may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the ... · i had visited lothal in punjab, ... in...
TRANSCRIPT
“Whatever Rotary may mean to us,
to the world it will be known by the results it
achieves.”
— Paul P. Harris
For more than 110 years, Rotary members have been addressing
challenges around the world.
Grassroots at the core, Rotary links 1.2 million members to form an organization of international scope. It started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities.
Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members.
OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT
Rotary members have not only been present for major events in
history — we’ve also been a part of them. Three key traits have remained strong throughout our history:
We’re truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Today, members in nearly every country work to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems.
We persevere in tough times. During World War II, Rotary clubs in Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain were forced to disband. Despite the risks, many continued to meet informally, and after the war, Rotary members came together to rebuild their clubs and their countries.
We’re committed to service, and we’re not afraid to dream big and set bold goals. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only three countries — down from 125 in 1988.
Madhumita Bishnu E-club of Melbourne, D9800
Dear ROTIan Friends I had one visiting Rotarian from California, USA, visiting me for three weeks for our club project in a tribal area in West Bengal state and we toured the Harappa sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation which was a great learning for both of us. I had studied in history on the Indus Valley Civilisation and paying a visit as a tourist was phenomenal. I had visited Lothal in Punjab, a Harappan port town in 1400BC, and then visited Dholavira which had a citadel, castle, wells, and reservoir. It was a great experience, I must say. I invite all our friends to visit the Harappan town of Indus Valley civilisation in West and North India. At the moment, I have a Rotarian from Kansas City visiting me for projects done jointly with our clubs. Friends, thank you to those who ‘logged in’, updated their membership details, or checked in theirs. For those who haven’t yet, I urge them to please ‘log in’. Thank you. Please register for our ROTI party on Sunday, June 24, 2018, and please contact our ROTI Coordinator Tom Telfer for our stay at the “ROTI Hotel”. We all need to be together for sure. We have a meeting room on June 25, 2018, between 12:30-2:00pm for our Fellowship meeting and I would request and appreciate all members to be present. Yours in ROTI Madu Bishnu Chair 2017-19
By d’Arcy Lunn, 2016-18 Rotary Peace Fellow, International Christian University, Tokyo
Take visiting 15 countries over five months, then add in any number of training events, an internship,
research, attending conferences and events, and meeting two Nobel Peace Laureates, and you get an
amazing formula for gaining skills in peace building. The final and most important result of this equation,
though, will be what I eventually do with it all. I have some ideas about that.
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is a wonderful opportunity to earn a Master’s in Peace Studies at an esteemed
university. With it comes an Applied Field Experience (AFE) where Fellows spend time almost anywhere in
the world learning about peace with practitioners, academics, and others associated with peace in various
ways.
The variety of Peace Fellows is as diverse as the applied field experience opportunities. In my class there
was a Fellow from Bangladesh pursuing his field experience in Geneva, a Fellow from Sierra Leone and
Gambia in Nigeria, from Argentina in Bolivia, Australia in Israel, and from the United Kingdom in Tanzania
and Thailand.
I am originally from Australia, but have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel for the better
part of the last 17 years. So I used the five-month applied field experience to see and experience as much
as possible during a round-the-world trip that
began in Japan and included North America,
Europe, West Africa, the Middle East, and
Southeast Asia.
During my field experience, my focus shifted from
researching the way people perceive peace in
different contexts (conflict, non-conflict, and post-
conflict) to engaging in dialogues for reconciliation
during an internship with Search for Common
Ground in Liberia. I also took part in conferences
centered on engaging youth in peace and
educating people about peace.
I was not the most comfortable in the traditional
classroom setting but out in the field my
understanding flourished alongside highly
engaging and effective educators, practitioners,
and ambassadors for peace. The opportunity still
seems like a dream.
With peace makers from around the world at the International Institute on Peace Education conference in Innsbruck, Austria
Teaspoons of peace that will
last a lifetime
d’Arcy,
left, with
Nobel
Peace
Laureate
Leymah
Gbowee
and former
Rotary
Peace
Fellow
Wisdom
Addo at a
Peace Jam
event in
Liberia.
A few of the very many highlights include:
Taking part in two conferences in the mountains of
Switzerland, one on preventing violent extremism
and the other on the inclusion of children in decision
making and peace processes at the Caux Peace
Forum
Learning and growing as a proponent of peace with
a dynamic and enriching network of 100 peace
educators in Austria
Receiving over 250 responses from dozens of
countries around the world to my online survey
about people’s perceptions on the culture of peace.
Interviewing over 10 inspirational peace
professionals and practitioners on their theories of
change
Supporting a program to establish community
dialogue for reconciliation in Liberia on converting
the temporary peace following their civil unrest to
long-term peace and prosperity
Working with Rotarians in Jordan to connect UNICEF,
WHO, and Rotary with a school for polio eradication
advocacy and engagement in proactive peace
A few unexpected opportunities also came up as part of
my field experience:
Being an observer for the first round of elections in
Liberia, a fascinating and hands-on look at their
democracy leading up to, during, and after the
election
Meeting two Nobel Peace Laureates, Leymah
Gbowee from Liberia and Jose Ramos Horta from
Timor Leste, and hearing their stories of courage
and advocating for peace. They have become role
models to me.
Taking part in two workshops at a youth peace
conference in Liberia and Singapore with PeaceJam,
bringing together local youth and Nobel Peace
Laureates
I’m humbled and grateful, and come out of this
experience with a high resolve to make peace an active
and important component of my life and future. I hope
to polish and refine all the small lessons and insights I
have learned to create Teaspoons of Peace – small but
significant choices, decisions, and actions creating more
peace in the world.
I couldn’t have imagined a better opportunity than my
applied field experience to engage, learn, and grow in
my understanding and practice of peace. Thank you
Rotary.
Source: Rotary International Blog
WHAT’S NEW Donors can now join the Bequest Society
online at rotary.org/legacy. Read stories of
real donors and the impact of their gifts and
download the new Your Legacy, Rotary’s
Promise brochure for an overview of
Rotary’s Endowment. These and other
resources to help you raise awareness of the
Endowment are available in the Club and
District Legacy Toolkit at rotary.org/legacy.
