To the airport

Shortly after 8 am Thursday I'm on a bus headed for the airport.

Farewell

Rotarians queued a final time in the shuttle bus staging area after the conclusion of the closing session.

Closing session

The Pasadena Pops Orchestra is providing entertainment during the closing session of the 2008 Rotary International Convention. The only item left on the agenda after this is the singing of 'Auld Lang Syne.'

Rotary ads

Rotary used the Los Angeles convention as an opportunity to increase public awareness through billboard advertising. This sign was at a bus stop near the convention center.

Queues

At a Rotary International Convention, a queue is just another fellowship activity. These folks are lined up to enter the 'Bound for Birmingham' luncheon set for noon today.

Wednesday plenary

At the Wednesday morning plenary session, incoming Rotary Foundation chair Jonathan Majiyagbe outlined Foundation goals for 2008-2009.

Busy computers

The computer kiosks around the House of Friendship are busy prior to the final plenary session on Wednesday morning.

Fireworks

Fireworks topped off the evening at the Hollywood Bowl.

Concert underway

The concert is underway with Burt Bacharach conducting the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in a medley of his songs from motion pictures.

From the Hollywood Bowl

Rotarians are filing into the Hollywood Bowl for tonight's concert.

'Rotary Today' Luncheon

Although the food served at the convention center has been good, the best part of luncheons at the convention is the opportunity to meet other Rotarians. Manfred Grabsch, governor of District 1930 in Germany sat to my left at today's event. Chatting with Manfred, I learned that the first and only other RI convention that he had attended was in Munich in 1987 -- the first convention that I attended, too.

Annual Giving

At today's plenary session, Bob Scott, Chair of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, told the convention that Annual Giving receipts for the current year are expected to be $115,000,000.

m&m

Rotary International Director Tom Branum spoke to the Heart of America Breakfast on his two main points of emphasis -- membership and money. He was assisted by two Rotarians dressed according to the "m&m" theme.

Petersen (cont.)

Petersen Museum

Here are a couple photos from the Petersen Automotive Miuseum, where I attend a Host Hospitality event.

Going to host hospitality

We're on the bus headed for the host hospitality sponsored by the Wilshire Rotary Club.

Ukulele Ensemble

The Langley Ukulele Ensemble from British Columbia provided music before the start of today's plenary session, and they played again this afternoon in the House of Friendship.

Shelter Box

The Shelter Box exhibit is a popular attraction in the House of Friendship.

Monday luncheon

Past District Governor Liz Skinner served as a sergeant-at-arms during Monday's luncheon celebrating Rotary's past.

Plenary Session 2

At the Monday morning plenary session, delegates heard several stimulating presentations. Among then were a call to greater emphasis on ethical values by Michael Josephson (www.charactercounts.com), and an overview Rotary's transition into worldwide service by Past President Cliff Dochterman.

Opening Plenary

The opening plenary session was presented in two seatings on Sunday afternoon. Main items on the agenda were the presentation of the flags of the Rotary world and an address by RI President Wilf Wilkinson. Entertainment was provided by the Grand Junction CO Rotary group, King 'n' Trio, the Canadian Brass, and the All-American Boys Choir.

Garbage blockade

Inventive Rotarians at the PHF Reception blockaded this trash receptacle and charged a toll (to benefit PolioPlus) to anyone using it.

PHF Reception

RI President Wilf Wilkinson chats with a Rotarian during the Paul Harris Fellows Reception.

John and Sue Behrendt

Waiting outside Hall K before the Paul Harris Fellows Reception are Past District Governor John and Sue Behrendt of Litchfield IL, along with David Parsons of Springfield (right).

Entertainment in the atrium

The host committee has arranged for ongoing entertainment in the convention center atrium as well as on the House of Friendship stages.

Rotary One

Rotary One in Chicago has a booth at the convention promoting its newly available archive of 20,000 images accessible at www.rotaryone.org.

