Rotary world chief has the Knaak

Kelso Rotary Club’s meeting last Thursday was one members had been looking forward to for some considerable time.

In the latest of the “Kelso Conversation” series of talks given by Rotary’s world leaders to the Kelso Club, Holger Knaak, the World President of Rotary, from Berlin, was the speaker.

World President of Rotary, Holger Knaak of Berlin, was speaking at the Kelso club's Zoom meeting last week.placeholder image
World President of Rotary, Holger Knaak of Berlin, was speaking at the Kelso club's Zoom meeting last week.

No less than 127 Rotarians and guests from all over the world joined the meeting by Zoom and there were 127 Rotarians and guests taking part.

The club’s Blair McDonald said: “As one would expect from such a distinguished Rotarian, Holger gave an inspiring and indeed inspirational talk and he concentrated much of what he said on the need to enrol young people.”

He added: “Rotary’s spectacular achievement of almost eradicating polio – last month there were only 129 cases, mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan – has not gone unnoticed.

“The work with schools in many countries was also praised.

“Many Rotarians took the opportunity to ask the great man a question and he impressed everyone by his ability to give a straight answer, many times with a touch of humour.

“The meeting could have gone on for a long time, and it was with great regret that the meeting host, Rotarian Gordon McInally, had to bring it to a close, with John Lafferty the Kelso club secretary giving a vote of thanks.

“This meeting has certainly put Kelso on the map.”

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