2002 Rotary Convention Barcelona (Spain)

Following a very successful AGM/Luncheon at the Meridien Hotel Las Rambias Barcelona Iforian's travelled to Istanbul Turkye to participate in the annual IYFR get together which had been organised by IVCmdre Ferit Berin. After arrival and cruise along the straits of Bosphorus a welcome dinner in a seafood restaurant took place. The following day was very busy full of culture, art, and history with a lunch in the courtyards of Topkapi Palace. In the evening Iforian's flew to Goek for a dinner on the waterfront. The third day they sailed from Fethiye Marina to Gocek to meeting welcoming Iforian's. In the evening they travelled to Oludeniz to be welcomed by Frthiye Rotary Club. The next day we visited Ephesus and a farewell dinner at the Kusadasi Kismit Hotel took place.

It was reported that Herman Allerstorfer from Hawaii and Peter Pohi of Germany met together and proceeded to Gotenburg to pay a return visit to Sweden what a welcome the Swedish Iforian's gave them the red carpet was well and truly laid out for them. They sailed in four yachts around Baastad on the Swedish West Coast before return back to Gotenburg for their journey home.

In March four Rotary Iforian;s all over the age of 70 set out from Waikiki (USA) to sail in a 42 foot cutter (Orion) to Tahiti a distance of some 2300 miles. They planned to explore the French Polynesia once there, so Congratulation's should be passed to Capt Max Besenbtuch age 78, Herman Allerstorfer age 76, Peter Pohi age 74 and Don Rudd age 72. for a job well done.

Left to Right: Peter Pohl Herman Auerstorfer Don Rudd Max Besenbtuck

Other events which took place prior to our meeting in Brisbane was, when some 60 Iforian's representing 10 of 14 Fleets in Gt Britain met at Pin Mill to participate in the Thames Barge Disabled outings. Another very successful "Kids Day Out" was organised by the Sussex Fleet when some 130 children were taken sailing for the day.

The Paget Sound Iforian's (Mariner's) were joined by Vice International Commodore Bill Robinson when the fleet took part in the open day of the Daffodil Parade.

It is reported that a new Columbia River Fleet is in the making for Rotary Iforian's/Mariners living in the greater Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver Washington area. Thanks to our IVCmdre Bill Robinson as a result of Pacific Northwest connection with Russia work is taking place with the Lake Baikal region of Siberia to form what may be the first Fleet in Russia (There are some 70 Rotary Clubs in Russia) with the help of District 5030 Seattle Number 4 the Russian Rotary Matching Grant Program the Lake Baikal Rotarian's are planning a "Kayaks for Kids" project to take disabled children out so that they can enjoy the experience the joy's and freedom of Kayaking Further discussions are planned to take place at the IYFR Brisbane Convention

An invitation has been passed to all Iforian's by VIC Ferit Beren to visit Turkye and sail in their yacht M/V Rotayat she is a 22.5 m (73.77ft) steel yacht powered by two diesel engines, the capacity is for 100 people, the dining room seats some 70 people. It is to be used as a training ship for all forms of coastal navigation, Nautical Astronomy, Seamanship, Meteorology, Oceanography, Signaling, etc.