Let There Be Peace On Earth and Let It Begin With Me
Do you recognize this face? If you are new to Rotary maybe not, but if you are a seasoned Rotarian you certainly should. This is the face of Past RI President John Kenny who served as such for the Rotary year 2009-2010. He is currently the Trustee Chair of The Rotary Foundation, and of course, November is Rotary Foundation month. Click on the read more link to read his message to all of us in this special month that promotes the foundation that funds the work we do all over the world. It's been five years since John led us into the future but his presidential theme rings as true today as it did in 2009....."the future of Rotary is in your hands."
JOHN KENNY
Trustee Chair 2014-15
November 2014
It is surely the wish in all our hearts that there is peace in our world.
Our Rotary Foundation is endeavoring to advance this with the establishment of Rotary Peace Centers in various parts of the globe. The Rotary Peace Centers are the premier educational program of the Foundation, and this year I am asking Rotarians to foster world understanding, goodwill, and peace by promoting and publicizing the program so its work is enhanced.
The program funds up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellowships per year, for fellows to study at one of the Foundation's specially chosen universities. Fellows can earn a master's degree in peace and conflict resolution or a related field at Duke University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in the United States; University of Queensland in Australia; Uppsala University in Sweden; University of Bradford in England; and International Christian University in Japan. Additionally, our professional development certificate program in peace and conflict resolution is offered through Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
The idea of the Rotary Peace Centers is to create a cadre of individuals who are dedicated to peace and conflict resolution, and who have been given the tools to succeed in their efforts. Since the program began in 2002, nearly 900 peace fellows have been engaged in peace activities throughout the world, working for nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, the World Health Organization, World Bank, and others.
To fund the program, the Rotary Peace Centers Major Gifts Initiative has set a target of US$125 million by the end of this Rotary year. This is an achievable goal, but it needs your continuing financial support.
This is a program pertinent to the 21st century, and one worthy of all Rotarians' support. In these days of anger, of anguish, of uncertainty in our world, it is important to remember that the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations.