A beehive of activity

At noon on Sunday the House of Friendship is a beehive of activity, filled with busy convention registrants prior to the opening plenary session.

Handcrafted wares

Besides Rotary merchandise, the House of Friendship includes handcrafted products from several developing countries. This merchant has a large display of products from Zambia.

Interfaith Service (cont.)

Part of capacity crowd at the Interfaith Service can be seen in this photo taken at the conclusion of the service when everyone joined in singing "Let There Be Peace On Earth." The service included several songs from the 110 voice Rotary World Choir assembled from 38 districts in nine countries.

Interfaith Service

Kelly Skinner of Monticello IL, left, was among the Rotarians attending the Sunday morning Interfaith Service at the convention.

Rotary vendors

This year's convention features a wide variety of Rotary merchandise. Besides the usual US vendors, there are many from the Far East, including this merchant from Malaysia.

Gulshan Lake City Rotarians

In the convention center coffee shop on Sunday morning, I chatted with these two Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Gulshan Lake City, Bangladesh.

Staples Center

The Staples Center, home of the LA Lakers and site of tonight's NBA playoff game, is located immediately north of the convention center. This photo was taken on a hazy Sunday morning as I passed it on the way to the convention venue. It could get rather congested here tonight as traffic -- auto and pedestrian -- from the convention and the basketball game mixes.

California Experience

Rotarians and guests are enjoying the felllowship at a social hour adjacent to the Nokia Theatre prior to a Natalie Cole concert. In the foreground of this photo is Bob Warner of Jonesboro AR, who spoke at our district conference in May.

At the reception

At the Saturday reception I joined the line of Rotarians posing for a photo with incoming Rotary International President D. K. Lee of South Korea.

Rotary stars

A reception to meet the leaders of Rotary International is underway at the convention center. Here are Jay and Winnie Stortzum of Vandalia along with some German friends.

Raise a song

In the corner dedicated to Rotary fellowship groups, these folks gathered around the piano to raise their voices in song at the booth of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians.

DGE Al Griggs

Our own District Governor Elect for District 6490, Al Griggs of Urbana, surveyed the House of Friendship on Saturday morning.

Birmingham 2009

David C. J. Liddiatt of England, an RI Director-Nominee, was one of many busy workers at the booth promoting the 2009 convention in Birmingham, England.

Hollywood

I spent a couple of hours in Hollywood, working my way west from the subway stop at Hollywood & Highland to the stop at Hollywood & Vine. In the photo is Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Convention workers are everywhere

Knowing I might not have chance to do any sightseeing after the convention formally begins, I took the subway to Hollywood on Saturday afternoon. At the 7th Street Metro Station I found these Rotarians strategically placed to direct convention-goers.

RI President opens House of Friendship

Rotary International President Wilfrid Wilkinson addressed the crowd before cutting a ribbon to open the House of Friendship on Saturday morning of the convention.

HOF Opens

California Rotary convention workers await the ceremonial opening of the House of Friendship, the main fellowship and exhibit center of every Rotary International Convention. On the right is Grant Engle, chair of this year's House of Friendship.

South Hall

The Rotary banner is illuminated by Saturday morning's sunlight on the South Hall of the LA Convention Center prior to the 9 am opening of the House of Friendship.

At the convention center

After landing in LA I took a shuttle bus and subway to near my hotel, walked the last couple of blocks, and checked in. Then I walked to the convention center where I was able to pick up registration materials, tickets, etc. Along the way I encountered Drake Zimmerman from Normal.

Atlanta layover

My flight to Atlanta was too late for me make my connecting flight, but I was quickly booked on the next AirTran flight to LA about an hour later. In the gate area I met P. C. Wu, a Rotary district governor from Pensacola FL, and his wife, Judi, also awaiting a flight to convention in Los Angeles.

Ready to go

It's 5 am and I'm in the airport at Bloomington IL awaiting a 6 am flight to Atlanta. From there I'll catch a flight to LA.

Watch this space in the near future for my dispatches from the 2008 Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles.