It's traditional that the first Rotarian magazine of the Rotary year carries a profile of the incoming RI president and his or her family. I've always read those profiles with interest, never giving much thought to the possibility that one day, I might be the one bringing a writer from the magazine to my Rotary club meeting! I have never liked a lot of attention, and the idea of having my picture on the magazine cover made me a bit uncomfortable. But when I saw the photo the editors chose, I smiled. Because the star of that picture definitely isn't me, or even my wife, Esther. It's the flock of flamingos, none of which could care less about Rotary, all strutting past us in the same direction. All of them — except one.

Dear friends,

 

The past five months have granted me the opportunity to meet, during my official visits, almost ALL clubs in Armenia, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Lebanon and UAE. DGE Shawkat Tadros with AG Michel Fasheh have visited Palestine RCs and AG Esmat Mehaimed will visit the Club of Khartoum in Sudan. I would like to thank Shawkat, (Sheikh) Michel and Esmat. I wish I could visit those two countries where I will make good fellowship.