You can order printed copies from
shop.rotary.org.
Rotary has entered into a new partnership
with the Institute for Economics and Peace, a
global think tank that pioneered a
conceptual framework it calls “Positive
Peace”. Positive Peace improves peace and
conflict-resolution efforts with the data-
driven methods and tools. This partnership
allows both organizations to work together
to create an online learning platform using
webinars and interactive tools. These will
teach Rotary members and Rotary Peace
Fellows to apply new peacebuilding methods
to their communities while addressing
underlying causes of conflicts. LEARN MORE
WHAT’S NEXT FEBRUARY
Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
10 Presidential Peacebuilding Conference:
Environmental Sustainability and
Peace, Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada
16-18 Presidential Peacebuilding
Conference: Water and Sanitation and
Peace, Beirut, Lebanon
23 Rotary’s Anniversary
24 Presidential Peacebuilding Conference:
Disease Prevention and Treatment and
Peace, Coventry, England, United
Kingdom
Source: Rotary Leader
Danny Garcia, E-Club of District 7210 I first started walking back in 1996. I had gone through a divorce. I was so broken that I didn’t feel I had any life. I had this idea that I could walk for peace, and I think I was also looking for some kind of inner peace. I took off from San Francisco, headed toward San Diego. That first day I walked 30 miles in the pouring rain. I was soaking wet and only had $48 in my pocket. No credit cards. No nothing. I came to a hotel in Half Moon Bay, and the manager was wondering what I was doing. I told him, “Well, I need a room, but I don’t have any money.” But he said, “Hey, it’s OK. You can stay here as long as you need to.” That act of kindness really launched my 20 years of walking. Then a friend of mine called the Marines, because I’m a former Marine, and they said, “Don’t go anywhere. We’re coming.” And three Humvees ended up being my escort vehicles. I spent three months walking across the United States. The media picked up on the story, and I got a lot of support. I’ve now done walks on six continents. What has kept me going is the love and support of the people I’ve met. That’s how I got involved with Rotary, because we’re really doing the same work, pushing to help those in need, pushing for charity and kindness and cultural exchange. Rotarians are special people. They’re like a giant family. And they don’t just talk, they do. That’s what I love about them. And I need the support, because it can be dangerous out there. I’ve been clipped by cars. The backblast from semitrailers can literally knock you off the side of the road. I’ve encountered mudslides and sandstorms and lightning and rattlesnakes. I remember walking
in a remote area in Florida, and I looked up and saw a tornado coming straight at me. Things were being tossed up in the air. I had to run for my life. Another time, I saw a pack of wild dogs coming at me. I didn’t have time to get to my escort vehicle, and you can’t assume a position of fear anyway. So I took my walking stick and I faced them down. I’ve walked in all kinds of weather. I once walked in snow up to my knees. I was wearing my pack and I fell on my face, and the pack was weighing me down. And I’ll tell you, I wanted to quit. But I didn’t quit, because I heard this voice inside me that said, “Get up and walk.” And then off in the distance I saw a French Red Cross vehicle coming to be my escort. Those are the moments that I know this is a calling for me. I’m 72 years old now, and I thought my walking days were pretty much over. I was living in Florida, trying to downsize and retire and enjoy the sun. But when I asked what I was supposed to do with my life now, I knew the answer: I had to start walking again. I’m in Jerusalem now. I don’t know where exactly I’ll go from here. The way I travel is that I take one step at a time. But I do know this part of the world is in need of peace. I don’t know what’s next. Actually, I do have one idea. I haven’t told anyone else, but I’d really love to go to the Vatican, and I’d like to ask the pope to walk with me. Just a short walk, even, where we can talk and pray together. Does that sound crazy? Maybe so. But I’ve seen a lot of miracles out here.
As told to Steve Almond
With the title United Nations and Sustainable Development, Rotary and UNESCO Making a Difference,
our event will focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provide Rotary International with a great
opportunity to promote its identity and image.
If Rotary service can contribute to a better world through its vision, values, and actions, we must constantly
strive to answer the world’s needs as Paul Harris and its friends set out to do when they founded Rotary.
An opportunity to celebrate the close relationship Rotary and UNESCO have enjoyed since 1945.
Today, investing in the world we want means contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals.
Because these goals are also ours:
Protecting the planet
its natural resources – a safe environment – dealing with the consequences of climate change
Ensuring a dignified life
with economic and community development – health for all – fighting poverty
Building a peaceful society
through education – a dialogue between cultures – equality between men and women – peace and
meeting youth’s expectations.
RI President Ian Riseley and the UNESCO Representative will share their organization’s vision for this
essential commitment to humankind.
The partnership between the public sector (governments, institutions) and the private sector (civil society) will
be emphasized because it is the most efficient way to fund and manage operations, as the polio initiative can
testify (WHO, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, Rotary, and Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation).
Moreover, ideas and proposals will be included in a statement.
Simultaneous interpretation in French and English will be provided by UNESCO’s services and for lunch
UNESCO’s restaurant, with a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower, will be able to accommodate 220
participants.
by John Borst, PP, Rotary Club of Dryden, ON
If we think it is tough recruiting new members now, what will it be like in a rapidly approaching World without work? We have all read about the development of driverless cars. The idea is exotic, exciting, entertaining and enticing us to imagine how we might be freed to use our time more constructively while getting from one place to another. But apply it to trucks or taxi cabs, and it becomes a world of the unemployed or even unemployable. Perhaps the most under-reported story of 2017, is the advances in
Artifical Intelligence or Deep Learning which has occurred in the past year. In a recent column, Globe and Mail columnist, Margaret Wente wrote: This year, a computer program called AlphaZero (developed by a company owned by Google) was instructed to teach itself to play chess. It learned in just four hours. After 24 hours of playing against itself, it was able to vaporise not just every human player, but also the reigning world computer chess program. It made moves so otherworldly that no mere mortal could fathom them. “AlphaZero had done more than just master the game; it had attained new heights in ways considered inconceivable,” ChessBase said. A recent CBC radio program described how a computer “algorithm” after listening to a wide selection of classical compositions by famous composers can now write new pieces which humans associate with the very pentacle of the best Classics in history. As an aside this week my 12-year-old grandson took his Christmas gift money and purchased a copy of FL Studio, formerly known as Fruity Loops with which he can create full “beat” compositions. In another example of AI wizardry, Star Wars: The Last Jedi has two characters who are not real. Shortly, it will be possible to create movies with the images and voices of real actors in which they are not there. How about one starring Marilyn Monroe and James Dean? Already AI is used to write newspaper reports in the sports pages of newspapers. Journalist’s beware! Wente reports that “Analysts at McKinsey & Co. estimate that currently demonstrated technologies “could automate 45 percent of the activities people are paid to perform.” AI combined with advances in Robotics is on the threshold of replacing chefs, and surgeons. It is no longer difficult to imagine a robotic criminal attorney arguing with a robotic crown attorney over some arcane point in law.
