2005-06
RIPE Carl Wilhelm Stenhammar's
Speech
16 Jan. 2005
Thank you all so much for your warm welcome. It makes me feel at home when I see the decorations, the national flag, the national anthem and everything in this room tonight.
In 1638, the Swedes went up the Delaware River and settled there for 17 years before they were kicked out by the Dutch. But the Swedes had continued to live in that place and today, if you visit the graveyards in Delaware, you can still see a lot of Swedish names on the tombstones. That is what the Swedes have left behind since that time. The flag of Delaware is very colorful. It also consists of the two major colors of the Swedish national flag __ blue and yellow, which are also the colors of Rotary.
Not long after I was nominated RI President of 2005-06, I received a call from a Rotarian in Delaware. I have never heard from him before and never since. He suggested to me may be I should consider using a blue and yellow striped pattern for the official jacket of my year. Imagine 529 governors running around the world looking like clowns. That of course, was a dumb idea. But I kept thinking about using the two colors. There are other options, like having one sleeve blue and the other yellow, or blue in front and yellow at the back. However, the idea came up about a reversible jacket.
The concept of a reversible jacket is to wear a blue jacket when I attend a formal function like tonight. But if I have to attend a more casual event like going to barbecue or something, I can just unbutton my jacket, flip it over and wear the other side as a casual jacket.
I am here tonight to talk about my year of 2005. But a lot of things will have to be revealed until the International Assembly in Anaheim next month.
Since July 1 this year, I have been living in Evanston in a quarter provided by RI. In my year as Nominee, I had been traveling between USA and Sweden and I had three offices: one in Sweden, one in Evanston and one under my arm. And now in the garage below my apartment, I am provided with a company car. So every morning I drive this car to the office, which is only five blocks away. In fact it is faster by walking.
One time, when I was addressing a Rotary Club in Sweden, I told them a bicycle was what I really needed. Not long after, they gave me a bicycle as a gift. Then my wife told me that since I now have a bicycle, I need a helmet. And when I mentioned that at a US mid west institute, I again got a helmet as a present. Let me tell you now what my wife likes to have ____ a Picasso painting.
As we celebrate one hundred years of Rotary, we come to think of two important cornerstones of Rotary, Fellowship and Friendship, like what we are doing tonight. I have a friend in Sweden who hosts a horse show on TV. One time, when he was in an indoor arena, watching the show from a small screen up above while I was watching from a big screen, he said to me that the difference was he could enjoy the smell at the scene. That is exactly what I am enjoying, the smell of our fellowship and friendship.
When I was chairing a Communications Committee in RI, we discussed about a cyberspace Rotary Club project. Even though I was not in favor of it, I still agreed a trial period of three years. If we had not tried, we would never know if it works. But there are things that a cyberspace Rotary Club cannot do. How about all the assemblies and conferences? The reason we get together is like what we are enjoying tonight__ friendship and fellowship, which could never be felt through the cyberspace.
As for the direction in my year, I believe in Continuity and Cooperation. For example, Past President Majiyagbe emphasized on Literacy, President Glenn continued on Literacy and added Water Management. When I discussed that with my wife Monica, I was much for Literacy while Monica thinks that Water Management is more important. So that is simple. I will focus both on Literacy and Water Management so that there will be peace in my kitchen.
Some Rotary leaders do not like to join with other entities in carrying out services. The reason is that they worry that the Rotary image will be covered by those of others. However, I do not agree to that point. Once I attended a press conference in Zurich, Switzerland, which was jointly held with Unicef and WHO on the issue of Polio Plus. When we heard the two representatives talked, we learnt a lot of things and the Rotary image was also enhanced through their endorsement.
Finally, I would like to invite you all come to the Malmo-Copenhagen Convention in 2006. Why Chicago? Too many people there. Come to enjoy the only convention that is held in two countries, connected by just a bridge. I wish to thank you all once again for showing me this wonderful hospitality tonight.