Frank
Devlyn
President-elect,
Rotary International
Rotary
Club of
Mexico City-Anahuac, Mexico
Presidential
Acceptance Speech
Rotary
International Convention
Buenos
Aires, Argentina
Mi familia Rotaria:
Deseo pedirles disculpas pro no poder dirigirme a ustedes en nuestro idioma comun el español, especialmente estando aqui en Argentina. Tenemos que recordar que el ingles es el idioma oficial de Rotary International y por lo tanto es obligatorio dar me mensaje en este dia que va para los Rotarios de todo el mundo en ingles.
President Carlo Ravizza, Rossana, my fellow Rotarians, friends of Rotary:
As the world crossed the uncertain threshold of a
new millennium this year, Rotary stayed firmly on course under the
skilled guidance of our president, Carlo Ravizza. On behalf of the
world’s Rotarians, Gloria Rita and I wish to thank President Carlo and
First Lady Rossana for their dedication and leadership, which has
strengthened and invigorated Rotary for a new century of service.
As I look ahead to the many challenges and joys the
coming year will bring, I’d also like to take a moment to thank my
wife, Gloria Rita. Without her, I can confidently say I would not be
here today.
I also want to thank all my family whom you have
seen presented on stage. Each of them has played a significant part in
my life as well as Gloria Rita’s.
My friends, it is a true honor and a privilege to
stand before you on this special occasion. It means a lot to me to have
this chance to address so many of the world’s Rotarians at one time,
because I consider us to be a team. Yes, I will be the leader of our
organization in 2000-2001. But I am counting on your support to achieve
the goals I have planned for Rotary.
Today we face a vast ocean of possibilities and
opportunities. At the end of the Rotary year 2000-2001, it is my hope,
dream, and prayer that we will have transformed these possibilities and
opportunities into stories of success and triumph.
I do not know what every club’s success story will be. Nor do I know what every district will accomplish. But I do know that in every corner of the Rotary world, people are waiting for someone to give them hope.