2020 Rotary International Convention CANCELLED
Friends and Family of Rotary.
We regret to announce that the 2020 Rotary International Convention, scheduled for 6-10 June in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, has been canceled. This is in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
In the weeks leading up to this decision, we monitored developments closely and followed the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As a result, several Rotary events and training meetings around the world were canceled as a safety precaution. Unfortunately, as COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly, we made the difficult decision to cancel our annual convention as well, to protect the health and safety of attendees, Rotary staff, and the Honolulu community.
“… We are all part of the Rotary family, and your safety remains our highest priority. Like the more than 20,000 registrants who planned to attend this year’s convention, I am very disappointed. However, this is the right and necessary decision to protect the health and safety of convention attendees, as well as those who call Honolulu home…” Rotary International President Mark Maloney
For Rotary at every level, this means conducting meetings virtually, or canceling or postponing in-person meetings until a time when the science says it is in our collective best interest to reconvene. There is so much that Rotary must do. We can help the most vulnerable in our communities make it through these difficult times and we can find innovative ways to keep connecting – around the block and across closed borders.
“COVID-19 is a health threat unlike any other in our lifetimes. But the spread of the virus will peak, and our economies will recover. This is a time for prudence, not panic. Science, not stigma. Facts, not fear…” UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres
It’s against this background that we further announce the cancellation of the District 9212 and District 9141 Aloha Sunset Dinner Cruise, that had been scheduled for the 9th of June, 2020. Participants who had purchased the tickets will be contacted and advised on the refunds.
Here is some additional information about refunds and cancellations:
- Everyone who registered for the convention or the Rotaract, Youth Exchange Officers, and Rotary and the United Nations preconvention events will receive a full refund. You can help expedite the process by canceling your registrations online using your My Rotary account.
- All exhibitors will also receive full refunds. You do not need to take any action at this time.
- Those who had already canceled their registrations will receive full refunds, including refunds of the $50 cancellation fee.
- Those who reserved accommodations within Rotary’s hotel block will be able to cancel their reservations without being charged a fee. We’ll provide more information soon.
- Contact your airline or travel agency to cancel your flight reservation. Many airlines are updating their policies on flight cancellations and changes because of the travel restrictions that many countries have put in place.
- The Host Organization Committee will determine how to handle reimbursement of host-ticketed events and will contact attendees directly
Rotary has always had a deep commitment to public health. Today, the COVID-19 global pandemic is threatening our health, safety and way of life, and Rotary is following the best advice and the science when making difficult health related decisions.
Rotary will help lead the world through this moment of fear. Thank you for your continued leadership – it is more important now than ever.
The convention was held in Hamburg, Germany last year. The 2021 convention was scheduled to be held in Taiwan.
