Vancouver
October 18 - 21 2012

    
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

Institute Keynote Speakers and Entertainment

Check this page regularly for updates on the Institute 2012 keynote speakers, senior Rotary leaders and unique presentations that will be part of Institute 2012

Our Institute 2012 speakers will challenge you, motivate you, make you think and make you want to work even harder to bring peace and understanding to our communities locally and internationally. You may not agree with all our speakers but you will be stirred to action by their presentations.

Institute keynote speakers and presentations will focus on our theme “Proud Leaders Celebrate Service”.  Presentations will spotlight the Rotary’s 5 Avenues of Service. Trending Rotary issues such as the full roll out of The Rotary Foundation Future Vision plan in 2013 will be an important topic also the 2013 Council on Legislation. Discussions of proposed contentious COL enactments and resolution are potential topics.

Our keynote speakers will be senior Rotary leaders, Rotarians involved in service projects and non Rotarians.  The goal of the institute planning team is to select keynote speakers that challenge and motivate.  We want you to be inspired and stirred to change our world and our community.  

The Westin Bayshore Vancouver has outstanding conference facilities that will be the location of Institute activities. With 40 meeting rooms, totaling 71,337 square feet, The Westin Bayshore Vancouver is the perfect setting for the Zone 24-32 Rotary Institute in 2012. Our keynote speakers will be using the 15,500 square foot Bayshore Grand Ballroom. State-of-the-art meeting rooms are the city's most technologically advanced.
Bayshore Grand Ballroom
 
       
Joe Roberts
The Skid Row CEO
 

Joe Roberts is an inspirational example of overcoming adversity and managing change. In 1989 he was living under a bridge as a homeless skid row street person. Today, Joe Roberts, CEO, best-selling author and public speaker, is an expert at innovation, overcoming adversity, and inspiring change within an audience. This successful CEO keeps audiences on the edge of their seats as they laugh and learn the principles of how to overcome adversity, achieve their dreams, and make a positive change in their lives.

The most effective leaders in society are those rare individuals who can inspire their audience with a passion that can only come from personal experience. As the President and CEO of an extremely successful multimedia company, Joe Roberts has faced and overcome key business challenges which confront every modern organization. Joe's business solutions have made millions of dollars for his clients, across a variety of business sectors. Joe draws on this experience when addressing Fortune 500 companies, Boards of Trade and professional associations internationally.

Joe knows the key to overcoming challenges, he will offer practical steps to overcoming adversity, that are tangible and easy to follow.
 
   
Bob Scott  
Bob Scott, Past RI Vice President and Past Chair of The Rotary Foundation will update all delegates on the progress of polio eradication. When will we close the gap and eradicate the last 1%?

Bob was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, and received a medical degree with distinction in dermatology and chest diseases from the University of Edinburgh in 1957. After his internship and two years of mandatory military service, he spent six years in general practice in North Wales. In 1966, Bob emigrated to Cobourg, where he continued as a general practitioner until 1994. He then served as medical director of a home for the elderly and other geriatric facilities until 1997. He was a coroner for the Province of Ontario and investigated more than 1,200 cases before retiring in May 2000.

In 2004, Bob became a Rotary Foundation trustee. In 2006, he began his term as chair of the International PolioPlus Committee. A member of the Arch C. Klumph Society, Bob has received the RI Service Above Self Award, The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, the International Service Award for a Polio-Free World, and the Four Avenues of Service Citation. He has been named an outstanding leader in polio eradication by the United Nations Foundation and has received the Glenn Sawyer Service Award from the Ontario Medical Association for professional and community achievement.
 
 
Langley Ukulele Ensemble  

John Berger, entertainment critic for the Honolulu Advertiser declared, "Langley, British Columbia is the nexus of ukulele outside of Hawaii." His comment was made after seeing the Langley Ukulele Ensemble share the stage with the Islands' greatest ukulele legends. This affirmation, combined with the acknowledgement and acceptance of the world's ukulele fraternity is further evidence of the treasure that we have here on Canada's Pacific Coast". The group will perform at the closing brunch on October 21 at the Rotary Institute. Well know to Rotary they have performed at the RI Conventions in San Antonio, Los Angeles and New Orleans and many Rotary District conferences and events.

The Langley Ukulele Ensemble is now in its 30th year under the direction of Peter Luongo. During this time the group has developed a reputation at home and abroad for excellence in musical performance. The ensemble members range in age from 12 to 21 years, and are students attending secondary or post-secondary institutions. During the past year, they performed for the 16th consecutive year at the Sheraton Waikiki resort in Honolulu, Hawaii and they returned to Liverpool, Nova Scotia where they were brought back by popular demand to be featured performers at the 3rd International Ukulele Ceilidh. The Ensemble also traveled to Stratford, Ontario where they opened the 10th Annual Stratford Music Festival.

Performing as many as 80 concerts per year, they have traveled throughout Canada and the U.S., as well as to Japan. It is noteworthy that the Langley Ensemble is not out of place sharing the stage with ukulele performers such as Herb Ohta (Ohta san) - acknowledged as the world's greatest player - and current ukulele phenom, Jake Shimabukuro. Indeed, the audience reaction would suggest that the Canadian contingent holds its own among this elite group.

The group's motto is ‘Enriching Lives Through Music’. The members of the Langley Ukulele Ensemble are challenged to strive towards excellence in musical performance and to use music as a vehicle through which they can be role models and leaders amongst their peers. The group members see themselves as musical ambassadors for Canada, British Columbia, Langley, as well as for youth. They hope to leave audiences with a sense that there is reason to be hopeful about the future of today's youth.