AN INVITATION TO THE:
Rotary International Convention in Lisbon, Portugal

Dear Rotarian:

A Rotary convention is a powerful thing. I will never forget my first convention, in Chicago in 1980. It was so impressive and so remarkable to me how volunteers from all over the world, working together, could accomplish so much.

I came to that convention as a member of a Rotary club. I left it as a Rotarian. The feeling that began in Chicago has never left me. And every year, I enjoy that convention experience again, in a different part of the Rotary world.

I am delighted to invite you to the 104th Rotary International Convention in Lisbon, Portugal, 23-26 June 2013. As an RI president from Japan, I am especially pleased that this convention will be hosted in Lisbon, because Japan and Portugal have a warm history together that began in 1542. That was the year a Portuguese boat landed on a southern Japanese island. The Portuguese sailors did not plan to come to Japan. Strong winds blew their boat off course. But it was a fortunate detour, and the beginning of a peaceful and prosperous relationship. The Portuguese found Japan by accident.

But it is no accident that Lisbon has been chosen for this convention. Lisbon is A Harbor for Peace. And peace will be the theme of this convention, as it has been the theme between Japan and Portugal for nearly 500 years. Every year, when we come together for a Rotary convention, we see for a few days the world as it could be. We see people of all colors and cultures come together. We look past our differences and focus on our goal: the building of a better world. In 2013, we will have A Harbor for Peace in Lisbon through Rotary. It will be a great honor for me to preside over this convention, and I look forward to having you join us there.

Sakuji Tanaka
Rotary International President, 2012-13