All of this has lead Yuval Noah Harari a lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and author of Sapiens: A Brief
History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow to posit a world in which the majority of citizens in a
new social class he terms “the useless class.” That is, “people who are not just unemployed, but unemployable”. Now listen to this brief clip from Harari: Does this mean that the pool of members from which Rotary may recruit will continuously shrink in size over the coming decades? Or contrarily, will it be an opportunity to grow with the ever-increasing number of useless class participants who have the time and skills to do voluntary work and more importantly fund-raising? Harari says in the clip above that governments will have no incentive to placate the masses of the “useless” except perhaps to keep them docile with some “universal basic income.” Given humankind’s penchant for separating the classes, I am pessimistic that they would be useful as Rotary members as they would have no “In” to the wealthy elite of “virtue-world designers” with real giving power. I suspect that we already live in this seemingly dystopic environment and it partly explains why Rotary is loosing rather than gaining members in the most economically advantaged and technologically sophisticated nations. The implications of AI, Deep Learning algorithms, and robotics go way beyond simple membership recruitment questions. It will cause us to re-evaluate the very heart of why Rotary as a service organisation should continue to exist and its purpose for doing so.
The Future of Rotary in a World without Work
Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie is celebrating its 100th birthday with a big gift
The Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie is 100 years old! We want to say "thank you" to the
community that has supported us for a century.
Birthdays are a time for gifts – in this case a $100,000 gift. We are looking for local charities, groups,
individuals, and causes that have unique needs or innovative projects that would benefit from a donation
of up to $5,000 from our “Rotary Gives 100” program.
To be eligible, the donation should be sufficient to fully complete the project and projects must be
completed by the end of 2018. The full list of eligibility criteria and application form are available on
the Rotary Gives 100 website. Applications with an emphasis on youth will receive priority.
Applications will be accepted up to Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 at 5 p.m. A panel of judges will review
applications for support and make funding selections based on merit, including the uniqueness of
projects, activities and ideas described. Applications with an emphasis on youth will receive priority.
“Our members are excited to both celebrate with, and show appreciation for, our community,” shared
Brent Lewis, Club President, “Sault Ste. Marie has supported Rotarians in their efforts to promote Rotary
International’s guiding principles of ‘Service above Self’ since 1918.”
For 100 years, the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie has fostered service, leadership, and good works in our
community. Founded in 1918, our mandate to support children with physical disabilities has been the
heart behind the hard work of hundreds of Rotarians spanning generations.
We invest in the Sault’s youth through Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Science Fair Algoma, Rotary Sports
Awards Dinner, scholarships, local projects such as the Rotary Adventure Playground, and partnerships
with Easter Seals Ontario
and THRIVE. Every year, we
enjoy hosting tens of
thousands of people at our
community-building events,
including Rotaryfest, The
Sault’s Summer Festival!
It is only because of
dedicated Rotarians,
tireless volunteers, and our
extremely generous
community that the Rotary
Club of Sault Ste. Marie has
had the privilege to give
back millions of dollars and
touch countless lives.
Thank you for being part of
our first 100 years of
service. Stock image
Feb 1, 2018 3:30 PM by: SooToday Staff , via Being Rotarian
It’s simple maths. We are chopping down about 15 billion trees a year and planting about 9 billion. So there’s a net loss of 6 billion trees a year. Hand planting trees is slow and expensive. To keep pace with the tractors and bulldozers clearing vast areas of land, we need an industrial-scale solution. For example, a drone that can plant up to 100,000 trees a day. BioCarbon Engineering, a UK-based company backed by drone manufacturer Parrot, has come up with a method of planting trees quickly and cheaply. Not only that, trees can also be planted in areas that are difficult to access or otherwise unviable. Planting by drone First a drone scans the topography to create a 3D map. Then the most efficient planting pattern for that area is calculated using algorithms. A drone loaded with germinated seeds fires pods into the ground at a rate of one per second, or about 100,000 a day. Scale this up and 60 drone teams could plant 1 billion trees a year. The system’s engineers estimate that their method is about 10 times faster and only 20% of the cost of hand planting. And because there is no heavy machinery involved, it’s possible to plant in hard-to-reach areas that have no roads or steep, inaccessible terrain.The BioCarbon team has tested its technology in various locations and recently trialled reseeding historic mining sites in Dungog, Australia. Elsewhere, a similar idea is being used by Oregon start-up DroneSeed, which is attempting to create a new era of “precision forestry” with the use of drones to plant trees as well as spray fertilizer and herbicides. Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers for deforestation, with vast swathes of forest cleared to make way for the cultivation of crops including soy, palm oil and cocoa, as well as for beef farming. At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos this year, Norway announced a $400 million fund to kick-start investments in deforestation-free agriculture in countries that are working to reduce their forest and peat degradation. It is estimated that the world loses between 74,000 and 95,000 square miles of forest a year – that’s an area the size of 48 football fields lost every minute.
Written by Charlotte Edmond, Formative Content
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.
Deforestation remains a huge problem, but drones could help solve that.
