Calgary Reflections
by Pres. Ross Plourde and Executive Director Megan Law
Wings of Rotary Japan Representatives
The Canadian Rockies were the backdrop for the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada this year. Megan Law and I got together with about 15,000 fellow Rotarians from 142 countries around the world to meet, mingle, learn, be inspired and share ideas.
We were a little over a week too early for the Calgary Stampede, the annual 10-day festival celebrating Calgary’s western heritage, but Rotary showed up ready in white straw cowboy hats. The cheer of the Stampede is “Yahoo,” featured in six-foot high stand-alone letters outside the convention center, that from the back (which was my initial vantage point) spell “OOHAY.”
Megan was the best, assuring that we spent the appropriate time with the leaders of the three other largest clubs in the U.S., the District Governor for the Japanese Rotary district with which we partner in Wings of Rotary, and other important dignitaries in the Rotary International world. I was able to meet and visit briefly with the new Rotary International president, Francesco Arezzo, who had been selected to serve less than two weeks before the convention, but who moved into the role with extremely admirable poise and vision, as well as a very moving and inspiring convention speech. And I was able to meet and visit with Rotary International’s general secretary and chief executive officer, John Hewko, a member of the Kyiv, Ukraine club.
The convention sessions were uplifting, informative, entertaining in some instances, challenging in others, but always worthwhile. Friendship hall was a bewildering assortment of hundreds of booths featuring just about every shared interest, Rotary project, and outreach opportunity you could imagine and a few that you couldn’t. And the opportunity to witness the global reach and impact of Rotary was irreplaceable. I am grateful to have had the chance to attend and hope to do so again sometime soon.
Ross Plourde
President 2025-26
Ross and General Secretary John Hewko
Ross at the Convention Entrance
Ross at the General Session
Save the date and join President Elect Lance McDaniel in Taipei, Taiwan for the 2025-2026 Rotary International Convention June 13 – 17, 2026! Early-registration discounts are available now through December 15, 2025 when pricing increases so don’t wait to get your place reserved.
If you are interested in attending, please contact the office to learn more about hotel reservations available through Club 29.
