Harriett Schloer and her grandson, Will Beaudry, in Sydney Harbor.

By Harriett Schloer, executive secretary of the Convention Goers Fellowship

Since 1998, my husband and I have only missed three Rotary conventions. We have both come to look upon the convention as our annual vacation with the opportunity to visit many foreign countries and revisit some of our favorite places in the United States.

We always plan our trip to stay an additional week after the convention closes so we can get in all of the sight-seeing we can. In terms of the convention itself, it is our annual opportunity to again spend quality time with very close friends and make new ones. Continue reading →

The House of Friendship during the 2013 Rotary Convention in Lisbon, Portugal, one of many Nusz has attended since 1997.

By Phyllis Jane Nusz, past governor of District 5220 (California, USA)

In 1997, as an incoming club president, I was sent to Glasgow, Scotland, for my first International Convention. I have never stopped going since.

Why? It was amazing to see people for the first time from all over the world, the different languages, dress, and food. But we all had the same dedication to Rotary. I ran into so many people I never knew before but today are still my friends, and I share Christmas cards with them, take part in club projects with them, join together for family activities, and so much more. Continue reading →

Rotary members make connections in the House of Friendship during the 2014 Convention in Sydney.

By Margaret Lesjak, Rotary Club of Broken Hill South, New South Wales, Australia

I grew up in Sydney. So attending my first Rotary convention last year in Sydney was less about the location and more about meeting people from all over the world.

My days started off on the trains dedicated for Rotary use. As I remembered from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, people happily chatted away and strangers became at the very least ‘mates’ for the rest of the convention. Continue reading →