The horrendous attack in Israel on October 7 has riveted the world’s stage and has ignited political conflict in the United States and elsewhere over Israel’s response. Events so faraway, yet relevant and compelling.

What can we do?
In my mind, the frustrating answer was “there was nothing we can do.” I then opened the November issue of Rotary magazine and read R. Gordon McInally’s letter, “The road to peace”. McInally, Rotary International President, announced the ceremony for opening the newest peace center at the Bahcesehir University in Istanbul.

Rotary International first established the peace centers in 1999. Since its beginning, the peace centers have prepared more than 1,700 peace fellows working in more than 140 countries to create a more peaceful world. Their actions have helped create hope in the world and will continue to do so. One of the peace fellows mentioned by President McInally was Ndzi Divine Njamsi, who had studied at the Makerere peace center in Cameroon. Ndzi become interested in becoming a peace fellow (sponsored by Rotary) after witnessing extremism, online hate speech and violence in Cameroon. Ndzi has brought his training and lessons to students at the International Business School and other organizations in Cameroon.

President McInally’s letter, the existence and growth of the Rotary International peace centers and the peace fellows who focus on peace building in their sphere of the world gave me hope and a modicum of “there is something we can do” as Rotarians to promote peace. Rotary members can mentor candidates for the peace fellowships. Being an active, informed Rotary member is being on the right team, the team for peace and respect for the world’s citizens.

We meet at 7:30 Wednesday mornings at Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church located at 2035 Charlton Road, Sunfish Lake, MN 55118. Join us for a continental breakfast with good coffee followed by an engaging program.