Hello from Capetown

     After what seemed like an endless voyage we arrived safely in Capetown.  Our flights were all as scheduled.  After spending 30+ hours with the group in tight quarters, it reaffirmed that they are all as I anticipated they would be, and we are destined for great things.
     After about 5 hours sleep, we attended the the meetings of Ray's Africa Reunion.  For those non-Rotarians, Ray is Ray Klinginsmith, the International President of Rotary, and the recipient of an Ambassadorial Scholarship to study at the University of Capetown 50 years ago.  We met up with Hennie and Beth, the principal coordinators of our project in Kwazulunatal and it was like returning to family.  I got to meet up with Nick Phillips and many others who I have worked with in the past, and it was a wonderful warm feeling, and helped to explain why it was so wonderfulto be returning.  We got to all meet Ray Klinginsmith and begin to promote our project to him and other influential people and hope that some of our lobbying will stick.  I began to better understand the term networking, as one person would introduce us to another and we really did make some good contacts.
     The meeting was focused on past Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars and Group Study Exchange people as well as some present scholars.  There were many stories about how their Rotary experiences have framed their lives, and after 35 years in Rotary I better understood some of the true meaning of what I had been doing, and was made very proud.
     The opening addresses were by President Ray and Past Rotary President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammer.  They were superb in their content and delivery and obviously have had some practice in addressing an audience.  The next speaker was past scholar and current South African Constitutional Court Judge, Catherine O'Regan who was instrumental in framing much of the human rights law as South Africa left Apartheid.  Jennifer Wilbanks from Evanston, the coordinator of Alumni relations and my buddy Nick Philips spoke about the alumni of the Rotary Foundation.  It was interesting to learn that our District is among the relatively few who have such an organization
     The afternoon began with an address by FW de Klerk, Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of South Africa, who, together with Nelson Mandela, brought the country out of Apartheid.  He was interesting and the South Africans in attendance, to a person, were in awe of the man.  Ray mentioned the anecdote of Steve Brown awarding Presdent de Klerk a Paul Harris Fellow.  Also speaking were former scholars who now serve as a consultant to the World Bank, and a Diplomate from South Africa who was former High Commisioner to India.  The latter was a black man from Kwazulunatal who was born into poverty and made a success of himself.  He was perhaps the most articulate speaker I have ever heard.  It re-enforced the fact that thru our efforts, the child that we might help could one day grow to be such a person.  Truly motivating.
     The audience had people fronm all over Africa as well as some from many countries.
     Tonight we had dinner with Hennie and Beth.  They really talked about a program that will utilize what we have to offer and everyone was energized.
     Will try to write again soon.
Marty