|
 Will
Manier, Jr.,
Nashville, Tennessee
Maurice Duperrey had just been elected the first French President of
Rotary International. Ironically, considering the gathering storm of
war, the Frenchman was proposed for office by a German Rotarian.
Manier Bio
Wolfgang Ziegler |
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RI President 1936-1937, Will R. Manier, Jr., Nashville, Tennessee |
Paul Harris becoming an Officer of the
French
Legion |
The
Medal
was presented during the 1937 convention at Nice which Paul
Harris was able to attend |
Convention Hall, "Casino Municipal" in Nice |
1937 -
An Adventure in World Peace and Understanding
Rotarians gathered in the Municipal Casino Nice, France between June
6th-11th 1937 for their annual Convention. President of the French
Republic, M Albert Lebrun and M Yvron Delbos, Foreign Affairs minister
both addressed the almost 6,000 present representing 65 nations. Both
politicians called on Rotary to use its influence to promote world
understanding.
Charles Jourdan-Gassin, Chairman of the Organising Committee worked hard
to make the Convention a success but it was between 1940 and 1945 that
this man's organizational skills would best serve Rotary as he battled
against all odds to keep Rotary a living force in occupied France.
Maurice Duperrey had just been elected the first French President of
Rotary International. Ironically, considering the gathering storm of
war, the Frenchman was proposed for office by a German Rotarian.
The Foundation embarked on a campaign to raise a cool $2 million to
develop International Understanding. Outgoing President Manier,
beginning his speech in French, defined Rotary as an adventure in
International Understanding and Good Will. |
Paul Harris
crossed the Atlantic to be able to
address the convention. "Rotary
is not concerned with the differences between men, it is concerned with
their common ideal, the ideal of service. One can make allowances for
men in whose hearts and minds the ideal of service dwells."
 The President Emeritus also told of a splendid gesture made by the
people of
Buenos
Aires where a monument had been erected and devoted to
the people of Montevideo, Uruguay. This showed a love and respect for
one's neighbors.
In the Report of the Commission on Rotary International Administration
(established in 1934), the historical development of the movement was
set out. It also set out what the Convention actually existed for. The
member clubs of Rotary International, throughout the world, assembled in
convention, are the legislative authority of Rotary International. They
alone can amend the constitution and by-laws of Rotary International.
Calum Thomson
(Harris photo above
Wolfgang Ziegler) |
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