Image: REUTERS/Feisal Omar
The spoon tastes like a cracker and its manufacturer hopes to expand into forks and chopsticks. Plastic waste covers our oceans and landfill. The past 70 years of plastic waste have resulted in pollution so ubiquitous scientists say it’s a marker of a new geological epoch, the manmade Anthropocene. Plastic cutlery is a contributor to this enormous problem – estimates suggest the US alone uses 40bn plastic utensils a year – but the founder of Indian cutlery company Bakeys thinks he might have a solution. Cutlery you can eat. The vegan friendly spoons are made from rice, wheat and sorghum, an ancient grain originally from Africa. Sorghum was chosen as a primary ingredient for its tough quality (it doesn’t go soggy in liquids) and because it is suitable for cultivation in semi-arid areas. The cutlery comes in three flavours – savoury (salt and cumin), sweet (sugar) and plain. “It tastes like a cracker, a dry cracker because we don’t put any fat in it. It can complement any food. The taste of the food gets into the spoon,” says company founder Narayana Peesapaty. Bakeys’ crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter had a goal of $20,000 (£14,000) but has already raised 12 times that. A parallel campaign on Indian platform Kettohas exceeded its 100,000 rupee (£1,050) goal 24 times over. Peesapaty says he has had emails pouring in from around the world. “It is so simple and it is this simplicity that has caught the attention of most people,” he says. With a background in forest management, Peesapaty previously worked at the International
Water Management Institute’s crop research centre and says he wanted to use a raw material that won’t put much pressure on water resources. Even if the spoons are dumped after use, they decompose in a few days, according to the company. Bakeys says this makes its product more environmentally friendly than biodegradable plastic utensils made from corn plastic, which need to be subjected to high heat in specialised composting facilities to break down. The spoons are packaged in paper bags and shipped using styrofoam to prevent breakage. Peesapaty acknowledges this is the least sustainable part of the operation and is looking for alternatives. Although the edible cutlery has only just found a following – a recent Facebook video with Peesapaty has had more than 5m views – Bakeys has been making spoons at its factory in Hyderabad, India, since 2011, where it employs nine women. It sells 1.5m spoons per year to catering companies serving food at weddings and other events, but Peesapaty hopes take-up among food vendors will grow. There are challenges. While Peesapaty hopes to expand Bakeys’ offering to edible chopsticks and forks, edible knives are out as moisture blunts them. The biggest hurdle is probably cost. Bakeys can sell an edible spoon for 2 rupees (2p), cheaper than the wooden equivalent but twice the price of a plastic spoon. Peesapaty’s goal is to get the cost of a spoon down to 1.5 or 1 rupees. He hopes to do this by sourcing crops directly from farmers and building an economy of scale by adding new production lines
with the investment raised online.
Even if the spoons aren’t eaten, once used, they can decompose in a few days.
Photograph: Bakeys Source: The Guardian
I imagine that if you are in this group and still in Rotary, that the answer to that question is going to be yes. So can you mention one or two reasons why Rotary has made your life better or richer? (I don't mean money) And contrarily, what is the worst part of our organization, in your opinion? For me, the best part has been the wonderful people I've met. The opportunity for acquaintance. And to be able to work on a cause that is important to me, like wildlife conservation in our RAGES RAG, and others in the past 24 years. The worst part has been "politics", in the club and district, and even here in our on-line groups. I've seen so many good people getting badly hurt, and either suffering from it or leaving Rotary altogether. How do you deal with nasty "politics" in Rotary? Any suggestions? Have you had incidents yourself? Just a few thoughts going through my head at this late hour. Best wishes, Philip Merritt RC Mabalacat Clark D3790 Pampanga, Philippines
***
Aloha Philip, I look at Rotary to be like life itself. With the many goods, come the bad. About six years ago, I seriously contemplated resigning from Rotary because of the politics and how too many Rotarians recited the Rotary 4 Way Test at every meeting and blatantly violated every test. I was already developing the wording and phrases for my letter of resignation to the club
president. I wasn’t planning to include my reasons for resigning; just a boiler-plate letter of resignation. As I formed my thoughts for this letter, I saw the latest issue of the Rotarian magazine sitting on the stand that held all my periodicals. Because Rotary was on my mind, I reached for it and started to read every article, some that I read earlier. It took me a bit over an hour to finish the magazine, and I realized that what Rotary does is far above all the politics that go on in our club and district. I disappointingly surmised, that Rotarians, who inject their politics into Rotary matters, will use politics in everything they do. For self, family, profession and community, politics is the only way they think things get done. I also surmised that I wouldn’t be able to change this, and that I had to keep embracing my values and beliefs and keep helping the people in our communities. I don’t look down on motivated Rotarians. I just keep hoping that they will remove their political methods in Rotary. I did not expect Rotary to make my life better and “richer.” I have been a volunteer for various organizations from the age of 12. Rotary and other organizations have made my life meaningful and fulfilling. Alan Okinaka RC of Hilo Bay Hilo, Hawaii USA District 5000
***
Rotary has made my life better because it has enabled my one voice to become many voices. I can only do so much as one person, but when I band together
with other Rotarians, both local and worldwide, I can make a true difference. And Rotary has made me richer by increasing my knowledge-base. When we have different speakers and programs, I learn something each time. And going to Rotary events like PETS and district conferences widen my circle of friends and contacts which, in turn, add to my knowledge and my life in general. As far as a worst part, I'm not sure at this point being a relatively "new" Rotarian of only 8.5 years that I have experienced any worst part. We've not had much "politics" in our local club as we point out at the beginning of membership that we don't play that game. We've had a couple of actual political "aspirees" who have joined before a local election and then afterwards dropped out, so it seemed very obvious they just joined us to put Rotary on their resume. But other than that literal translation, we haven't seen much "politics" within our club. I have not seen it play out at the district level either. It seems everyone on our district team have the best interests of Rotary at heart and we all follow the Four Way Test. I even follow that Four Way Test in my everyday life as it applies to situations outside Rotary. If we can all keep the Four Way Test at the forefront, then everything else should fall into place and we shouldn't have the issues like you are describing. Melissa Earnest RC Princeton, Kentucky
*** Hi Alan and all, A long time ago when I was Assistant Governor, our District Governor Tony Angeles called me
Has Rotary
made your life
better? Or?
