She's a 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate and champion of women’s rights. Gbowee led a nonviolent movement that helped end a 14-year-long civil war in Liberia. She has lived in a refugee camp, worked as a counselor for child soldiers and currently sits on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High Level Advisory Board on Mediation. She’s the founder and current president of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa and serves as the executive director of the Gender, Law and Transformative Peace Initiative of the City of New York (CUNY) School of Law, USA.
She was a founding member and Liberia coordinator of the Women in Peacebuilding Network, a program of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
María Björk Ingvadóttir
She is a journalist, TV personality and voice of compassion. She’s served as the managing director and CEO of the Icelandic media company N4 for the past eight years and worked for RUV, the Icelandic national television station, prior to that. She also spent years as a social worker, helping disabled children in Norway and Iceland.
Gregory Rockson
He's revolutionizing health care in Africa through mPharma, the company he co-founded at age 22. mPharma uses data analytics and innovative inventory services to reduce the cost of pharmaceuticals while preserving quality. As CEO, Rockson has overseen the Ghana-based company’s expansion to eight other African countries. mPharma now owns leading pharmacy chains in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, and has become the largest operator of community pharmacies in Sub-Saharan Africa. In partnership with over 1,000 hospitals and pharmacies, the company has helped more than 2 million people save on medications.
Chantal Vallée
She's the first woman in basketball history to be named as both head coach and general manager of a men’s professional team – the Hamilton, Ontario Honey Badgers. Previously, as head coach of the Lancers women’s basketball team at the University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, she received over 20 “Coach of the Year” awards. She developed seven professional players and one Olympian, and maintained a winning percentage of over 80%.
Nakeeyat Dramani Sam
She's a 10-year-old climate change activist and poet. She’s the youth ambassador for the Climate Vulnerable Forum and spoke for Ghana at COP27 in Egypt. “Have a heart and do the math,” she told delegates there. “It’s an emergency.” Sam won the “Ghana Talented Kid” competition at the age of 7 and has been honored as a Young Peace Ambassador in her country. She’s the author of the book “Nakeeyat Trees for Life” and is currently working on her next project, “One Tree, One Child.”
The keynote speakers at the 2023 Rotary International Convention are transforming health care, rethinking cities, advancing the cause of peace, and working to protect our environment. They share a vision of a more sustainable, equitable world.
When they take the stage in Melbourne, Australia, 27-31 May, they’ll tell how that vision can be realized – not just in the years to come, but right now.
The convention will also showcase entertainment including The Tenors, the international vocal group made up of Victor Micallef, Clifton Murray, Alberto Urso, and Mark Masri. Their operatic pop style encompasses a mix of new songs and such classics as “Forever Young,” “Nessun Dorma” and “Hallelujah.”
Also appearing will be The Greatest Show, a group of vocalists, dancers, circus artists, and musical theater performers brought together by choreographer Chantelle Fava.
Rotary members around the world will come together in Melbourne to forge new relationships and get inspired. Thanks to a world-class lineup of speakers, they’ll also find plenty of new ideas to take home.
Rotary has an important role to play to ensure that the club environment and experience is welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable for all members and participants.
Surveys show that comfort and care is the single greatest driver of satisfaction and our most powerful tool for retention. This begins with listening to and understanding what members and participants want out of their Rotary involvement. We often speak of the importance of "exit interviews" to better understand why former members leave. But why wait for them to leave?
Jones urges club leaders to incorporate "entrance interviews" as well to understand the needs and expectations of new members at the outset. And of course, be sure to regularly survey all existing members, to ensure they have an opportunity to share thoughts about their membership experience.
President Jennifer Jones encourages each of us to do our part to ensure Rotary is a welcoming and inclusive community by:
Learning more about DEI in Rotary, including understanding definitions and how to celebrate and respect our differences.
Determining why DEI matters to our club and community and how using DEI principles can help our club grow and become stronger.
Raising awareness of DEI, including creating a DEI committee in your club that reflects the demographics of your community.
Taking action on DEI in our club and community for instance educating yourself about underrepresented groups in your community in order to become a more knowledgeable and effective advocate for DEI.
Find additional resources on our DEI web page. Watch what Jones hopes to accomplish with DEI (download).
On another note...inclusion notes
At the Rotary Spring Training I met a newish Rotarian, from a club north of us who is their president elect. She was professional, well spoken and excited to be a Rotarian. But had she not been such a strong person - her recent experience might have had a different outcome.
She shared an experience -that is all too common for people of color and women- that she had at a recent meeting. A colleague invited her to her club lunch meeting. She arrived before her friend and decide to go in and meet her fellow Rotarians. Unfortunately, her greeting was more like a grilling of who she was and why she was there. So as we look to create a more diverse membership - including people of color and women - let's be aware of how our actions are perceived.
How we greet and reach out is important, do we “see” others or think they should just fit in?
