Kent Miller - Rotarians Make Peace: Its what we do

Contact: Ivan Milman
Event Links
24
Feb
2020
Austin University Area
Feb 24, 2020 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM
Shoal Creek Saloon
909 North Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78703
United States of America
Conflict and violence displaced more than 68 million people in the past year, and half of those are children.  We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts.
Yes, it is true.  In the midst of a conflict-torn world, nation and community, our website boldly announces it.  That is what we proclaim and that is what we do. Deep in the heart of Rotary is the long push for peace throughout the world in what we believe, what we say, and how we choose to serve.
 
But often we take for granted our power and our calling to be peacemakers.
 
Rotary clubs in District 5870 have the opportunity to focus on the role of each member and each club to intentionally be peacemakers. Instead of wringing our hands over the conflict, we can grasp hands and enable peace to emerge.
 
Easy? No. Possible? Yes. First step:  schedule one or two programs of your regular meetings to focus on the Rotarian resources and opportunities to “grow peace” where you are, and where you serve. Each club can learn how to become a “peacemaking” organization instead of a bystander in a troubled world. Rotary makes things happen. It starts with you.
 

Kent Miller was born and raised in the south in a small town in  eastern South Dakota.  When he attended Macalester College in St. Paul, MN he met this attractive, blond Swedish girl and they were married after graduation and still married after 58 years.  They have three children and 6 grandchildren. Twp years ago Kent was promoted to the status of great-grandfather with the birth of Sophia. 

He formerly taught sociology at Chico State University, Chico, CA. He is currently retired from over 50 years in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, having served in California, in San Antonio, Denton,  Austin. In 1994 he joined a Rotary Club and has been active ever since. 

Kent is a club past-president. He has sponsored five "wheelchair" projects through the Rotary Foundation and traveled to several distribution sites. He is a strong supporter of PolioPlus ( past club chairperson), and is the  District Chairperson  for the Peace Fellowship program. In the past two years he has been engaged with the water crisis in the world, is chair of a Global Grant project that completed 12 accessible fresh water sites to people in rural Ethiopia.  He is currently filing a global grant for 24 water sites in Ethiopia.

Today he comes to us to talk about Rotary and how local clubs and Rotary members can be peacemakers in our communities and the world.