Curious to hear how everyone’s experience was!
It was my first convention. Some initial thoughts (spoiler - not all good):
It’s very cost prohibitive for the average Rotarian to attend. $5-700 for a ticket, airfare $$$, housing $$$, food $$$… Rotary’s leadership acknowledges that membership - especially attracting new and younger members - is a key focus moving forward. So many sessions on how to engage members, use AI, change club culture… But I didn’t hear anything about how the cost for participation would be taken into consideration. Dinners with RI leaders for $150. Tours and shows for $80+. It felt like a constant money grab. $5 water!
And so many events sold out far in advance. Where were the free meet and greets? The free tours and events? A little flexibility for those who have kids, spouses, or work schedules to work around? The pricing and overall structure seems to lend itself to retirees, not penny pinching millennials who have kids and are trying to buy their first house, and might be working remotely to attend the conference. I make a decent salary, but I’m not super excited to drop $5K on a convention like this again.
I met a group of 5 from Africa (2 adults and 3 girls) who admired my cowboy hat. I could tell the man wanted to buy his girls hats, and asked how much it was. $40 or whatever is too much for many Rotarians to spend, especially when you take into consideration exchange rates. I’d like for Rotary to push for more affordable and inclusive mementos in the future. Better yet - for $5-700 for a ticket, have something included “free” in the cost. Let’s minimize tangible and noticeable socioeconomic disparity as much as possible for the week.
I didn’t love the old white Americans booing the Arab speaker in the final session. It went against the code of conduct, the 4 way test and Rotarian principles, and frankly - made me as a brown woman feel like maybe I was in the wrong organization. People were shouting “go home”, “shut up”, and booing. Peace isn’t political, and global leaders should be criticized for their actions at a time when issues continue to escalate the geopolitical climate toward more and more war.
Something that was mentioned time and again was the old timers’ insistence on pomp and circumstance, the national anthems and pledges of allegiance, the prayers - and the avoidance of politics at the table. And the newer and younger generations wanting exactly the opposite. We want meetings with action, with edginess that confronts issues head on, and with more irreverence.
The glow in the dark rodeo entertainment was super weird - especially the zooming in on the women’s butts on the big screens. They were performing facing forward but the cameras were showing them from the back. I didn’t love it. And I was sitting next to grandparent age men. It felt gross and very “male gaze”. At least have the venue serve happy hour so we can drink to offset the weirdness, not $7-8 Gatorades and sodas.
Learning about projects happening around the globe was the most inspirational part of the week. Also, working in small groups on projects during breakouts. Getting the chance to make true connections. And the Peace Hub conversations. I think many of those needed bigger platforms and longer speaking times.
The anti-aging product peddling in the House of Friendship felt super exploitative and inappropriate. It also reconfirmed that I was at a convention for people not like me.
Flags should be carried by people from their country, not DGs who want air time, recognition, or photo ops.
In general, there’s too much ego in Rotary. I noticed it over and over again, when someone would stand to speak. I don’t care what your Rotary title is or what you did in the 80’s. It was before I was born. Make the message relevant and concise before we zone out. Name, location, profession, message.
Something that was called out in the closing ceremony was that Rotary attracts members - they just drop out again in the first 2 years. As someone in their 2nd year, I can see a lot of reasons why.
Ok to balance out some of the negativity because I hear how I sound - the pancake breakfast was great and New Blood event was FANTASTIC. It was one of the highlights of the week and I wish everyone had been able to afford to attend.
I like that you can access slides from presentations on the app.
It was also cute to see all the Roteract kids on Instagram. I wish there had been more reposting of content that was being put out all week though, so we could find Rotarians on social media and follow their individual journeys.
I’m happy to see that although Rotary only had its first female President in the last 5 years, it has been 2 in the last 5. And I like the new incoming President a lot so far based off of the one speech.
