Top ten impressions of the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary (as perceived by the many Kick-Starters in attendance)10. Western Hospitality
• Calgary was full of friendly, welcoming people
• Proud western culture
• Proximity to mountains, lakes, and Banff
9. The Visibility of Rotary’s Global Presence
• Impact far beyond the local level
• Incredible reach across communities, regions, nations
• Worldwide scale
8. Small Projects, Big Impact
• House of Friendship exhibiting projects of all sizes
• Positive impact on communities and lives
• Rotary can make lasting impacts through people like us
7. The Scope of Rotary
• Procession of flags from 140 countries
• Rotary’s presence throughout the world
• 17,000+ Rotarians attended the convention
6. Uniting to Do Big Things
• Calgary Rotary Club started their partnership with the Stampede long ago
• Now they raise close to $1 million per year
• Starting small with a big idea can be a great catalyst for big things
5. Equality and Community
• Overwhelming feeling of equality
• Common goal of “service above self” regardless of background, identity, or beliefs
• Inspirational keynote speeches
4. Learning from Others
• Breakout sessions for public image
• New ways to improve our club’s social media and outreach
• Learning from the next generation of Rotarians
3. Connecting with Other Rotarians
• Evening events fostered connection with other Rotarians
• Opportunities to learn about Canadian culture
• Connection was everywhere
2. Diversity
• Rotary international reach on display
• Many clubs wore matching clothes representative of their home countries
• Visual representation of one aspect of Rotary’s diversity
1. Finding Our “Why?”
• Common themes of Service Above Self, Unite For Good
• Why did you join? Why do you stay?
• What makes you feel connected to Rotary or our club?
