An Evening with PRIP Bill Boyd
Thursday 16th August, Te Rapa (Hamilton) race course lounge, a great dinner, great Rotary Fellowship all brought together so that 300 Rotarians were able to extend our appreciation, respect and pride in our outstanding New Zealand Rotarian Bill Boyd, Past Rotary International President and to celebrate his year of leadership of our great organization.
Bill was introduced by Past District Governor, Ron Finn who told of his trepidation three years earlier when he was nominated to be DG 2006 /2007 and wondering who would be RI President in "His Year". When it was announced that Bill Boyd a fellow Kiwi Rotarian was to be President he exclaimed "Yes! It can't get better than this"
Bill resplendent in his iconic "Paua Design" 2006 / 2007 Rotary theme tie, came to the rostrum, immediately moved it to one side, collected a high stool and sat there in the manner that has been a hallmark of the many hundred addresses he has given to Rotarians around the world.
In his wonderfully relaxed way he told us all in his humble and unassuming way how proud he was to be a Kiwi and in particularly how proud he was to have the opportunity to lead and see at first hand the many amazing projects around the world that have been set up, funded and executed by Rotarians.
Bill told us all that his most significant impression after "His Year" was "That every Rotarian every where is motivated in the same way, every one of the 1.2 million of us, in the importance of giving service to others"
Bill traversed some of the many Rotary Project around our world where he was able to see Rotarians in action.
Without a doubt our "Polio Plus" project, once we have achieved our goal of eradication of this disease, will be an amazing legacy we can give to the World. Sadly though we are still not quite finished and there are some real challenges in the four countries where the work is continuing. But we are making progress such as in Nigeria where two years ago there were 500 cases and last year there were only 100. The border area of Afghanistan and Pakistan is very difficult where the terrain and ongoing tensions make it difficult and dangerous for volunteers to visit those areas.
Bill reminded us that it is imperative that we continue with the work in those countries where there are currently no new cases, because Polio is "Only a plane ride away" from every where.
The biggest challenge is in the North East of the of South Asia where with 500,000 new babies born every month, many of whom are very malnourished, the logistics of getting vaccine to and needing to often administer it many times to achieve immunity is a major hurdle.
Polio Plus must continue to be in high focus for all Rotarians, we need a further 100 million dollars to be added to a similar amount provided by our partners to achieve our goal, we are nearly there but not there yet.
Bill told of his and Lorna's visit to a number of CDC (Centres for Disease Control) laboratories in various places in the world. The establishment of these as a part of the Polio Plus project will be a lasting legacy for the world once we have achieved our goal.
Bill told us about Rotary in China and the success of the new Clubs in Beijing and Shanghai. We must not come to expect too much because there are still many restraints to the expansion of Rotary in that country.
Vietnam on the other hand has a very exciting future and he optimistically is expecting the National Assembly to approve the chartering of Rotary Clubs as an aid to the opening of the country to the world for cultural and business growth.
India where Rotary is very strong is doing wonderful work. He visited an orphanage that was built with Rotary funding and support. The unique facet of this place was that it incorporated a school for 800 children so that the 60 orphanage kids could mix with and learn with the children of the wider community. It also had twenty five small housing units for elderly people who were directly involved with the children many of whom did not have grand parents.
In Kampala, Uganda a dental school has been built with funding from 40 Rotary Clubs around the world. This is the largest dental school in Central Africa and will have a dramatic effect on the health of many thousands of people in that region.
Small projects requiring small sums of money are also very impressive. Bill told us about a taxi driver in Uganda who had lost his hand in an accident and therefore lost the income to support his family. From the expenditure of on $50.00 and an innovative invention and design, Rotary has been able to provide him with an artificial hand that will provide him with a grip sufficient to hold his taxies steering wheel and he is back to supporting his family.
The devastating Tsunami in South Asia has been a real focus for Rotary. Bill told us how he met this real nice guy, a the Rotarian in India, who lost his three children and who without looking back, with his wife stepped up and they are now providing a home for 20 orphans.
In Thailand, Rotary has helped to rebuild fishing boats, built schools and homes for those who have lost everything.
In Indonesian and Sri Lanka and many other places Rotary has been "Leading the Way" by building schools and providing hope for these people.
What Rotary has brought to these projects has been expertise, project management and accountability that is the envy of many of the other world aid organisations who often need to work through Government agencies, Rotary can get directly to the people through the local Rotary Clubs in that country.
Bill noted how many countries and organisations pledged support and funds following the tsunami but significant amounts have not been delivered, "Rotary has promised and Rotary has delivered", we can be proud to be Rotarians.
Bill told us that the place that left he and Lorna with the most lasting memory was when they visited a Kenyan slum where the income of the residents was $100 to $800 per year, where there was no sanitation and considerable disease from poor and expensive water supplies and yet just across the road was the Nairobi Golf Club who were watering their golf greens.
He was reminded at many times during his visits to some of the impoverished places in the world of and often used the quote of Mother Teresa "That the biggest disease in our world is being unwanted and a lack of love and charity. We will be judged on how much love is in our action"
Bill reminded us to "Be Proud of Rotary". In Turkey Rotarians have helped 100,000 women to read and write. In particular he remembers how Rotarians were inspired at the Salt Lake Convention by Emine Yüzay, a young woman from Turkey who learned as a teen to read through a Rotary-sponsored Concentrated Language Encounter program. She was born with no arms and after being fitted with "Bionic Arms" her life is turned around. He told us how in talking to her prior to her coming on to the stage to address the Convention he suggested to her that he would extend his hand to welcome her, she was hesitant but as she came towards him she slowly raised the "Bionic Arm" and clasped his to the huge ovation from the assembled Rotarians.
As he looks back on his year Bill told us that while he always told about New Zealand he did not go over board with this. The most visible icon of his year, is however very Kiwi. That is the Paua (the New Zealand abalone shell fish found in the shallow waters around our country. It is prized by all New Zealanders for its beautiful blues / green iridescent colours) design tie that he and all of his Governors have been proudly wearing during his year. He told us that there are 4000 of these all around the world and that he knows of a number that have been the subject of fundraising with the best one raising $5,000 for Rotary projects.
In closing Bill reminded us that the success of Rotary's international and local programmes are because we work on a person to person basis and are therefore able to be non political and non religious and achieve outstanding success.
District Governor 9930, John Tarbutt thanked Bill for his stimulating and low key address and reminded us all that Bill and Lornas success in their International Presidency has been because "they brought small town attitudes to the job and stayed focused and with the task for the whole year"
Finally President Lloyd Murcott of the Rotary Club of Hamilton presented Bill & Lorna with a gift and handed to him a significant cheque for funds raised from this evening. This will be deposited to the "Bill & Lorna Boyd Charitable Trust" that has been established by his club the Rotary Club of Pakuranga. Funds from the earnings of this trust will be directed to literacy projects continuing the special interest that Bill & Lorna have in this subject.
To recognize and celebrate Rotary and Bill Boyd's Presidency of Rotary International during the year 2006 / 2007, New Zealand is about to issue a special commemorative 50 cent stamp. All Rotarians around the world and especially in New Zealand are encouraged to purchase these through their Rotary Club as we all endorse and celebrate the great achievements of these Great New Zealanders, Bill and Lorna Boyd. International Rotarians may contact David Garland, address below, for information and to place orders.
Our evening ended in the traditional New Zealand Rotary way with the singing of our National Anthem God defend New Zealand
David Garland
Rotary Club of Tauranga, New Zealand
david.beverley@paradise.net.nz
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