During the last week of September, about 20 members of District 5150 traveled to Evanston, Illinois, for a four-day trip organized by John Marshall. The itinerary was packed with a visit to Rotary International Headquarters and sightseeing around Chicago.
We kicked things off on Saturday evening with a welcome dinner, where everyone got acquainted over a shared Mexican meal. On Sunday, we boarded a boat for an architectural cruise along the Chicago River. We were awed by the city's skyline, which blends historic landmarks with striking modern buildings. The weather cooperated, making for a very pleasant sunset cruise.
On Monday, we gathered at RI Headquarters in Evanston, where presentations covered Rotary membership and the inner workings of Rotary International. Afterward, we toured the building and took turns sitting in the grand conference room and behind the desk of RI President Babalola.
Tuesday brought a lunch meeting with the Rotary Club of Chicago, the world's first Rotary club. Several members of our group belong to the Rotary Club of San Francisco, the world’s second Rotary club, and a friendly rivalry between Chicago #1 and San Francisco #2 was in the air. Coincidentally, both clubs are led by Turkish American presidents: Seyda Calderwood in Chicago and Ozan Yasavur in San Francisco. District Governor YuHui Chen welcomed all to the joint meeting, and club flags were exchanged. The lunch was a wonderful opportunity to socialize and connect with fellow Rotarians.
We capped off the trip with an evening of comedy at Second City. Everyone had a wonderful time visiting Rotary International and exploring Chicago!