By Rotary International

Rotary Peace Fellows in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo, Norway.

By Lucienne Heyworth, a Rotary Peace Fellow at Uppsala, and Yuko Maeno, a Peace Fellow at University of Bradford

This year has been a momentous one for Rotary Peace Fellows at the Bradford and Uppsala Peace Centers. For the first time, 18 peace fellows met in the beautiful city of Oslo, Norway, for a three day program in January including action packed and ‘peace centered’ information and entertainment that left us enlightened. The purpose of this trip was to develop further collaboration between the two peace centers and to learn about Norway’s peace-building efforts.

Joined by local Rotary members, we toured a city packed with a proud history of supporting peace. One of the best-known Swedes, an esteemed inventor and philanthropist, the legendary Alfred Nobel, was the focus of much of our time as we visited the distinguished Nobel Institute of Oslo and spent time in the Nobel Peace Center Museum. We learned of the intricate selection processes to determine Nobel Prize winners and the establishment of the Nobel Prize. A visiting exhibit at the museum, ‘Targets,’ spurred interesting discussion of the use of targets in military …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

“May our happiness increase with our usefulness. What Rotary will be one hundred years hence, none living can imagine.”

Paul Harris, soon after he started practicing law in Chicago in 1896.

By Rotary Heritage Communications staff

Rotary founder Paul Harris was a semi-regular contributor to The Rotarian magazine, and the February issue often included an anniversary message from him.

In 1915, he wrote, “We are passing our tenth milestone now. May our happiness increase with our usefulness. What Rotary will be one hundred years hence, none living can imagine. There is nothing impossible to Rotary now.”

Harris noted that Rotary had demonstrated its ability to “contribute toward the world’s supply of happiness” in terms of promoting ethical business practices within vocations. He felt that same idea would extend beyond the walls of the offices and shops, and imagined Rotary as “the harbinger of a general world-wide philosophy of business and of life, with happiness as its goal.”

While conceding that he couldn’t see into the future, Harris did predict that Rotary would become increasingly necessary for its ability to make the impossible happen.

On its tenth anniversary, Rotary had been an international organization for almost three years. There were 141 clubs in only a few countries. Today, …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Evan Burrell, left, with other members of the Joint Committee on Alumni Relations during a visit to Room 711, a recreation of the room where Rotary began.

By Evan Burrell

I wonder, as we approach yet another Rotary anniversary, what Paul Harris would think of the Rotary of today? Would he smile, or grimace? He probably didn’t imagine how far his little idea would go when he sat down for that first meeting on 23 February a full 111 years ago.

As a fun exercise, I tried to imagine what it might be like if Paul Harris started Rotary today. To do this, I first imagined what a Gen Y Paul might be like.

I decided he’d be a social entrepreneur and blogger. His personal style is a touch metro, add some emo, and just a squeeze of hipster. He lives a healthy lifestyle, eats organic and gluten free. He is warm and welcoming, with a hearty laugh, and certainly doesn’t need a copy of “How to Win Friends & Influence People.” He has 500 plus connections on LinkedIn.

What does his Rotary club look like?

The club is very inclusive with its membership. They work hard to attract individuals of all genders, races, …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

The Rotary Community Corps of Genesis Ameligan.

By Jerry Olson, past president of the Rotary Club of Metro Roxas Central, Capiz, Philippines

When then President-elect M.A.T. Caparas, the only RI president from the Philippines, introduced the Rotary Community Corps (RCC) program in 1985, I’ll bet he didn’t envision the effect it would be having on the world today.

His vision for RCC’s has improved the quality of life in villages, neighborhoods, and communities all over the world. There are now around 7,500 RCC’s in over 80 countries.

RCC’s are not made up of Rotary members. They are people living in their communities. They may be farmers, tricycle drivers, or even retired people. But they hold one thing in common – they each are committed to their community’s long-term development and self-sufficiency.

As a Rotary member, we are only here to help you form a RCC and teach you how to make it successful at improving your community. You want your RCC to last a lifetime and continue to help your community prosper. Let me give you an example of a successful RCC.

In 2011, a member of the Rotary Club of Metro Roxas suggested looking for a way to bring water to the impoverished …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Linda Campbell (first from the right) and the Live Auctions team at eBay headquarters.

By Linda Campbell, eBay’s Divisional Merchandising Manager for Live Auctions, Collectibles and Art.

For all of us at eBay Live Auctions, 2016 is shaping up to be a year of opportunities: a time to overcome old challenges, a time to set ambitious goals, and a time to try bold, new ventures. In that spirit, we are excited about the partnership between eBay Live Auctions and Rotary International.

What is Live Auctions?

When I talk about Live Auctions, people usually ask what it is and how the experience is different from regular eBay auctions. Live Auctions gives buyers the opportunity to participate in just that – live auctions – which are happening in real time all over the country in auction houses like Sotheby’s, Swann’s and Freeman’s. While others are raising their paddles in auction halls, you are bidding with the click of a mouse in the comfort of your own home or office. It is a completely different way to participate in auctions, whether you are a bidding novice or an aficionado.

It is our absolute honor to be able to donate a portion of …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog