Joan and I are pleased to invite you to join us in Los Angeles, 15-18 June 2008, to See the Stars! at the 99th annual RI Convention.

Home to the stars of the small and big screens, Los Angeles will also be a city of Rotary stars, as it welcomes thousands of Rotarians from all parts of the world.

A Rotary convention is an event like no other — a time to connect with Rotarians you wouldn’t ordinarily have a chance to meet.

I always point to my fi rst convention, in Toronto in 1964, as the event that truly made me a
Rotarian. Everyone I met seemed so diff erent, until I realized just how much we had in common.

For the fi rst time, I saw and understood the international scope of Rotary — and what
could be accomplished through it.

Our convention off ers a host of resources for international service and fellowship: inspiring
plenary speakers, informative workshops, the Club and District Projects Exhibition, the House
of Friendship, and so much more. As the movie capital of the world and a center for shopping
and international cuisine, Los Angeles off ers much to see and do outside the convention venue as well. And the Host Organization Committee promises to keep convention goers highly entertained with events at the Hollywood Bowl, Nokia Theatre, and more.

Every Rotarian should experience at least one Rotary convention. I believe so strongly in the
importance of convention attendance that I have reinstated district rebates under the LA2008 Worldwide Financial Incentive Plan, whereby your district will earn a rebate for all Rotarian and adult registrations over 2 percent of district membership. Look for more details on the plan after 1 July at www.rotary.org.

I hope that you and your family will come to Los Angeles in 2008 and See the Stars!
Whether it’s your fi rst convention or your 50th, it is sure to be an experience you will cherish.

I look forward to sharing this convention with you, just as Rotary Shares with all of us.