At its very heart Rotary is a peacemaking organization.
We know who we are and what we do.
Most of the time.
Now is the time to assert who we are and what we do so well.
Peace is lacking for so many. Throughout our nation and world, we are experiencing contentious attitudes and actions that create suspicion, lack of trust, fear, and even violence toward anyone different. Differences become troublesome divisions between ethnic groups, genders, religious groups, communities, nationalities, political parties and even friends and families. Normal words are politicized and weaponized in public conversation and media. Normal institutions and leaders have become targets of conspiratorial accusations. Trust has been undermined, and truth has become unrecognizable
Rotarians are peacemakers in our giving and serving others. We state the object of being a Rotarian is that by our ethics and our service we promote “the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace…” We affirm the mission of our contributions and service through The Rotary Foundation is to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace as we work through our seven areas of service in our communities and around the world. Rotarians are 1.2 million peacemakers in 32,000+ clubs. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects toward peacemaking. This last year Rotary Foundation grants for service projects totaled $137.6 million to bring goodwill and peace around the world. In the past three years, Rotary members in District 5870 contributed $2,485,753 to making peace through all our avenues of service.
We can be active peacemakers with the things we think, say, and do. Every week every Rotarian is likely to say the Four Way Test. This is our marching order and basic tool. It is a powerful tool to restore truth and trust, find compromise and common ground, show empathy and rational thinking, and find practical solutions. Do you seek, say and do the truth in your interactions and help others do so? Do you act with fairness to all you meet and interact with as well as help others do the same? Do you seek good will and better friendships among all those in your communities of interaction and help others do so? Do you work for the benefit of all when interacting with others, including those you disagree with and even with those who are disagreeable, and help others to do the same? Indeed, we can be peacemakers with this fantastic tool, though often we don’t use it and let truth die, trust be lost, peace wither.
Go forth and wage peace, Rotarian. The world needs you. Now is the time.
Kent Miller, Chair District 5870 Peace Scholarship Chair