Have
your say
and asked if I would drop by his office. When I arrived there was none other than PRIP M.A.T. Caparas (the only RI President from the Philippines) sitting on the couch. DG Tony said he had to run an errand and asked if I could stay with M.A.T. for a while. I was happy to oblige and was able to spend around 30-45 minutes in a one on one chat with a very fine man. And the topic we discussed, for the most part, was "politics in Rotary". What you wrote Alan reminded me of what M.A.T told me. That Rotary is bigger than petty politics and that you just have to ignore it as much as possible and work towards the greater good. I can't remember his exact words so I'm trying to express the essence. I was a relatively new Rotarian (4 years) at the time (like Melissa) and I had never experienced politics in my home club or even in my entire personal or professional life. So I was distressed to see the infighting at the district level, especially among PDGs. I've come to the conclusion that the higher you rise in Rotary, the more likely you will encounter politics. Later on our home club (not my current club) experienced severe political infighting with two different factions meeting in different places each week. Our club was nearly destroyed. In the following years I backed away from Rotary as I just didn't want to be a part of that (and other reasons). I also stopped posting/participating in ROTI for similar reasons. I wish there were conflict resolution groups in place to handle situations like that. But possibly it's an incurable disease? I've been fortunate to be in some Rotary groups that have almost zero politics, like our Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species, that John Glassford and I formed many years ago after a discussion in ROTI. John has done a wonderful job as charter chairman of RAGES. Best wishes, Philip Merritt RC Mabalacat Clark D3790 Pampanga, Philippines
Philip, all Rotary has definitely made my life better so I’ve stayed since 1984. The best has been feeling the self satisfaction from helping others through both club sponsored service projects like cooking meals for families with sick kids at Ronald Mc Donald House by All Children’s Hospital and also though RI sponsored global projects like the eradication of polio which started around 1985. The worst for me is the political and religious biases affecting club, district, and RI policies. We don’t always practice what we say in the Four-Way-Test and our published core principles and ethics. This has never been more clear to me than in the last year with President Trump and the divisive political divides that have evolved and currently have the US Government shut down with no real effort yet to negotiate resolution as parties seem bent on focusing all energy on blaming others. Don Higgins
*** Hey Don, I thought your mentioning of Trump's name might cause some sparks to fly. Ha. But no reaction so far. It made me think about the old days and the tumultuous flame wars that we had back then. Possibly we have all mellowed out much more than before? And we no longer have our peacemaker Mingo to extinguish the flames. :-) Best, Philip Merritt
*** Even with 3000 miles of salt water between the US and the UK, we don't feel entirely safe! A recent TV programme concluded that most Brits are watching and listening with amusement, bemusement and shock at the barrage of tweets, promises and denials that emanate from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Toodle-pip Peter Sotheran
Philllllllllip, Yes, certainly Rotary has made my life better. Having Rotary friends in dozens of countries has widened my world view, helping me to understand how people look at the world in different ways than a typical American might. I joined Rotary in 1981, joining a club that met for lunch and that was nearly all they did. Nice folks enjoying some fellowship over a meal. They did host a Rotary Youth Exchange student inbound one year and outbound the next, which is an incredible feat for most clubs. But, they also complained about it all year long, except for a week or two after the students would come in and tell us how this year abroad had changed their lives. Nearly 20 years ago an incoming district governor asked me to be his district foundation chairman. Part of the job was to write two Matching Grants to fund 3,000 cataract surgeries. He had a concept that since we had 3,000 Rotarians in our district, he could encourage our Rotarians to start giving to the Rotary Foundation in a stronger fashion by showing pictures of the people whose lives we were changing. Our district had been about $40 per member in support of the Annual Fund, while the goal had already been $100 for some time. His efforts raised us to nearly $90 per Rotarian and we continued to plug away using similar efforts. We continued cataract surgeries until we had funded over 27,000 of them in several countries.. We also funded water projects in over a dozen countries, school improvement projects, low cost shelters and have had our giving rate above $100 per member for 13-14 years in a row now. These projects have given me Rotary friends on every continent except Antarctica. There's a club down there, but I've not partnered on any grant projects there.....yet. Several of these grant projects have been done with partners found in ROTI. From heart surgeries in the Ukraine and India to hearing aid projects in India, water and sanitation projects in
India and several other countries, etc. The worst part of Rotary? Often there is poor, or no training of prospective and new members of Rotary clubs. They must learn from osmosis by attending meetings or from reading The Rotarian or their own regional magazine, or the Internet, of course. They have no idea about the amazing resources available to them, from the other 1.2 million Rotarians, from our Foundation, and from Action Groups and Fellowships. They don't learn about the possibility of sending one of their own children or some other young person from their community to another part of the world for a year abroad. I worked hard to "sell" my son on the idea of being a RYE student. He's a great guy, but didn't bite on my sales pitch. But one evening my daughter asked me how someone could be a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Within a week she had her application completed and submitted. She was 14. Our district's RYE chair called and told me she was too young. I told him to call her and tell her, but he said, 'well, we might as well interview her." After the interview, he said he wanted to send her to an English speaking country. I wrote to a few friends in various countries and virtually the next day, I got a response from ROTI member Robin Chapple, RC Diamond Creek, Australia. Within 2-3 more days, he sent me an approval from his club's board and my daughter Jane spent an incredible year abroad, that completely changed her life. My thanks to my former business partner who told me in June 1981, "on Wednesdays, we go to Rotary at noon." Rotary has enhanced my life for several decades. Regards Todd Lindley, DDS FAGD Rotary Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser, 2016-19, Zone 31
*** Thanks for sharing your Rotary experience Todd. You are truly a
living breathing example of what Rotary is all about. Most of you don't know that Todd missed his calling in life. He is a dentist, but should have been a stand up comedian. He has a very witty dry humor that has made me/us smile or laugh on countless occasions. Is there a comedy shop in your city Todd? Most don't know that Todd has been the most non-political helpful person in ROTI. He has never been here to fulfill his own agenda, but only to be a good Rotarian/Rotian, in the best sprit of these organizations. And a good friend to many here, especially those who need help. Most of you don't know that Todd is the best ROTI chairman that has never been elected to the job. He has not been elected as he refuses to accept the nomination for chairman every 2 years! I know as I (and likely many others) nominate him every two years. :-) He would also make a great RI Director and RI President. Seriously. Thanks for all you do, and have done, in ROTI and Rotary Todd. Best wishes, Philip Merritt
