Press Release

THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE AGENDA FOR ROTARY’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN BELFAST

7th February 2006

81st Annual Conference of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland
21st – 23rd April 2006 The Odyssey, Belfast

Around 3000 Rotarians and partners will be in Belfast for their annual conference to be held in the city  from April 21-23, where Seize the Moment - Meet the Challenge will be the main objective.  The Rotarians will be listening to a variety of speakers and meeting fellow Rotarians at both business and social events at the conference.  It is the largest annual gathering of members of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland and will be the largest conference ever hosted in Belfast.

The conference activities will be underlining one of the key principles of Rotary – that of Service Above Self and that Rotarians work to improve the quality of life for others. The speakers will focus our minds on what can be achieved by seizing every opportunity to meet those challenges which face us all from time to time. This year in particular, the conference will be addressing global issues such as the environment and the challenge of climate change with key note addresses from BBC weather forecaster Peter Gibbs, and leading wildlife film maker Simon King. The conference objective will continue with a key note address by Don Stevens on the work of Mercy Ships, the preferred international project this year for Rotary In Great Britain and Ireland.  The completion of the latest and largest ship to be added to the fleet, the Africa Mercy, will enable Mercy Ships to impact many more lives every year.  Rotary Clubs hope to equip the Ophthalmic Operating Theatre by donations as well as providing volunteers to serve on the ships.

President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland Mike Webb said: “2005 to 2006 has been an action packed year for Rotary. In particular I am proud of Rotary’s response to the various global disasters in the last year in Asia, New Orleans and most recently Pakistan. Rotary welcomes the opportunity to meet and discuss both existing and new projects in the great city setting that Belfast offers. I am delighted to have Rotary International President, Carl- Wilhelm Stenhammar speaking at the conference.”

Rotary is an organisation of business and professional persons united world-wide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help to build goodwill and peace in the world.  For general information on the conference or on  Rotary please contact  Robin Freeman: 01789 765411