented throughout the Convention.
There was significant emphasis on mental health issues which is a new focus for Rotary.
The eradication of Polio was a major theme, repeatedly frequently at the Convention because only Pakistan and Afghanistan remain. We’re close; the goal is achievable; perceivable and imperative. Bill Gates is providing “2 for 1” donation matches in a sustained effort to defeat this plague once and forever.
We Rotarians have much to be proud of from our past accomplishments. But we have much more to look forward to and the many opportunities to serve our world were clearly on display in the House of Friendship at the International Convention. Now is not the time to slow down but it is time to deepen our commitment and redouble our efforts to bring peace, better health and deeper understanding to very corner of our world. When you attend a Rotary International Convention, you really get to see “Rotary in Action” and you are able to realize that Rotary is a close-knit family of $1.4 million people working to make the world a better place.
Written by Susan ONeal
Submitted by June Oliver
Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar