District Rotary Conference
I have put a link here to a few pictures from last weekend´s Rotary Conference. I hope it works. I am trying to figure out how to share more pictures that I have in my Shutterfly account, but I don´t know yet. That may take a while.The District Conference wasn´t very big- about two hundred people were there. There were high school exchange student that introduced themselves as well as some professionals who have been in Chile through the Rotary cultural exchange program for the past month. There were a few presentations on Peace, Friendship, and Service (three of Rotary´s main principles) and a lot of breaks.
I found the presentation on Peace a little ambiguous and very conservative- the presenter (an ex-Ambassador) spoke mostly on globalization and very little about peace, except that it should me an aspect in our daily lives. He made a big deal about population and market growth, as well as over-production of goods, which indeed all are realities that we are being confronted with in the global community. However, he really made no suggestions concerning what it is that can be done in order to support peaceful efforts.
The presentation on Service was much more productive- the presenter was a representative from Hogar de Cristo, a large foundation in Chile which caters to several different types- under-privileged children, battered women and children, homeless men, etc. Within the next few weeks, all of of Scholars will probably visit one of the facilities and get more information on volunteering.
The upcoming Rotary District governor spoke to us as well- he shared his ideas to all present, the most interesting being his idea that women should have equal opportunities in Rotary- quite profound considering that Rotary only suggests (but does not have it written in the constitution) the membership of women. Even in Santiago, there are several clubs that do not allow women members.
All in all, it was a good experience. Although my host counselor wasn´t there, so I didn´t get to meet him. But hopefully some time soon...
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