Birmingham, England (March 18, 2009) — Rotary International will bring the world to Birmingham June 18-24 for the humanitarian service organization’s 100th annual convention, often described as a “mini-United Nations” because of its internationality and diversity.
The event will transform the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) into a kaleidoscope of energy, colour and excitement as up to 20,000 Rotary members from approximately 153 countries convene for fellowship and to participate in a broad agenda of workshops and demonstrations focused on how Rotary clubs are helping to make the world a better place through volunteer service.
The convention is hosted by the Rotary Club of Birmingham with the support of 58 clubs in the West Midlands, and is expected to pump ₤20 million into the local economy.
Brian Fuller CBE, Chairman of the Host Organizing Committee, said: “It is a tremendous honour for us to host such a high profile and important event as the 100th Rotary convention. This global gathering of business and professional leaders will exchange ideas and exhibit projects that reflect our organization’s commitment to promoting peace, and to addressing such critical issues as hunger, poverty, disease and illiteracy. The 100th convention is a very special occasion and we have created some very special events for delegates, including the world class concert with Katherine Jenkins and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, an evening with the Treorchy Male Voice Choir, a Medieval Spectacular at Warwick Castle and East Meets West Variety show.”
Birmingham was also the site of Rotary’s 75th convention in1984. Presiding over the 2009 convention is Rotary International President Dong Kurn Lee of Seoul, South Korea.
“Thanks to this collaborative effort, our centenary convention will be a fantastic celebration. The convention will inform, stimulate and inspire,” said Rotary International President Lee, who has made the fight against child mortality the emphasis of his one-year presidency. “We’re expecting a spectacular line-up of speakers and performers, among them Archbishop Desmond Tutu, American actress Mia Farrow, Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State, Department for International Development, pioneering primatologist Jane Goodall, and Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins.”
Exemplary Humanitarian Projects — The convention will showcase hundreds of successful projects undertaken by Rotary members worldwide to address such important issues as polio eradication,malaria, HIV/AIDS, poverty, hunger, illiteracy, pollution and the global water shortage.
ShelterBox founder and CEO After identifying a gap in relief responses to natural disaster in 1999, Tom Henderson developed the ShelterBox system, which utilizes easily transportable containers to provide tents and other essential survival supplies to disaster victims. Based in Cornwall, England, ShelterBox began as a project of the Rotary Club of Helson-Lizard. A registered UK charity, ShelterBox now receives support from Rotary clubs worldwide. Since operations began in 2001, ShelterBox has responded to more than 80 major disasters, including the Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Pakistan and China earthquakes, and the Myanmar cyclone. The organization has provided shelter to over 800,000 people. In 2008, Henderson was named one of 27 CNN Heroes by the U.S.-based cable news network.
PACE founder Deepa Willingham, a retired administrative executive, was born and raised in Kolkata, India, where she obtained her primary education under the stewardship of Mother Teresa. After completing her secondary and undergraduate education in Kolkata, she went to the United States to complete her graduate degrees in biological sciences. Willingham is the founder of Promise of Assurance to Children Everywhere (PACE Universal), a non-profit organization that runs literacy and holistic village rehabilitation programs. Seeing that almost three billion people live on less than US$2 (.1.40) per day, she has made it her dream to inspire others to undertake a systematic approach to poverty eradication. Willingham is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Santa Ynez Valley, Calif., USA.
Renowned primatologist In 1977, Jane Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation (JGI). Her ongoing research of the chimpanzees of Gombe Stream, Tanzania, is nearing its 50th anniversary. The institute is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitat. The institute is widely recognized for establishing innovative, community-centred conservation and development programs in Africa, and for the Roots & Shoots education program for young people of all ages with more than 10,000 groups in nearly 100 countries. Goodall travels an average of 300 days per year, speaking about the threats facing chimpanzees and other environmental crises, and sharing her hope that humankind will solve the problems it has imposed on our planet. She continually urges her audiences to recognize their personal responsibility and ability to create positive change through consumer action, lifestyle change, and activism.
Acclaimed actress and polio survivor Mia Farrow has starred in over 40 movies, including such classics as Rosemary’s Baby, The Great Gatsby, and Hannah and Her Sisters. As the mother of 14 children (10 of whom are adopted), Farrow has devoted her life to humanitarian efforts and the care of her family. She has been a high-profile advocate for children’s rights, working to raise funds and awareness for children in conflict-affected regions, predominantly in Africa. She is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and has worked extensively to draw attention to the fight to eradicate polio, which she survived as a child.
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ShelterBox founder and CEO
PACE founder
Renowned primatologist
Acclaimed actress and polio survivor