By Rotary International

The 2016 Class of Rotary Peace Fellows at Uppsala from left Ahmad Mohibbi (USA), Kate Lonergan (USA), Sireh Jabang (Gambia), Nicole Ella (Australia), Clair Maizonnier (Australia/France), Meena Pillai (Australia), Krystal Renschler (Canada). Not pictured Takuya Koimaru (Japan), Ahmed Abdi Wais (Somalia).

By Magnus Elfwendahl, host area coordinator at the Rotary Peace Center in Uppsala and a member of the Rotary Club of Uppsala Carolina, Sweden

I was honored earlier this month to witness the beginning of nine careers in peace building and conflict resolution as the most recent class at the Rotary Peace Center at Uppsala University received their masters degrees.

The memorable event concludes two years of training, study, and practice for these dedicated and bright young professionals. The Rotary Peace Fellows joined 30 other students at a graduation ceremony in the town’s medieval cathedral attended by friends, relatives, host families, and members of the local Rotary clubs. Thanks to the generous support of The Rotary Foundation, Rotary members, and clubs, they are now equipped to solve problems and make a positive impact on world peace.

Peace Fellow Kate Lonergan from the United States was honored with the department’s Mats Hammarström Prize for Outstanding Essay in Peace & Conflict Studies. Peace …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Ian Geddes (back row fifth from left), members of the exchange team, and their Colombian hosts.

By Ian W. Geddes, past governor of District 1020 (Scotland)

I have many Rotary stories to tell but this one happened in Colombia. I was chosen by my district to lead a Group Study Exchange team to Bogota. As a Spanish teacher in Scotland my dream had long been to travel to South America. Having been chosen as leader and then having negotiated a sabbatical from my school, my team and I finally set off for Colombia.

One week into the trip, the day after we had visited the fabled El Dorado, I fell ill. At first I thought it was just altitude sickness as we traveled along the Andes at 11,000 feet above sea-level. But no, it turned out to be appendicitis.

Geddes recovering from the appendectomy.

As the surgeon went off to prepare for the operation, I broke down completely. End of dream – three to four weeks convalescence instead of exploring Colombia. Just then the wife of the district governor walked in and said she would arrange to get me back to Bogota – some four hours away- where I would get keyhole (minimally invasive) surgery …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

By Evan Burrell

Did you know more than a billion people use social media every day?

Social media is readily accessible, instantaneous, cost effective and user friendly. It offers your Rotary club a fantastic opportunity to communicate more effectively with members and supporters and can energise the way you promote your club and find new members.

Here are just a few examples of ways your club can use social media:

Use Twitter to quickly advise members and the public of a last-minute change of venue for an event.
Let members and potential members know via Facebook when and where the next meeting will be and who the speaker is.
Use Facebook to start a discussion about a particular topic or issue at the club. Be prepared for positive and negative feedback and use it to improve your club.
Share details of your club’s new member recruitment session. When people “like” your post or retweet it, it shares the info with their entire social network.
Follow the Facebook pages of local businesses and organizations in your area. Comment on their posts; start a conversation.
Share stories and photos from your club service projects. When people see the great work your club is doing, they’re more likely to join.
Remember that social …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

The author, far right, and her daughter with a former Rotary Youth Exchange student from Chile.

By Linda Mulhern, a member of the Rotary Club of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

When you become a Rotary Youth Exchange student, you never imagine how it might affect you in the long term. In my case, my exchange has connected my family in more ways than one.

As a Youth Exchange student to Sweden in 1979-80, I learned a lot about what I was capable of doing on my own, my strengths and weaknesses, and what it took to overcome obstacles. I had an incredible year in Sweden, and still speak Swedish fluently. I have contacts with many friends and communicate regularly with my host parents and host sisters.

After my exchange, I met my husband in ROTEX, a group for Rotary Youth Exchange alumni. He had been a Youth Exchange student to Argentina, and we bonded over travel stories. Once we had kids, I knew our experiences might inspire them to travel.

Our son has taken part in a Rotary Youth Exchange to Turkey and our daughter is currently on a Youth Exchange in Finland. She is one of three girls on a boys hockey team and …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

The author, third from right, during the Drexel team’s visit to Uganda.

By Ronald Smith, past governor of District 7430 (Pennsylvania, USA) and a member of the Rotary Club of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

I began planning a vocational training team with my son Ryan in 2006, when he was still a medical student at Drexel University in Pennsylvania, USA, with an interest in doing a rotation in Africa. My previous experience with Rotary grants, and my friendship with fellow district governor Francis Tusibira “Tusu” of District 9200 (east Africa),” inspired me to form a team.

A mother and her child during one of the team’s health camps in Uganda.

I first met Tusu at the San Diego Zoo while we were both taking part in Rotary’s annual training event for incoming governors. Later, we reconnected at several Rotary conventions, and collaborated on Rotary Foundation grants for medical projects. Later, as Foundation chairs for our districts, we were excited about the idea of bringing medical professionals together to exchange knowledge.

With the help of the Rotary Club of Blue Bell, a detailed plan evolved.

I met with the Rotary Club of Kampala North and faculty at Makerere University in Kampala in January of 2013. Meeting with faculty …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Participants in the summit draw their ideas on paper.

By Anabella Q. Bonfa, District 5320 membership chair

How do you breathe new life into your Rotary club? We held a young professional summit recently in southern California, USA, attended by 52 members of Rotary and Rotaract — some new and some with many years of experience — who came together for half a day to share their thoughts. Everyone had fun, and many creative ideas surfaced. Here are just a few:

Plan events that are family-friendly to engage members with young children.

Plan your events in locations where kids are welcome. A few examples would be a cleanup day at the beach or park. Or hold a picnic followed by dessert at a nearby restaurant
Give children of members duties to do at club events like collecting money or arranging cans at a food drive
Reward children for taking part in your community service work. A little recognition now may plant the seed for a life-long love of service

Share the value of Rotary. “What’s in it for me?”

Explain how Rotary offers a chance to make new friends
Prompt club meetings as an opportunity to spend time with nice people who share a similar mindset and a desire …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog