By Immediate Past Chair Pat Armstrong and Chair 2023-2024 Yasar Atacik
RICON ’24 and the Spirit of Sharing Hope with the World
In the last week of May, the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in the heart of Singapore came alive with the buzz of 14,000 Rotarians, Rotaractors and their guests, who had gathered in the spirit of Sharing Hope with the World.
There were so many memorable moments for the ESRAG members who travelled to Singapore for this annual event. The ESRAG booth in the House of Friendship was a focal point for ESRAG members to meet old friends, make new ones and tell the ESRAG story to the many visitors who dropped by. There were countless photo opportunities and a steady stream of people joining ESRAG and signing up for information. Many thanks to Ambaree Majumder and her team of volunteers for setting up and looking after the booth over the five days.
Ambaree also organised a magnificent vegetarian dinner for about 30 ESRAG members in an authentic Singapore restaurant. Even the vegetarian sceptics were won over by the colourful and tasty food.
Celebrating the growth and impact of ESRAG, Chair Elect Yavuz Atila coordinated an informal gathering for current ESRAG members and those curious about this young Rotary Action Group. ESRAG members spoke about the history of ESRAG, our achievements and aspirations. The passion, pride and teamwork of the speakers told the story of a dynamic and influential group.
ESRAG members spoke at several breakout sessions, including Liz Henke and Ludwig Kalthoff, and on Tuesday, 28 May, a panel of ESRAG members presented a session: Learn how Rotary could become carbon neutral by 2040. The panel included PRIP Ian Riseley, Dave Alexander, Pat Armstrong, Ludwig Kalthoff, and Yasar Atacik, with the session moderated by Yavuz Atila. Over 80 people attended this session, and many stayed behind to ask questions. This presentation was the culmination of about two years’ work by the ESRAG Climate Roadmap Working Group.
At this year’s RICON, past and present ESRAG Directors were able to meet with senior Rotary leaders to discuss how ESRAG can best serve Rotary and to share our hopes in caring for the natural world.
