Article and Pictures Submitted by: Scott Soderberg, District 5580 Public Image and Communications Chair
My first zone conference and what a way to get your Rotary straight up! Where else can you sit next to the incoming Rotary International President and his wife (Holger and Suzanne Knaack), meet Rotary’ s past General Secretary and CEO (Ed Futa), have a cocktail with Rotary’s dynamic Jennifer Jones (TRF Trustee 2019-2023) and husband Nick and chat with incoming (2020-2022) RI Director Suzi Howe?
(2020-2021 Rotary International President, Holger Knaack, and his wife Suzanne)
(Scott Soderberg with TRF Trustee and Past Rotary International Vice President Jennifer Jones)
(Rotary International Past General Secretary Ed Futa)
It was a who’s who and some of the nicest folks I’ve had the pleasure to meet! Random elevator trips with Dallas Rotarians, a chance to be in the Zone Tones (might have to learn how to read music someday) and be entertained and taught by interesting and talented Rotarians as well as learn from our counterparts from around the Zone! I along with the other attendees watched a Rotarian donate $1 million to the foundation and to add another $500k because he knew what a tremendous impact he could make!
We heard a first-hand account of how polio affected a Kansas City Rotarian’s family, a story so painful, it took his mother 50 years to be able to finally talk about the death of her son and the kindness of neighbors and strangers during WWII and the restrictions on the homefront.
We learned of Rotary’s first All-Veterans Club in Minneapolis started by 5950’s own DGE Tom Gump and Brittany Sievers, a past U.S. Army veteran with 3 tours to her credit and a tremendous spirit to serve!
It was like a district conference on steroids with everything on top! Thank you District 5580 for the opportunity!
-Scott Soderberg
District 5580 Public Image and Communications Chair