Greeting 5170 Century Builders,
After the Sessions yesterday we went over to the Dotonbori Area of
Osaka. It looks like an Asian Las Vegas with lots of kids congregating
all over the place. 
We
walked and just marveled at the sights. The streets just seem to go
on for miles with barkers all over trying to give you flyers to get
you to go to one place or another. Cindy and I agreed that it would
be great to just find a Starbucks and sip coffee for hours and do some
serious people watching. We had dinner with some friends and then we
returned to the hotel. Cindy called it a night and I wrote my letter
to you.
This Morning we got up and we got on the bus to go over to the Osaka
Dome to pear the 4th Plenary Session. The Keynote Address this morning
was delivered by Sadako Ogata. 
She
is a former Rotary Scholar, currently the Japanese Prime Minister’s
Special Representative for Assistance to Afghanistan. Her last job for
10 years was the UN high commissioner for Refugees.
She spoke on the importance of Humanitarian Aid and how it should be
linked to Development Assistance after conflicts end. She talked about
the importance of Education as the being an important piece of Development
Assistance. Education can lead to education of basic health, sanitation,
peace and conflict avoidance, skills training, etc. Education not only
helps to rebuild communities it builds hope, self esteem, and pride.
After Sadako finished there was the election of various Officers of
Rotary, including the District Governor Nominees. Arlene Greenberg was
officially elected as our District 5170 Governor for the Year 2005-2006.
Congratulations Arlene!
Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar gave an acceptance speech for his election
to the post of President of Rotary International for the year 2005-2006.
He gave us a glimpse of himself and his plans. Afterwards many talked
about how much they enjoyed his speech.
Then it was Glenn Estess’ turn to give a Keynote Address. He,
as many of you know, will be our President of Rotary International during
our Centennial Year 2004-2005. Glenn talked about the 4 Task Forces
that will be his emphases during the year:
1. The Family of Rotary
2. Literacy
3. Health Issues
4. Water management issues
He talked about in the area of membership he would like to concentrate
on Retention, Extension, and Recruitment, in that order. He would like
to reawaken the Vocational Avenue of Service with a Professional Achievement
Award for a Non Rotarian. We will Celebrate Rotary and together as a
Family of Rotary we will do some wonderful things.
When the morning sessions were over we left and as we were walking
toward the bus to go back to the House of Friendship we ran into Ambroise
and his lovely wife Monika.
Ambroise is a Past District Governor from the Congo. If you remember
this was someone Sam Okudjetto, Director of Rotary International from
Africa suggested we talk to as we proceed in trying to work in Rwanda.
He mentioned that since the conflict ended in Rwanda many of those who
had left Rwanda before and had gotten educated decided to return. He
said that there are actually many people who can speak English. French
is predominantly spoken there.
We got to the House of Friendship and then we had lunch with our LT
Governor, Jeanne MacLaren, her husband Tom who is the Publisher of our
Directory. Arlene Greenberg and her husband Steve joined us. In preparation
for leaving on our tour of Japan tomorrow we left and went back to our
room to pack so that we could go and have dinner with the MacLarens
and afterwards go to the Closing ceremonies of the Osaka Convention.
Saying Goodbye from Osaka, Japan.
See you tomorrow on the web site.
Ron and Cindy Sekkel
