2026 International Assembly creates Lasting Impact
Dennis Shore, TRF Trustee - February 14, 2026
Rotary’s second biggest gathering for the year is the International Assembly and, again, it didn’t disappoint. Over 1200 Governors Elect, partners, senior Rotary leaders and staff gathered to unite for good and create lasting impact.
The Board of Trustees holds 4 in-person meetings annually. One of these meetings is scheduled in association with the annual International Assembly, which brings District Governors Elect together for intensive learning opportunities before they take office. This is the fifth Assembly I have had the opportunity to attend and this probably featured the most memorable speakers and “moments” of those assemblies.
The General Session speakers included RI President Francesco Arezzo, President Elect Yinka Babalola, who introduced the annual message for 2026-27 to Create Lasting Impact, General Secretary John Hewko, current Trustee Chair Holger Knaack (Trustee Chair) and Trustee Vicki Puliz on grants and fund development.
Trustee Chair Elect Jennifer Jones PRIP Jennifer Jones, announced our Foundation fund raising goal for 2026-27 would again be US$500 million and challenged the Governors Elect to enact a strategy to increase the number of Clubs giving to the Foundation’s PolioPlus Fund .
It closed with a powerful conversation between President Francesco, PE Yinka and PN Larry Lunsford, emphasising continuity at levels of Rotary to ensure that club action and strategic plans last over the years with a united objective.
Creating Lasting Impact was revealed to all when one of the Governors Elect, Ravishankar Dakoju, stunned the audience when he, with his wife Paola, pledged US$50m to The Rotary Foundation. This was in addition to the $15m already donated.
His was a story of hope and redemption as he transitioned from having no apparent future and membership of a gang to being given a chance to prosper in the world and becoming successful in property development and then as a sponsor of entrepreneurs, all of whom also seemed to become very successful, enhancing Ravi’s wealth, 85% of which he is pledging to our Foundation.
“Rotary gave me new life, new purpose, new friendship, new meaning, and a global family,” he said. “And life has taught me this beautiful truth: When you give more than you think you can, life returns to you more than you can ever imagine.”
This remarkable commitment demonstrates the confidence and belief of Ravishankar and Paola in the Rotary Foundation to support the work of Rotarians to do good in the world.