百週年焦點Centennial Spotlight

國際年會在扶輪歷史具有關鍵地位

Conventions hold key place in Rotary history

當來自14個扶輪的60位扶輪社員於1910年8月在美國伊利諾州芝加哥市聚會

時，他開啟了年會的傳統，這個年會現在每年吸引15,000到30,000名來自100多個國家的扶輪社員參加。除瓦成立「全國扶輪社聯合會」(National Association of Rotary Clubs)之外，第一屆扶輪年會的代表們也創下在年會閉幕時唱離別歌「Auld Lang Syne」的習慣，且仍維持至今。

When 60 Rotarians from 14 Rotary clubs came together in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in August 1910, they started the tradition of a yearly meeting - one that now draws 15,000 to 30,000 participants from more than 100 countries. In addition to establishing the National Association of Rotary Clubs, the delegates to the first Rotary convention also began the time-honored custom of closing the convention by singing "Auld Lang Syne."

最早的11次年會都在美國舉行，但自從1921年蘇格蘭的愛丁堡年會之後，年會就到世界各地舉辦，先後在21個國家，55個城市受到熱烈的歡迎。美國已經主辦了58次國際年會，其中6次在扶輪的誕生地—芝加哥舉行。有6次國際年會是在加拿大各大城舉行，而墨西哥和法國各舉辦了4次。

The first 11 conventions were held in the United States, but since the 1921 meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, the convention has moved around the world, finding a warm welcome in 55 cities in 21 countries. The United States has hosted 58 conventions, 6 of them in Chicago, Rotary's birthplace. Six conventions have been held in Canadian cities, and Mexico and France have hosted four each.

歷經這麼多年，年會與會人數劇幅成長。1978年國際扶輪東京年會創下了至今尚未被打破的39,834人的出席人數，有許多扶輪社員希望2005年扶輪百週年國際年會將打破這項紀錄。但出席人數規模僅僅是促使扶輪國際年會圓滿成功的因素之一。例如16,000名在1988年參加美國賓州費城國際年會的扶輪社員們，永遠也不會忘記當年會宣佈扶輪社員們幾乎達成兩倍的根除小兒痲痺計畫募款目標那一刻，全場歡欣鼓舞的情形。

Over the years, the number of convention goers has grown dramatically. In 1978, the RI Convention in Tokyo set a standing attendance record of 39,834 that many Rotarians are hoping will be broken at the centennial convention in 2005. But size is only one factor that makes a Rotary convention great. For example, the 16,000 Rotarians who gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, in 1988 will never forget the exuberant celebration following the announcement that Rotarians had almost doubled their fundraising goal for PolioPlus.

在早期，所有重大扶輪事務都在國際年會處理。隨著扶輪的成長，三年一度的立法會議遂成為扶輪組織的主要立法集會，每年一度的國際年會主要節目為演講及娛樂。可是，對大多數扶輪社員來講，國際聯誼是國際年會主要吸引人的地方，今年6月數以千計的社員將在布理斯班國際年會享受那種獨特的經驗，這是在澳大利亞舉行的第三次國際年會。

In the early days, all important Rotary business was conducted at the convention. As Rotary grew, the triennial Council on Legislation became the organization's chief legislative meeting, and speeches and entertainment took center stage at the annual meeting. For most Rotarians, however, international fellowship is the convention's primary drawing card, and next month, thousands of members will enjoy that unique experience in Brisbane, Queensland, at the 94th RI Convention, the third to be held in Australia.