I had the pleasure of attending District Training Assembly a few weekends ago. While attending the PRLS session “Rotary: Then and Now,” Past District Governor Wade Nomura provided us with an elevator pitch for Rotary: “Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.”
I heard the word PEACE a lot that weekend. Another workshop I attended was Peace Service led by Fergal McCarthy who is the Peace Programs Manager at Rotary International.
He explained that peace is really the cornerstone of all that Rotary does and all that Rotary stands for. “Peace is more than just the absence of violence. Peace is ensuring there is justice for all.” We see justice served in our causes – in our Areas of Focus and our Avenues of Service. Through our contributions to Rotary International and through our service projects, we fight disease; we provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; we assist mothers and children; we support education; we grow local economies; we will protect the environment (our newest area of focus), and these all lead us to promote peace.
Our motto Service Above Self shows our peacebuilding capacity.
And let us not forget the power of the Four-Way Test whose four questions incorporate the peace principles of integrity and respect.
District 5240 has made a commitment to be a Rotary Peacebuilder District. The Peacebuilder Club program is designed to enhance Rotary International’s mission through the promotion of programs and projects that align with the Areas of Focus and Avenues of Service. Things we already do. As we know, these programs enhance not only communities globally, but also people right in our own backyard.
Peacebuilding is about people-building and community-building. When we improve the human condition, we build peace.
Bakersfield East Rotary has recently accepted the challenge of becoming a Peacebuilder Club and member Fernando Aguirre has encouraged local clubs to do the same. It is actually a very easy process. I would very much like to see us become a Peacebuilder Club. This is something I would be honored to take on and I have enlisted Cheryl to the cause. One of the requirements, and there are only four, is to develop a Peace Committee. If you are interested, you can talk with me or Cheryl.
Together, we can change the world.