Friday, July 15, 2022
By: W Todd MillerThis week the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C., welcomed guest speaker Gilles Maindrault, past president of the Paris Académies Rotary Club, and several members of the Paris Académies Club and other Rotarians.On July 13, 2022, the Rotary Club of Washington, DC, held its regular weekly meeting on Zoom.
President Marilyn Nevy Cruz called the meeting to order at 12:30 PM.
Secretary Todd Miller led the introduction of guests and visiting Rotarians and Rotaractors. He also reminded everyone to return the survey to determine the focus for the Centennial grant.
Sergeant-at-Arms Lola Perez presented the Four-Way Test, recognized birthdays for the week, and offered words of wisdom.
New Member Kelly Buchanan provided the Member Moment. She was drawn to the DC Rotary Club by its “commitment to community.” She shared her personal and professional background, noting that she had been active in several organizations in Florida, has two children, and is currently an attorney at Bill Day’s law firm.
May O’Brien gave a report on the Rotary International Convention held in Houston. She said that there were 11,000 attendees, 200 exhibits, and 80 breakout sessions. The Presidential Conference theme was “Serve to Bring Peace.” May presented a detailed PowerPoint covering all her activities (with lots of great photos!).
Mark Wilson welcomed the members of the Paris Académies Rotary Club and introduced the speaker Gilles Maindrault. Gilles is the past president of the Paris Académies Rotary Club and participated in the first Rotarian exchange with Washington DC in 2007. He is a 1979 graduate of the business school HEC Paris (Hautes études commerciales) and in 1984 from the Superior school for senior officers for the postal and telecommunication sector. He spent nearly 40 years in senior positions in the French postal group, especially in strategy and M & A, international development, and risk management. After that, he was appointed by an independent commission for a three-year mandate as the ombudsman for the French postal sector (including the postal bank). Now retired, he chairs the audit and risk committee of a governmental agency.
He spoke about the history of the relationship between France and the US, noting that the two countries have never been at war against each other. He reviewed the French participation in the American Revolution. He explained how the US assisted with the liberation of France in WWII. He discussed the collaboration between our Club and the Paris Académies Club. He then responded to several (particularly difficult) questions about French international relations.
President Marilyn presented Gilles with a certificate for a planting of a tree under the Club’s Trees for the Capital program.
President Marilyn reminded everyone of the Rotary Baseball Night on August 20 and said that she and several others would be going to the Bowie Baysox game. All are welcome to join.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM. Salvador Farfán was the Zoom producer and several people remained online for member fellowship.
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