The 100th Rotary International Convention
in Birmingham England, 21st-24th June, 2009

The photos on this page were taken by Rotarian Graham Tall who was attending his first convention before becoming President of Kenilworth Rotary in 2009-2010. He was accompanied by his brother, Rotarian David Tall who was President of Kenilworth Rotary at the time of the previous convention in Birmingham in 1984. Both believe that no-one can understand the full meaning of Rotary International until they have attended a Rotary convention to see the fuller picture of a highly professional organisation that can make a difference world wide. Here are our impressions of the 100th Convention of Rotary International.
The Opening Ceremony of the 100th Rotary International Convention
The Opening Ceremony of the 100th Rotary International Convention
 Dancers from Korea entertain at the opening ceremony along with a galaxy of talent from Korea and Britain.
Dancers from Korea entertain at the opening ceremony along with a galaxy of talent from Korea and Britain.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations addresses the conference and declares his thanks to Rotary for their work in eliminating world pol
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations addresses the conference and declares his thanks to Rotary for their work in eliminating world polio
 Rotary President Dong Kurn Lee speaks of his challenge to ‘Make Dreams Real’
Rotary President Dong Kurn Lee speaks of his challenge to ‘Make Dreams Real’
The House of Friendship
The House of Friendship
 Kenilworth Rotarian Graham Tall in the House of Friendship.
Kenilworth Rotarian Graham Tall in the House of Friendship.
Cornwall's own Tom Henderson who founded Shelter Box, now alleviating major disasters around the world
Cornwall's own Tom Henderson who founded Shelter Box, now alleviating major disasters around the world
 Tom Henderson
Tom Henderson
Coventry Youth Theatre performs
Coventry Youth Theatre performs
 We learn the latest about Polio Plus and see that the UK has pulled its weight in the quest to eradicate polio.
We learn the latest about Polio Plus and see that the UK has pulled its weight in the quest to eradicate polio.
The crowd of some 10000 delegates
The crowd of some 10000 delegates
 Two children, one aged 13 who gave all his savings to Polio, one aged 10 who organised the children in her community to contribute to help the childre
Two children, one aged 13 who gave all his savings to Polio, one aged 10 who organised the children in her community to contribute to help the childre
Alex Buchanan of Melbourne Australia is honoured for service to humanity
Alex Buchanan of Melbourne Australia is honoured for service to humanity
 Alex is a biologist and a one-time Rotary Foundation Scholar who created high protein foods from local resources to feed the children
Alex is a biologist and a one-time Rotary Foundation Scholar who created high protein foods from local resources to feed the children
Mia Farrow speaks of her life and work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
Mia Farrow speaks of her life and work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
 She tells of her experiences in Darfur where genocide is happening today and the politicians of the world do little.
She tells of her experiences in Darfur where genocide is happening today and the politicians of the world do little.
In the House of Friendship with Bouraima from Benin and Amy from Taiwan.
In the House of Friendship with Bouraima from Benin and Amy from Taiwan.
 With Sophie from the National Taiwan Normal University which David visited just three weeks ago...
With Sophie from the National Taiwan Normal University which David visited just a few weeks ago...
Jane Goodall speaks of her work with wildlife in Africa
Jane Goodall speaks of her work with wildlife in Africa
 The Jane Goodall Institute
The Jane Goodall Institute
The Treorchy Male Voice Choir entertain
The Treorchy Male Voice Choir entertain
 Paul and Fred on duty as Sergeants-at-arms
Paul and Fred on duty as Sergeants-at-arms
The Treorchy Male Voice Choir do a second performance in the House of Friendship
The Treorchy Male Voice Choir do a second performance in the House of Friendship
 The Karmic Steel Orchestra
The Karmic Steel Orchestra
The Tall Boys with Gloria and Imelda from Guadalajarah, Mexico
The Tall Boys with Gloria and Imelda from Guadalajarah, Mexico
 Fellowship across the Atlantic from Mexico to Britain.
Fellowship across the Atlantic from Mexico to Britain.
Painting by Rosa Branson celebrating the work of Rotary
Painting by Rosa Branson celebrating the work of Rotary
 Information about the painting
Information about the painting
Graham Tall and David Sundquist from California.
Graham Tall and David Sundquist from California.
The House of Friendship
The House of Friendship
Kenilworth Rotarian David Sims and Jean on duty at the International Stand for Bird watching. David learnt that there are fewer birds being spotted ev
Kenilworth Rotarian David Sims and Jean on duty at the International Stand for Bird watching. David learnt that from Rotarians internationally that everyone is spotting fewer birds. What is happening to our world?
 District Governor of 1060, Peter Smith awaiting the beginning of the Closing Session
District Governor of 1060, Peter Smith awaiting the beginning of the Closing Session
In his farewell speech, President D K Lee quotes Eleanor Roosevelt
In his farewell speech, President D K Lee quotes Eleanor Roosevelt
 The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
President for 2009-2010, Don Kenny from Scotland declares ...
President for 2009-2010, John Kenny from Scotland declares ...
 The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands
The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands
The handover ceremony from DK to DK
The handover ceremony from DK to JK
 The handover of the banner from the club of DK in Seoul Korea to the club of DK, Grangemouth, Scotland
The handover of the banner from the club of DK in Seoul Korea to the club of JK, Grangemouth, Scotland
The closing entertainment!
The closing entertainment!
 Soloists: Robert Meadmore, Liz Robertson
Soloists: Robert Meadmore, Liz Robertson
My Fair Lady (actually a Broadway Musical by Lerner and Loewe, but who's counting?)
My Fair Lady (actually a Broadway Musical by Lerner and Loewe, but who's counting?)
 The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot
 ...
...
Me and My Girl
Me and My Girl
 Genuine Pearly Kings and Queens from Islington
Genuine Pearly Kings and Queens from Islington
Yi Taewon from Korea currently singing in Mama Mia!
Yi Taewon from Korea currently singing in Mama Mia! in the West End.
 with display as she sings
with display as she sings
Wow!
Wow!
 London Bridge
London Bridge
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
 Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins
Feed the Birds!
Feed the Birds!
 The Birds!
The Birds!
The Grenadier Guards join in with the party
The Grenadier Guards join in with the party
 Consider yourselves part of the family
Consider yourselves part of the family
We all join in a special song
We all join in a special song
 ... written for the occasion
... written for the occasion
Rotary is in Your Hands
Rotary is in Your Hands
 President Dom Kurn Lee closes the ceremony
President Dom Kurn Lee closes the ceremony
As we all sing Auld Lang Syne!
As we all sing Auld Lang Syne!
The conference is closed!
The conference is closed!