Pre-Convention hospitality at Andy & Anita Smallwood's' home in Houston

Thank you, dear Andy Smallwood and Anita Roach Smallwood for the wonderful convention pre-party at your lovely home with so many old and new friends.

I’ve been to so many conferences, but Rotary International conventions always stand out with this special feeling of coming to meet hundreds of your friends, including those you’ll be meeting for the first time. Just after we arrived in Houston, checked into the hotel, and changed our clothes, I took an Uber to Andy's & Anita's home upon their kind advance invitation. Houston is perhaps the most scattered city in the USA and it took some time to arrive. We first met with Andy in San Diego back in January 2020, as we were attending the International Assembly of Rotary International and training for the incoming Governors and their partners and had the pleasure to share a lunch table with him & Anita, as well as incoming President 2020-2021 Holger Knaack with his wife Susanne. Andy was appointed as Rotary International President's Executive Assistant 2020-21 and we all truly enjoyed his witty and kind address at the lunch.

Andy is a member of the Rotary Club of Gulfway-Hobby, joining Rotary back in 1981, and celebrating more than 40+ years in Rotary. He was President of his club 1988-1989, and was named the District's "Outstanding President of the Year", also received Paul Harris Fellow and the Club's Academic Fellow Awards. Later Andy became his district's Governor 1995-1996, then Rotary International Director 2012-2014, Rotary International Treasurer 2013-2014, and represented zone 25 on the Nomination Committee to select Rotary International President 2023-2024. He has twice served as Chairman of the Governor Nominating Committee and the Group Study Exchange (GSE) Committee, has worked on several other District committees, and has been an instructor at PETS. Apart from Rotary, he is a corporate lawyer, attorney, and owner at the Andy Smallwood Law Practice, representing local and international companies and banks, and handling real estate transactions.

Andy is a popular Rotary Event Speaker both in Rotary USA and Rotary International by no surprise - his experience and knowledge, combined with a gift of wit, good humor, and a truly kind heart leave any audience in awe.

And I truly loved the answer Andy gave me when I asked if there is any special story about eagles in his life - Eagle Way coming to his place, eagles on the gates of his house and elsewhere. Andy just said, “it’s just because many good things happen to me”.

I assume, very special birds and a very special woman, Anita, next to him for over many years, do bring good, as per Andy's famous "The Final Incoherent Ramblings Of Immediate Past District Governor Andy Smallwood 1995-96", extracted from District Newsletter, July 1996. That's where I've also learned a new funny deconstruction of the PDG (Past District Governor) acronym - Pretty Damn Good :)

"It’s Phoenix Time!! No, we are not going to Phoenix, AZ. I am talking about the fable. It’s time for all the ol’ birds to go up in a burst of flame and to be replaced by new, young and energetic replacements to carry our projects to the new levels. <...> I especially want to thank Anita. I realize that she was the main reason that we received so many invitations to attend Club events. There is nothing better than escorting a friendly, personable, and beautiful woman that shares your dreams. I know I have spent many years poking a little fun at our PDGs. I have now come to recognize what truly remarkable individuals they are and that perhaps we should erect a marble monument in downtown Houston to consecrate their everlasting memory. Also, let’s change the PDG anachronism from “Prestige Done Gone” to “Pretty D*#n Good”. "

And we do love to hear more of Andy's thoughts and ideas. Enjoy one of the recordings online about how Rotary adds value to lives. #Rotary22