The Rotary district conference, held in Olds May 3-5 was such a success that Rotary Club of Olds president Rick Cowling says they may well host it again.
"We've had the highest numbers in recent history," Cowling said during an interview with the Albertan. "We've had nothing but good comments.
"This is the first conference that I know of that's been outside a larger city. They've been in Lethbridge and they've been in Red Deer and they've been in Calgary. So this is the first rural one that I'm aware of."
The event attracted about 330 paid attendees. Also, about 100 volunteers helped undertake a number of projects in the community, including building a pergola at École Deer Meadow School, constructing and setting up birdhouses in the countryside, and visiting with seniors.
They had planned to sweep streets for a bike race but weren't able to do that because of inclement weather.
"To mix the community with our Rotarians was the goal of our district governor and I think we pulled that off," Cowling said.
"I'm just really proud of how hard our group works and how organized and how successful they are."
The theme of the conference was building community.
The turnout to the concert featuring country artists George Canyon, Doc Walker and Charlie Major at the Big Rack Cow Palace Event Centre on Saturday night was even more impressive. Cowling figures a little less than 900 attended, including about 350 Rotarians.
"I thought the concert was great value at $50. People were overwhelmed. We had three headliners. The place was rocking," he said.
Cowling notes a Rotarian from Sylvan Lake won the 50/50 draw during the concert and donated it back toward the park.
"I think that's kind of in the spirit of the weekend. That's a nice personal donation," he said.
The Alumni Centre was packed Saturday for an address by WE charity co-founder Craig Kielburger.
Proceeds from the concert and other activities undertaken during the week will go toward the Rotary Athletic Park, currently under construction north of Walmart. That amount will be known later, after all the bills connected with the conference have been paid.
Cowling was also impressed with the number of youth who were involved in the conference, including many members of Interact clubs (junior Rotary clubs) at École Olds High School and École Deer Meadow School.
Angel Martin Sanchez, an exchange student from Mexico, currently hosted by the Rotary Club of Olds, was one of many international students who also participated in the event.
During the annual general meeting on Sunday, Rotarians in the district who had passed away during the year and their children and grandchildren born during the year were recognized.
Later this year, plaques will be placed with six trees that will be planted in Rotary Athletic Park "just to symbolize the passing of those people and the new babies that have come on," Cowling said.
Cowling noted Rotarians in this community and across the world undertake many projects to improve life for people internationally.
For example, Rotarians have been working hard for decades to eradicate polio worldwide — often in very dangerous places — and are tantalizingly close to that goal.
They also put money toward shelter boxes that enable people to have shelter within 48 hours of a disaster.
Volunteers also provide dentistry, eye exams, glasses and wheelchairs for people in Third World countries.
"That's the group of people that were here: people who donate $2,000 back to a cause, right? Just like that; don't think twice about it," Cowling said. "We want to celebrate those kinds of people and that kind of effort."
