OUTFOXING FABIAN

OR

THE LITTLE DISTRICT CONFERENCE THAT COULD

by

Greg Lynch

May 7, 2004

It was the worst hurricane to hit Bermuda in 50 years. The island was battered by winds of 125 mph with wind gusts to 132 mph. The storm approached the island on September 4, 2003. By the time that Hurricane Fabian finally moved west on September 7, 2003, it left in its wake numerous fatalities and wide-spread destruction with losses valued in the 100s of millions of dollars. In the months prior to the storm, the grande dame of Bermuda resort hotels, the Fairmont Southampton Princess, had been refurbished to the tune of $60 million. In the hurricane, its roof was blown off and, like so many properties, the hotel stood a battered hulk.

Just as the island was shattered, so were the chances of our Rotary District 7230 Conference, scheduled for October 2003. In fact, Governor Sully tells us that when he visited the Hotel on September 15, 2003, he was issued an umbrella to go into the lobby. At that point, Sully realized that there was no way that the Conference could take place, no doubt a lost and sinking realization for any District Governor. Surely, Sully and his Leadership Team passed many tense hours trying to figure out what the next move could be. By early October the clubs were notified that the fall Conference in Bermuda had to be cancelled. It was, as we lawyers are found of saying, an “Act of God”.

The alternative was to be a District 7230 Annual Meeting at the World Financial Center in Manhattan. The chief architects of the event were Blanche Christian-Crawford of the Riverdale Club and Ted Perednia of North Shore Rotary. Clarence Plummer, Helen Reisler and myself were there from New York Rotary. There was a funny thing about the day. In the face of the collapse of the Bermuda Conference and the hastily convoked meeting, there was great Rotary fellowship and great camaraderie. Somehow, out of the adversity we faced together as a District, was born the spirit and the will to regroup and rebuild our Conference. So it was that the 81st Annual Conference of District 7230 was scheduled for April 29 - May 2, 2004 at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel, Southampton, Bermuda.

Riding in the Rotary van from the airport, I realized what I had forgotten - Bermuda is a true jewel of an island, in its natural beauty, in the friendliness of the Onions (a nick name for Bermudians) and in the diligence that creates much man-made harmony. The white roofs of the island gleamed, softened by the pastel colors of the walls. The hibiscus, bougainvillea and lilies bloom as do the smiles that greet you. We heard stories of Fabian’s destructiveness. The Sonesta resort - the venue of many Rotary encounters - would be no more. Yet, there was not a sign of the prior devastation. The Fairmont Southampton was more polished than ever and every room still looked out into the sea. It was good to be back.

The Fairmont Southampton is great. Not a bad room in the house. From its perch on a hill, you might spy the ocean from almost any perspective. Though its not on the beach there is a courtesy bus to a lovely pink sand beach. There is also a ferry over to Hamilton, with its many smart shops and watering holes. The Fairmont will also be hosting our District 7230 “On to Bermuda” fellowship excursion from October 24 to 31, 2004. By the way, in-coming Governor Don Lee would love to see as many Rotarians there as fit on the island.

Our first evening in Bermuda, we were each hosted by a Bermudian family. Governor nominee Helen Reisler and others were hosted by Governor David Sullivan, Esq., J.P. and his family. We headed off to Fairyland with Gail and Paul Caruso to be hosted by June and Arthur Morris. There were lots of stories of the force of Fabian and lots of great fellowship and food. It was a very personal way of starting the District Conference. Over the next days, we had many opportunities to share with the Bermudians. They were so friendly and helpful. Really, that same spirit has been one of the important hallmarks of Sully’s year as District Governor.

One program presented at the Conference really impressed me. It is Rotary Youth Exchange. This is a program run by the District whereby high school age students spend a school year with a family abroad. The four Bermuda Rotary Clubs have some fifteen students going overseas and receiving the same number on the island. I met quite a few of these young people. They were bright, friendly and very grateful to Rotary for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Here in New York we do get involved with Rotary Scholars and Group Study Exchange, but not very much with Youth Exchange. Maybe it’s a program we need to take another look at.

PDG Yvette Palmer and her husband Bill represented R.I. President Jonathan Majiyagbe at the Conference. Yvette is a powerful and articulate speaker and her message about the urgency of supporting the R.I. Foundation was a clear and powerful one. That message was echoed by Governor elect Don Lee, who shared with us the R.I. Centennial fundraising goal of $100 per Rotary member in 2004-05. Of course we all understood their messages of financial commitment. In our own New York Rotary Club, we have just raised substantial monies for R.I. programs with our Paul Harris Fellowship campaign. Yet our Club has its own programs and priorities and its own charitable New York Rotary Foundation. I guess the message from the rank and file members back to our leadership is that we support R.I. initiatives but you have got to work with us and help us raise funds and get smarter in our giving programs. How do we keep saving kids through our local Gift of Life program while supporting world literacy. Digging deeper can’t be the only answer.

Whether sipping a beverage on a new friend’s terrace overlooking the sunset, sharing fellowship at a seaside dinner, playing a round of golf, rejuvenating at the spa or simply relaxing at the wine cellar, Bermuda has much to offer in both its natural beauty and its amenities - and lots of Rotary fellowship and camaraderie. So let’s think about putting together a group of New York Rotarians for the October trip. The Bermudians have promised “no more Fabians in 2004”.

Unquote.

Thanks,

Greg