Rtn Anne Moriaty: International Assembly and the path to becoming a DG

Our member Anne Moriaty, who will be our District Governor in 2024-25, spoke to us today about her path to becoming DG and, in particular, the International Assembly in January.

It all started when she was coming to the end of her term as President and commented to the then District Governor that she did not know what she would do next. She suddenly found herself appointed Area Governor!

This was intended to lead to election as District Governor. The first time she stood she was defeated by three votes, leaving her feeling relieved that she had “dodged the bullet”. The second time she was elected.

The DGE from every Rotary District around the world is invited, indeed expected, to attend the annual International Assembly held in the USA in the January before they are due to become District Governors. Anne and her husband, Steve, flew out in December so they could spend Christmas with their younger daughter, her husband and their three year-old son.

After that short holiday they travelled on to the International Assembly, which was held in an enormous hotel. Anne said that she and Steve easily walked more than 5,000 steps a day just walking between their room and the conference facilities. Some 200 countries were represented. Each country had a display. The British Isles display included a life-sized cardboard cut-out of King Charles, which proved popular with attendees from all over the world who wanted their pictures taken with “His Majesty”.

In addition to conference presentations their were workshops where DGEs from different countries got together. Small gifts were exchanged and Anne and Steve acquired a number of such goodies to bring back. (See the picture.) Next year’s Rotary International President hosted four dinners over four days for the DGEs. Anne and Steve attended the first one. They had their photograph taken with the incoming International President but Anne said she was disappointed with it.

She gave us all a District pen for 2024-25, bearing both her name and Steve’s, and a lapel badge (or “pin” to use the American parlance) showing next year’s theme logo on the theme “The Magic of Rotary”. The Club wished her well for her year as District Governor and promised to support her during her year.