This was indeed a memorable event: the
first ever to highlight officially the work of
ICCs and to acknowledge their scope and success in the world
of Rotary International.
There were over 800 participants, from 31 countries. The Organising
Committee - especially Chairman PDG Marcel Stefanski, Past Director
Jacques Chauvin, Director Elect and National Coordinator for France
Serge Gouteyron, Host District Governors Lucien Elegant and Bernard
Bonnes - are to be
highly commended for their superb arrangements which allowed the
Programme to flow smoothly throughout the great day.
We
were ushered into the Palais de Congres, clutching our copies of Nice Matin with its 4 page Rotary Supplement detailing the CV of our
RI President and his welcome to the Celebration, welcomes from the
Mayor and the two local District Governors. There
were also articles on the History of RI and ICCs, together with
stories of successful Projects.
Our
first duty in the Hall was to stand in memory of Virgilio Marzot,
our Vice-President, who had died suddenly only days before.
After
the Welcomes and Introductions, Director Gennaro Cardinale
introduced President Jonathan who talked of the purpose of the
meeting – to celebrate the success of Inter Country Committees in
many areas of the world, leading to international understanding and
the furtherance of Rotary Programmes worldwide. He hoped that we
would all participate with enthusiasm to make the day a success. He
wanted us to share our activities with Rotarians everywhere.
Serge Gouteyron followed with his concept of the role of ICCs
today, having been a part of RI for some 53 years. There are now 200
ICCs active in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The fall of
Communism led to the birth and rebirth of Rotary in Central Europe
– and, without the help of ICCs, the progress would have been much
slower.
The
History, Aims, Structure, Operations and Financing were outlined as
well.
Onder
Bilginer, President of the Executive Committee of ICCs, came next.
He took Frank Devlyn’s statement -
‘If
ICCs did not exist, we would have to reinvent them.’
He
explained why the work of ICCs had become vital for Rotary. He
explained their efforts to implement understanding and peace between
peoples of different cultures, as well as their role in extending
Rotary services to remote parts of the world. He underlined the
development of ICCs towards new horizons - North and South America,
the Middle and Far East. He especially asked President Jonathan to
have the ICCs officially recognised by the RI Board, to be included
in the ‘Official Directory’ and to be part of Rotary information
given to Governors Elect at Anaheim.
Then came examples of ICCs in action – 14 presentations by
ICC Delegates giving details of humanitarian, cultural and
educational Projects. This was all done
with PowerPoint Presentations, Videos, Slides and …talking!
PDG
Carol Wylie
(D5280) also spoke on peace and the importance
of our perceptions. Robert Vandenbussche
must be congratulated on his technical expertise in producing this
part of the programme, a dedicated and time-consuming exercise.
The
audience was amazed by the scope and variety of these activities. It
was then time to break for lunch, in the company of a Folk Group
from Grasse.
The
afternoon started with 5 more Presentations before 2 Peace Scholars
from Paris University gave us their assessments of this new Rotary
initiative.
We
then had the first Round Table Discussion – The Promotion of Peace.
Antoine
Leonetti (Lecturer at the Peace & Development Law Institute of
Nice) started. He gave us a history of
Peace Studies and Mediation. General Cot then made his very
practical and contentious contribution to be followed by Renaud
Muselier, French Minister of State for Foreign Affaires who stated
that peace was not the absence of war as health is not the absence
of illness. There were several questions
from the floor but politics began to intrude.
President Jonathan next presented charters for ICCs between
France - Togo, - Canada and - China.
The
second Round Table Discussion followed–
How to raise the profile of ICCs and extend their role.
Former or serving Directors of RI together with Onder Bilginer,
President of the Executive Committee of ICCs, were ‘allowed’ 90
seconds to give their recommendations.
Some
interesting points were made and the Panel also answered questions
from the floor.
- More
publicity was needed everywhere, by all possible means:
- Rotaract
should be fostered and their entry into Rotary encouraged:
- Inter
Continental Committees could be formed based on Friendship:
- More
use of the Internet and Websites:
- Governors
to repeat the message.
Onder presented plaques to Past Presidents of the Inter
Country Committees’ Executive Committee.
Marcel
Stefanski gave a well-structured and comprehensive Thank You to all
who had helped to make this day possible and to reach such a
successful climax.
President
Jonathan summarised proceedings, promised to plead our case to the
Board and thanked all present and especially all those who had made
the day happen.
The celebration ended with a Gala Dinner in the HQ Hotel that
evening.
A
great day which marked significant progress for Inter Country
Committees. Now we must consolidate this
by attending the Plenary Meeting of ICCs to be held in Strasbourg -
Friday April 30th and Saturday May 1st 2004.
Details will be circulated soon.