In 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
The month of May was chosen to commemorate theimmigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
Rotarian Chi Soo Shin (second from right) chats with students while picking lettuce in the greenhouse at Andong Young-Myeong Special Education School in Andong, Korea. 26 August 2014.
As part of a global grant project, the Rotary Club of Andong-Central, Andong, Korea, provided Andong Young-Myeong Special Education School with horticultural facilities and a vocational training program for students with intellectual disabilities, autism, and emotional disabilities.
Editor’s Note:In September 2020, Rotary formed a task force charged with assessing the current status of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Rotary and shaping a comprehensive action plan to help us further value and live those principles throughout the organization. This is the latest in a series of blog posts from DEI Task Force members reflecting on their work on the committee and why it is critical for the organization.
Sunghee Nam received her doctorate in Education from Yeungnam University in 2001 and is currently the president of Daegu Health College. She is a founding member and past president of the Rotary Club of Daegu-Sooryeon and has held various leadership positions at both the club and district level. She is currently RI President’s Representative for District 3610.
Sunghee Nam received her doctorate in Education from Yeungnam University in 2001 and is currently the president of Daegu Health College. She is a founding member and past president of the Rotary Club of Daegu-Sooryeon and has held various leadership positions at both the club and district level. She is currently RI President’s Representative for District 3610. Read her full bio
Q.In 2005-06, you became the first female district governor in Korea, serving District 3700. Can you talk about your path to get there?
Sunghee Nam: I joined Rotary in 1998 and attended the district conference a few months later. That year’s district governor was former RI Director Chang-gon Lim. He received a standing ovation whenever he got up to speak, and it made me think about the respect he was given because he was willing to serve others for a year at the expense of everything else. I decided I wanted to be district governor someday.
I began to work hard in Rotary, serving as club president twice. We increased our membership and giving to The Rotary Foundation and received recognition as an outstanding club. When the process began to elect a governor for 2004-05, I felt it would be ideal to have the first female district governor in Korea’s history during Rotary’s 100th anniversary. I spoke to leaders in my district, and they agreed. But they also felt it was important to build consensus across districts in Korea. Many of the other governors were in their 70s, and as I was in my 40s, they felt the timing wasn’t right.
But a year later, I was nominated for governor. Although I was disappointed not to serve during the centennial, I made it my motto that we were beginning the next 100 years with an increase of women in leadership.
Q: How has your example inspired other women to seek leadership positions in Korea?
Sunghee Nam: A month or two after I was nominated as governor, another woman was also nominated as governor in District 3690. Suddenly, Rotary had two women governors in Korea. Each district began to form active women’s committees. I was invited to training programs and traveled all over the country giving speeches.
I knew it was important to take the right steps because as the first Korean woman governor, I would be viewed as a role model. I worked hard and later served as a training leader for the International Assembly. I continued to donate thousands every year to the Foundation.
When I visited our sister district in Japan, people were surprised to learn I was governor. Even now, women make up only about 6% of membership in Japan. But in 2007-08, Japan had its first female district governor, and I believe that decision was influenced by the fact that Korea had nominated female district governors.
Q: You are a member of RI’s DEI Task Force. How does DEI help women in Rotary?
Sunghee Nam: DEI is about recognizing and respecting differences and treating everyone with dignity and respect, allowing everyone’s voices to be heard, and providing equitable opportunities for fellowship, service, and leadership. Rotary has emphasized DEI and created a code of conduct to help women – and others in Rotary – feel comfortable within an environment that is collaborative, positive, and healthy for everyone.
When I became governor in my late 40s, most district leaders were in their 70s. When they met me at meetings, they just called me by my full name like I was their daughter. I didn’t feel comfortable, but it was hard for me to raise my voice. With DEI, we are striving to create an environment where everyone, regardless of gender or age, feels comfortable speaking up.
Q: What have you valued most about your service in Rotary?
Sunghee Nam: I often say that the two best decisions I have made in life are the decision to have children and the decision to join Rotary. The fact that someone I love will continue to live on this planet makes a big difference in my life and gives me increased motivation to make the world a better place.
For society to work well, altruistic actions are needed. Rotary is the driving force for people to do unselfish acts around the world and in their communities. We spend our money, time, and energy doing something for other people and for society.
In Rotary, I have helped solve problems and resolve conflicts. I have met people from all walks of life. My world has expanded and I have learned a lot.
Grill House has once again graciously agreed to donate 20% of their sales on May 15,2023 to The Rotary Club of Northbrook. You may purchase lunch or dinner but MUST mention the Rotary Club of Northbrook when you order!
The food is very good. You will not be disappointed. Grill House is located at White Plains Shopping Center at Dundee and Landwehr.
Give-Back from Parkway Presents -toy store
Thank you Jodi Joffe, Satellite Club (& Lisa Smith, owner) and Parkway Presents for a fabulous Rotary shopping night!
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