*** And Dear Philip, I have to mention another great comment about our dear Todd, and this is that He is always working hard to help service projects beyond his country. Something that we really appreciate. Leticia Parra Toledo CR Arboledas México, D4170 Past ROTI Chair 07-09
*** Hi Melissa, It's great that you have not experienced any serious politics in your club and district and I think it's a wonderful idea to let new members know that "politics" is
not tolerated. Maybe if more clubs used that formula there would be far fewer problems. I agree if everyone applied the 4-Way Test it would eliminate malicious gossiping, politics, and people with personal agendas. But what should you do when you encounter this type of behavior? If you make an attempt to stop it there is a good chance you'll end up in the middle of it, and become the new target. It probably helps if you have thick skin and the ability to disarm people with subtle charm and diplomatic skills. But it's a tough nut to crack, in my opinion. Best wishes, Philip Merritt
*** Philip, all Rotary has definitely made my life better so I’ve stayed since 1984. The best has been feeling the self satisfaction from helping others through both club sponsored service projects like cooking meals for families with sick kids at Ronald Mc Donald House by All Childrens Hospital and also though RI sponsored global projects like the eradication of polio which started around 1985. The worst for me is the political and religious biases affecting club, district, and RI policies. We don’t always practice what we say in the Four-Way-Test and our published core principles and ethics. This has never been more clear to me than in the last year with President Trump and the devicive political divides that have evolved and currently have the US Government shut down with no real effort yet to negotiate resolution as parties seem bent on focusing all energy on blaming others. Don Higgins
*** Greetings all: I have been a member of three different Rotary Clubs with a total of 35+ years of membership. In addition we are snowbirds and winter in Southwest Florida, and I
attend a fourth club. Rotary has definitely made my life better, and, through Rotary, I hope I’ve helped make other livers better. My first club, the Rotary Club of Loves Park, Illinois, was a small club when I belonged. They did some projects. They were very involved with the Youth Exchange Program, both sponsoring outbound students and hosting inbound students. I changed jobs and moved to Muskegon, MI. It took me about 8 years to finally connect and rejoin Rotary. The club was (and is) very active in the community. They have a club foundation and annually raise and give away significant funds. When I was on the board of the club, the president and president-elect tried to start a multi-year planning process. As one of them pointed out that without it, you have one year of experience repeated however many years the club is in existence. When I became president I was able to initiate a strategic planning process that the club has continued. When I left in 2001, the club had about 120 members. Today they have close to 250. The club annual provides funds for the president-elect to attend the RI Convention. My first international convention was in Buenos Aires. Needless to say, I was blown away by the experience. In 2001, we moved to Virginia and I joined the Rotary Club of Lynchburg. For twelve years I had the privilege of serving as the host coordinator as the Rotary Club of Lynchburg hosted delegations of Russian educators through the Open World program. The Open World Program is a congressionally sponsored program that brings emerging leaders from Russia, Ukraine, and other Eurasian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia and Moldova) to the United States in order to give them firsthand exposure to the American system of participatory democracy and free enterprise. Rotary International is one of the hosting organizations. I was continually amazed at how much we were more alike than different. In 2012, my wife and I were fortunate to be able attend the Rotary International Convention in Bangkok,
Thailand. Gillian Sorensen of the United Nations Foundation was one of the speakers at the plenary sessions whose remarks particularly resonated with me. She closed her remarks with the following, “My country had a president, now long gone, whose memorable words in a speech on peace said this: “For in the final analysis, our most basic link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future and we are all mortal.” If, together, we can create a better world, what could be more important? I did a bit of searching and learned that the quote that President John F. Kennedy gave in a speech to American University in June 1963. The speech was probably written by Mrs. Sorensen’s late husband, Ted Sorensen, who was Kennedy’s chief speechwriter. Here’s more from that speech, which may be found at
Let us focus instead on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions -- on a series of concrete actions and effective agreements which are in the interest of all concerned. There is no single, simple key to this peace; no grand or magic formula to be adopted by one or two powers. Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a process -- a way of solving problems. With such a peace, there will still be quarrels and conflicting interests, as there are within families and nations. World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor, it requires only that they live together in mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement. And history teaches us that enmities between nations, as between individuals, do not last forever. However fixed our likes and dislikes may seem, the tide of time and events will often bring surprising changes in the relations
between nations and neighbors. So let us persevere. Peace need not be impracticable, and war need not be inevitable. By defining our goal more clearly, by making it seem more manageable and less remote, we can help all people to see it, to draw hope from it, and to move irresistibly towards it. So let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct attention to our common interests and the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's futures. And we are all mortal. Nate McClure, PP Rotary Club of Lynchburg, D7570, VA, USA
***
Hey Nate, You've had a remarkable and interesting Rotary experience. I also like that quote from President Kennedy. I think it applies even more today when we are struggling with such a divided and polarized country. Thanks much for sharing. Philip Merritt
*** Aloha Philip, Often, politically motivated Rotarians don’t realize that they are politicizing what and how things are done in the clubs. Biasing a decision without vetting a rumor or “what I heard” initiates a string of other poor perceptions, perspectives, and opinions. It is fortunate that periodicals like the Rotarian magazine is one of the sources of the “greater good.” Just read about past president Jimmy Carter’s accomplishments and objectives after serving as the president of the United States, and that took me up a notch in trying to do more through Rotary. Alan Okinaka RC of Hilo Bay, D5000, HI, USA
Compiled by Tom Telfer RC London North
D6330, Canada
FAR-OUT PREDICTIONS
Auto repair shops go away. A gasoline engine has 20,000 individual parts. An electrical engine has
20. Electric cars are sold with lifetime guarantees and are only repaired by dealers. It takes only 10
minutes to remove and replace an electric engine. Faulty electric engines are not repaired in the
dealership but are sent to a regional repair shop that repairs them with robots. Essentially, if your
electric "Check Motor" light comes on, you simply drive up to what looks like a car wash. Your car is
towed through while you have a cup of coffee and out comes your car with a new engine.
