Don't miss out on early-bird pricing
By Arnold R. Grahl
Rotary International News -- 24 March 2010
Rotarians who enjoyed interactive discussion groups at previous conventions will be excited to discover they're back in the form of idea exchanges during the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, 20-23 June.
The small facilitated discussions, available in various languages, are designed to allow Rotarians to share ideas and learn about projects from their peers in an informal setting.
Don't miss out on your opportunity for early-bird pricing by registering for the convention before 31 March. Register online through Member Access.
Keynote speakers at the convention will include Greg Mortenson, coauthor of the international bestseller Three Cups of Tea . Mortenson has helped 58,000 children -- three-fourths of them girls -- to receive education in 131 schools in war-torn Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Speakers also will include Dolly Parton, international music star and philanthropist; Jo Luck, former president and CEO of Heifer International; and Bob Mazzuca, chief scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Learn more .
Top-notch entertainment will include a performance by the world-famous Cirque du Soleil during the closing plenary session of the convention on Wednesday, 23 June; a chance to attend the graduation performance of the École nationale de cirque (National Circus School) during a Host Organization Committee event 19 June; and an award-winning musical adaptation of Les Misérables during one of the world's premier French-language music festivals 19 June. Read more.
Breakout sessions and idea exchanges will be held in the Palais des congrès de Montréal, a short walk or metro ride from the plenary sessions in the Centre Bell. ( Download a tentative schedule of breakout sessions. )
Idea exchanges
Idea exchanges, led by a facilitator, will be limited to about 75 people, giving attendees an opportunity to discuss a topic with fellow Rotarians who share a similar passion. The 30 exchanges will cover a variety of topics, including Three Cups of Tea , fundraising ideas for Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge, and suggestions for making Rotary fun, ensuring effective club administration, carrying out literacy projects, and more.
In the past, these smaller exchanges have created a dialogue that has continued long after the convention ends, says Ken Morgan, vice chair of the 2010 convention committee.
Workshops and panels will reflect the organization's priorities and offer a chance for Rotarians to hear expert presentations from their peers and Rotary leaders. The sessions, based on requests from Rotarians, will provide clubs and districts with a forum to talk about their projects, action groups with a chance to reach a larger audience, and RI committees with an opportunity to explain new programs, get feedback, and answer questions.
The sessions are extremely popular, so Rotarians should look over the schedule and have a second and third option in mind in case the session is full.
Highlights of this year's breakout sessions will include a two-part workshop for club presidents-elect and a two-part "mini peace symposium" that will feature several Rotary Peace Fellows and leaders of the Rotary Peace Centers program.
Other highlights will include a peace fellow and a former Ambassadorial Scholar talking about their vision for an AIDS-free generation and the Rotary Club of San Juan County East, New Mexico, USA, sharing its small but successful project Don't Meth with Us.
The workshops for club presidents-elect and updates on The Rotary Foundation, PolioPlus, and the Future Vision Plan will be available in English, French, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. Sessions on Reach Out to Africa, the RI Strategic Plan, and intercountry committees will be available in English and French.
For more information: