Montreal Convention

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Five years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is riding high. Its football team, the Saints, is the current Super Bowl champion, and its residents have worked hard to rebuild homes and businesses.

Rotarians who attend the 2011 RI Convention, 21-25 May, will find that the city has maintained its character and traditions, including a local dialect that employs some words and phrases you won’t find anywhere else. Here are a few to get you talking like a native.

banquette (ban-ket) What the rest of the country calls a sidewalk.
cher (pronounced like the singer) A term of affection; dear.
fais do-do (fay doe-doe) A Cajun dance party held after the kids are asleep. (Fais do-do is Cajun French for “go to sleep.”)
gallery (gall-ree) The upper-floor loggia-style balconies that are typical of New Orleans architecture.
lagniappe (lan-yap) A little something extra; something thrown in for free. Like The Four-Way Test, lagniappe builds goodwill and better friendships.
picayune (pic-ee-yoon) Small; inconsequential. Comes from the name of a Spanish coin worth an eighth of a dollar. The local newspaper is the Times-Picayune.
yat Slang for a local person. (Comes from the greeting “Where y’at!” which translates to “How are you?”)

Rotary conventions are unique and special events, and I am pleased to invite Rotarians and their guests to attend the 2011 RI Convention in one of my favorite cities, New Orleans!

New Orleans is one of the most historic cities in the United States, yet it is also a modern metropolis with an outstanding convention center. New Orleans is back in full swing with more restaurants and bars than ever before, waiting to welcome you. The world-famous French Quarter has a Mardi Gras atmosphere all year long...Walk the streets and you will hear the hum — the beat — the rhythm — that is New Orleans. The birthplace of jazz! A city that has something for everyone.

New Orleans is truly a special place for me. It was the port where I boarded a Lykes Line freighter in 1961 to sail to South Africa as a Rotary Scholar to study at the University of Cape Town. When the ship sailed under the big bridge over the Mississippi River, I entered an exciting world of new continents, new cultures, and new countries. It was a trip that has lasted a lifetime!

Now the convention during my year as RI president will be held in the New Orleans convention center at the base of that big bridge under which I sailed as a Rotary Scholar. An astonishing coincidence! I look forward to celebrating my 50 years of active involvement in Rotary with Rotarians from around the world! Rotarians are making the world a better place! So let’s meet in New Orleans and celebrate what Rotarians do better than anyone else in the world:

The RI Convention is not only an opportunity to celebrate a successful Rotary year, it’s a chance to learn strategies that will help you become more effective in your Rotary service.

From inspirational plenary sessions to informative workshops to the House of Friendship, Rotary’s annual international meeting offers unparalleled networking and fellowship opportunities:

New Orleans, Louisiana, is a perfect setting for the fellowship and fun that is at the heart of a Rotary convention. New Orleans offers a unique blend of sights and sounds, with traces of Spanish, French, and African influences, seasoned to perfection like a hearty jambalaya. New Orleans’ music and art communities continue to flourish with constant innovation and improvisation. It’s a city with soul, a place with a dynamic and inherently creative culture. There’s never been a better time to visit New Orleans. Five years after Hurricane Katrina, the city is back with more hotels and restaurants than ever before. This vibrant community is a living testament to the spirit of overcoming adversity — and celebrating the good times along the way.

Admire the lacy ironwork balconies as you stroll through the French Quarter. Take a leisurely cruise on the Steamboat Natchez. Enjoy an impromptu street performance in Jackson Square with the St. Louis Cathedral for a backdrop. Climb aboard the historic St. Charles Streetcar to view antebellum homes in the lovely Garden District. Discover the many art museums and galleries now housed in the old Warehouse District.

The newly renovated New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will be the site of the 2011 RI Convention, including all plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and the House of Friendship. This state-of-the-art facility overlooking the majestic Mississippi River is an easy walk from many downtown hotels. The convention center is also just steps from the Riverwalk Marketplace, where you’re sure to find the best gifts and tastes of New Orleans among the unique collection of 140 shops, eateries, and pushcarts. You can also catch a ride on the Riverfront Streetcar and enjoy the view of the parks and docks on your way to the historic French Market.

To help visiting Rotarians sample the best that New Orleans has to offer, the members of the Host Organization Committee have arranged a variety of ticketed events and excursions. Get to know local Rotarians during the traditional Host Hospitality Night. Spend a leisurely afternoon listening to the Sounds of the South Concert, featuring Dixieland jazz, gospel, blues, and zydeco music.

Dive into an Evening of Fun, Food, Fellowship, & Fins at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. And be sure not to miss the French Quarter Dining Experience, where you’ll be able to savor the worldclass cuisine of the city’s best restaurants.

You can complete all your registration forms online — it’s safe, easy, and convenient. See below for step-by-step instructions and contact information for all inquiries.

Take advantage of special preconvention pricing by registering early. Don’t delay: The early registration deadline is Wednesday, 15 December 2010.

If this will be your first Rotary convention, be sure to attend one of the convention orientation meetings on Saturday, 21 May. Hosted by the International Fellowship of Rotarian Convention Goers, the session will give you insider tips for getting the most out of your convention experience.

Rotary International, in conjunction with official convention housing provider Experient Inc., has reserved a block of rooms for Rotarian use during the New Orleans convention. This arrangement enables Rotarians to take advantage of special convention discounts and offers.

District Calendar

Quick tip: For the most up-to-date schedule, go to www.rotary.org/convention.

The convention registration process involves three different organizations: Rotary International for the convention and RI-ticketed events, the New Orleans Host Organization Committee for host-ticketed events, and Experient Inc. for hotel reservations for both individuals and groups.

Quick tip: E-mail your questions about host-ticketed events to hostevent2011info@gmail.com.

Quick tip: E-mail your questions about hotel reservations to rotary@experient-inc.com, or call 1-800-650-6913 (toll-free in North America) or +1-847-996-5885.