The 2008 Rotary District 1270 Conference took place at The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate during the weekend of 19-21 September.

The weekend began with bacon butties before the Golf Tournament at Oakdale Golf Club where Rtn Pat Slaven was the overall winner.

Friday night's Ceildah Band - The Shinjig proved to be so popular that the dance floor was just not big enough.

The business part of the programme was themed so that each session could stand alone and delegates that could not make all the sessions did not miss out.

The speakers spoke on a variety of topics from the clubs who gave an over view of their projects to non Rotarian speakers who were thought provoking as well as those who were humorous.  All were inspirational. 

District Governor, Mohammad Ali closed the Saturday morning session by presenting Camila Batmanghelidjh, Founder of Kids Co with a Paul Harris Fellowship for her work with what she describes at her "ferral children".  Camila is the cover story for September's Director Magazine.  To read the article clik on this link - www.director.co.uk/MAGAZINE/2008/9%20September/camila_62_2.html 

Saturday night was the District Governor's Round The World Ball.  Rtns and Guests dressed in costumes from around the world - Mexico, India, Sierra Leone, Great Britain, Egypt to name but a few.

Clubs decorated tables using a variety of objects from buckets filled with concrete to flower arrangemnts, flags to fruit, maraccas to blow up palm trees.  The ingenuity of the Rotarians of District 1270 knew no bounds. 

The fellowship was fabulous as everyone danced the night away to live band - The Nightjars.

The Rotary Club of Brigg performed a unique rendition of "The Lincolnshire Poacher" in honour of their fellow Rotarian, District Governor Mohammad Ali.

The theme of the conference was "Flying Faster, Flying Freer, Flying Further" and there is no doubt that this was what everyone did - speakers, guests and Rotarians alike. 

"Faster" - The programme, a mixture of high profile speakers and club projects combined with music and pictures that kept everyone enthralled without any time for boredom.

"Freer" - Delegates were challenged to think outside the box and let go of their prejudices and from some of the costumes at the Round The World Ball it was clear there were no inhibitions there!

"Further" - Inspirational speakers sent delegates away enthused and ready for action - exactly as promised a year ago when the Conference Chair presented a conference with a difference.

(Note to Rotarians - over the course of the next couple of weeks, there will be individual speaker articles uploaded to the website, some of which may not be on the public section.)