Gas stations go away. Parking meters are replaced by meters that dispense electricity. All companies
install electrical recharging stations.
All major auto manufacturers have already designated 5-6 billion dollars each to start building new
plants that only build electric cars.
Coal industries go away. Oil companies go
away. Drilling for oil stops.
Homes produce and store more electrical
energy during the day and then they use and
will sell it back to the grid.. The grid stores it
and dispenses it to industries that are high
electricity users.
A baby of today will only see personal cars in
museums.
***
WELCOME TO THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION
The FUTURE is approaching faster than one can
handle. In 1998, Kodak had 170,000 employees
and sold 85% of all photo paper worldwide. Within
just a few years, their business model disappeared
and they went bankrupt. What happened to
Kodak will happen in a lot of industries in the next
5-10 years, and most people won't see it coming.
Did you think in 1998 that three years later you
would never take pictures on film again? Yet
digital cameras were invented in 1975. The first
ones only had 10,000 pixels, but followed Moore's
law. So as with all exponential technologies, it was
a disappointment for a time, before it became way
superior and became mainstream in only a few
short years. It will now happen again (but much
faster) with Artificial Intelligence, health,
autonomous and electric cars, education, 3D
printing, agriculture, and jobs.
A HYPNOTIST AT A SENIORS’ HOME
It was entertainment night at the Senior Citizens' Centre. After the community sing-along led by Alice at the piano, it was time for the star of the show - Claude the Hypnotist! Claude explained that he was going to put the whole audience into a trance. "Yes, each and every one of you and all at the same time," said Claude. The excited chatter dropped to silence as Claude carefully withdrew from his waistcoat pocket a beautiful antique gold pocket watch and chain. "I want you to keep your eyes on this watch,” said Claude, holding the watch high for all to see. "It's a very special and valuable watch that has been in my family for six generations.” He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly chanting, "Watch the watch … watch the watch … watch the watch.” The audience became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth. The lights were twinkling as they were reflected from its gleaming surfaces. A hundred and fifty pairs of eyes followed the movements of the gently swaying watch. They were all hypnotized. And then, suddenly, the chain broke! The beautiful watch fell to the stage and burst apart on impact. "S_ _ T!” shouted Claude. It took them three days to completely clean up the Senior Citizens' Centre and Claude was never invited back again.
One of the English national daily newspapers asked readers: "What does it mean to be English?" Some of the emails were hilarious but this one from a chap in Switzerland stood out: "Being English is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, and then going home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American or Australian shows on a Japanese or Korean TV, which will soon be powered by a Chinese nuclear power station."
CALLER: Is this Gordon's Pizza?
GOOGLE: No sir, it's Google Pizza.
CALLER: I must have dialed a wrong number. Sorry.
GOOGLE: No sir, Google bought Gordon’s Pizza last month.
CALLER: OK. I would like to order a pizza.
GOOGLE: Do you want your usual, sir?
CALLER: My usual? You know me?
GOOGLE: According to our caller ID data sheet, the last 12 times you called you ordered an extra-large pizza with three cheeses, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and meatballs on a thick crust.
CALLER: OK! That’s what I want
GOOGLE: May I suggest that this time you order a pizza with ricotta, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and olives on a whole wheat gluten-free thin crust?
CALLER: What? I detest vegetable!.
GOOGLE: Your cholesterol is not good, sir.
CALLER: How the hell do you know!
GOOGLE: Well, we cross-referenced your home phone number with your medical records. We have the result of your blood tests for the last 7 years.
CALLER: Okay, but I do not want your rotten vegetable pizza! I already take medication for my cholesterol.
GOOGLE: Excuse me sir, but you have not taken your Medication regularly. According to our database, you only purchased a box of 30 cholesterol tablets once, at Drug RX Network, 4 months ago.
CALLER: I bought more from another drugstore.
GOOGLE: That doesn’t show on your credit card statement.
CALLER: I paid in cash.
GOOGLE: But you did not withdraw enough cash according to your bank statement.
CALLER: I have other sources of cash.
GOOGLE: That doesn’t show on your last tax return unless You bought them using an undeclared income source, which is against the law.
CALLER: WHAT THE HELL!!!
GOOGLE: I'm sorry, sir, we use such information only with The sole intention of helping you.
CALLER: Enough already! I'm sick to death of Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and all the others. I'm going to an island without internet, cable TV, Where there is no cell phone service and no one to watch me or spy on me.
GOOGLE: I understand sir, but you need to renew your passport first. It expired 6 weeks ago…
—Don Higgins
From Patricia Robertson RC Attadale, D9465, Western Australia
Monday, 25 June 2018, 12:30-2:00 p.m. Room 803A at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, located
in the South Building on Level 800 (five-minute walking
distance from the House of Friendship)
We look forward to seeing you in Toronto! Send an
email to Cathy Shaw [email protected]. She can
book your airline tickets, our hotel and tickets for our
Annual Dinner on June 24.
