In the light of the valued work done by each of you and fellow Rotarians throughout the world, I thought it would be appropriate to say a few words on the profound forces for change that govern our lives today. The irresistible process of globalisation that is taking place in the economic order, in education, in scientific endeavour and in artistic pursuits is attended by the breaking down of borders and frontiers. I note that the inaugural meeting of the Rotarians took place in Chicago in 1905 and that the name derives from the initial idea of meeting at the premises of each member in turn. There is a compelling symbolism in this notion of the business and professional community sharing resources, values and indeed its prosperity with those in less advantaged circumstances. In your development I find a resonance of higher education s own journey, now at an advanced stage but with some way still to go, along the road to full social inclusion.
Universal participation is accepted as the final frontier for modern universities.
The Rotary Clubs and our universities thus have a shared ethos, one which must be esteemed and retained in the midst of the forces of change that are reshaping all aspects of society. Time allows me only a cursory look at each, but I think these will be the dominant features of the landscape of the formative decades of the 21 st century. The Rotary Club s ability to continue its good works is predicated upon sustained prosperity and economic stability. We could spend an hour looking at our GDP in relation to the rest of the UK or Europe. However, one thing is absolutely clear, the raw material of economic revitalisation is our people, an indigenous material in which we are rich indeed.