2007 DISTRICT CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Angie Hassler 408-997-0375
E-mail at angiehassler@gmail.com
DATE: 25 July 2007

Incoming Almaden Valley Rotary President Joe Pileggi and his wife Louise JOINED ROTARY’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN RENDEVOUS

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Rotary International brought the world to Salt Lake City on June 17-20, where an estimated 18,000 Rotary club members from some 139 countries and geographical areas joined together during its 98th annual convention. The convention was held at the Salt Palace Convention Center where participants shared fellowship and exchanged ideas on Rotary volunteer projects including literacy, access to safe water, hunger alleviation, disaster relief, children at-risk, microcredit, youth development, assisting landmine victims, AIDS orphans, international education, and polio eradication.

“As Rotarians, we do not walk away from these tremendous challenges. Not only do we have faith to believe we can make a difference, we have the courage to do. That courage is the difference between dreaming great dreams and putting them into action,” said RI President Bill Boyd about Rotary’s humanitarian efforts.

Convention keynote speakers included, William H. Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Hiram Smith, Founder of Franklin Quest (now FranklinCovey); and Ambassador Francis Moloi, South Africa’s High Commissioner to India. President Joe and his wife Louise were accompanied by Roger and Angie Hassler of Almaden Valley.

The convention also included workshops and exhibits highlighting humanitarian and educational projects around the world. Global polio eradication remains the organization’s top priority, as members have contributed more than US$616 million and countless volunteer hours through Rotary’s PolioPlus program. Through humanitarian and international education programs, including Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution, Rotary continues to work to further world peace and understanding and provide local and international community service.

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ROTARY AN ORGANIZATION OF BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS • UNITED WORLDWIDE • 1.2 MILLION MEMBERS • MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES AND GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS • PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN SERVICE • BUILDING GOODWILL AND PEACE IN THE WORLD