—Tom Telfer
Madhumita Bishnu, Chair E-club of Melbourne, D9800
Tris Tristram, Vice Chair RC Four Marks and Medstead, D1110, UK
Giovanna McKay, Secretary (2017-18) and Editor RC Attadale, D9465, Western Australia
Reinaldo Viccini, Secretary RC Cucuta III, D4270, Colombia
Eugene Beil, Treasurer RC Hudson, D6950, Fl, USA
Jesse Tanchanco, Sgt at Arms RC Loyola Heights, D3789, The Philippines DIRECTORS Mike Barr, Membership RC Metairie Sunrise, D6840, USA
John Buchanan, Boardlist moderator RC South St.Paul/Inver Grove Heights, D5960, USA
Don Higgins, ROTI FB RC Pinellas Park, D6950, Florida, USA
Chris Sweeney, Webmaster RC Conwy, D1180, North Wales BOARD MEMBERS
Patrick Coleman RC Luanshya, D9210, Zambia
Deborah Perrone-Guelfi RC Estancia Centro, D4420, Brazil
James Kalassery RC Cochin Sunrise, D3201, India
Marco Kappenberger Eclub of Apia/Samoa/Polynesia, D9920, Samoa
Subhash Saraf Rotary Aundh Pune, D3131, India
Tom Telfer RC London North, D6330, Canada COUNCIL OF ADVISERS: All past chairs
The BREADBASKET is a monthly publication of the Rotarians On The Internet. Please send articles and high resolution photos to [email protected] on or before the 3rd of each month
www.roti.org
($69.78 tax & gratuity include) Spring mix salad with assorted dressings Coleslaw salad Cold pasta sales with sundried tomatoes,
feta cheese, roasted red peppers & zucchini Rosemary Roast Beef as jus Chicken Supreme in creamy mushroom
sauce Roasted potatoes Steamed vegetables Rice pilaf Assorted dinner rolls & butter Seasonal fruit platters Chef’s selection of assorted desserts Coffee & Tea
June 24 ROTI dinner in Toronto
Every one flying into Canada must apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Overview of the eTA application process:
1. Get your passport, credit or debit card ready, and read the help document;
2. Use the online form to apply. The form cannot be saved so have your information ready;
3. Pay CAD$7 for your eTA right after your complete the form;
4. Get an email about your eTA application. Most applications are approved within minutes;
OR
5. You may need to submit documents before your application can be approved. If this happens to you, and email will be sent with instructions within 72 hours.
Show Us Your Best Shot
Do you have a great shot from a club project or fundraiser? Did you capture a
memorable moment at the convention or during an international trip? Enter your
images in The Rotarian's 2018 photo contest and you might see them in the pages of
the magazine. You may enter up to three photos taken since 1 January 2017.
Our previous guest judges have included Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David
Hume Kennerly, Kathy Ryan, director of photography for the New York Times
Magazine and photojournalist Steve McCurry. This year's judge will be announced
soon.
THE 2018 ROTARIAN PHOTO CONTEST
ENTER OFFICIAL RULES
DEADLINE
15 February 2018
PRIZE
Winning photographs will be featured in the June 2018 issue of The Rotarian
Magazine.
INCLUDEDcruise features
Czech Republic
Italy
Austria
Poland
Belgium
LUX.
22
AMSTERDAM
COLOGNE
RÜDESHEIM
HEIDELBERGSPEYER
STRASBOURG
BASEL
LUCERNE
ZURICH
LAHNSTEIN
BREISACHRIQUEWIHRFREIBURG
Germany
France
Switzerland
Netherlands
LUDWIGSHAFEN
BLACK FOREST
Terms & Conditions: All rates are per person in USD for cruise only, based on double occupancy in the specified category staterooms above. Unless explicitly stated that single supplement is waived, solo travelers in a double occupancy stateroom must pay an additional single supplement amount before receiving any discounts. Port charges of $182, roundtrip airfare, and gratuities are additional. Other restrictions apply. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. AmaWaterways CST#2065452-40. V17NOV28MG
» Spacious accommodations in riverview stateroom or suite – most staterooms offer twin balconies or French balconies
» Fine dining, including unlimited complimentary hand-selected wines, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board
» “Sip & Sail” Daily Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
» Cocktail Reception and Captain’s Gala Dinner
» Complimentary Wi-Fi access on board
» Guided shore excursions in every port including Special Interest Tours
» Live entertainment, cooking demonstration and more
» Complimentary bicycles
» Services of a professional Cruise Manager
Melissa TaylorSenior Vacation Specialist
(434) 455-0245 [email protected]
DAY DESTINATION ACTIVITIESMay 20 Basel EMBARKATIONMay 21 Breisach Riquewihr excursion OR Freiburg excursion OR Breisach wine country bike tour OR Black Forest excursionMay 22 Strasbourg “The Gem of Alsace” tour OR Strasbourg bike tourMay 23 Ludwigshafen “Romantic Heidelberg” excursion OR Heidelberg Philosopher’s hike OR “Secrets of Speyer” tour Rüdesheim Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum OR Rüdesheimer CoffeeMay 24 Rüdesheim Gondola ride and wine tasting OR Schloss Johannisberg bike tour OR Vineyard hike Rhine Gorge Castles along the Rhine scenic cruising Lahnstein Exclusive festive celebrationMay 25 Cologne “Holy City” walking tour and cathedral visit OR Kölsch Beer tasting OR Cologne bike tourMay 26 Amsterdam Canal cruise tour OR Jewish Heritage tourMay 27 Amsterdam DISEMBARKATION
*Itinerary subject to change
RIVER CRUISE CATEGORY TYPE SIZE CRUISE & LAND
PRICE PP
SUITE Twin Balcony 350 sq. ft. $4,552.68
Cat. AA Twin Balcony 235 sq. ft. $3,694.68
Cat. AB Twin Balcony 235 sq. ft. $3,562.68
Cat. BA Twin Balcony 210 sq. ft. $3,430.68
Cat. BB Twin Balcony 210 sq. ft. $3,298.68
Cat. CA French Balcony 170 sq. ft. $2,968.68
Cat. CB French Balcony 155 sq. ft. $2,770.68
Cat. D* Fixed Window 160 sq. ft. $2,572.68
Cat. E* Fixed Window 160 sq. ft. $2,375.34
ENCHANTING RHINEROTARIANS ON THE RHINE CRUISE
May 20 - 27, 2019
AmaWaterways will donate $100 to the END POLIO NOW campaign for every cabin purchased through Travelbugs / Connoisseur Travel for the Rotarians-on-the-Rhine-Cruise May 20, 2018 aboard AmaKristina.
Enjoy a 7-night cruise from Basel to Amsterdam
PRE-CRUISE FOR $1,560 PER PERSON: 2 nights hotel in Zurich at the Marriott Zurich (or similar), then 2 nights hotel in Lucerne at the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne (or similar)
» Transfer from the hotel in Zurich to Lucerne, then to the ship in Basel
» Daily breakfast
» Guided city tour
» Porterage service
OPTIONAL land program