Rotary Service Update Connect. Partner. Serve.

Posted by Gord Hankin 
on Feb 12, 2013
 
 

Berlin Peace Forum calls for Peace Without Borders

Sandy Hook School fund launched

New Rotarian Action Groups and Rotary Fellowships recognized

Resources available to enhance sustainable water initiatives 

 
Berlin Peace Forum calls for Peace Without Borders

A declaration calling for Peace Without Borders was adopted on 1 December by over 1,800 attendees at the three-day Rotary Global Peace Forum in Berlin. Rotarians, community leaders, students, and alumni gathered for the event, the first in a series of three forums aimed at promoting world understanding. More than 100 Rotarian-led peace initiatives were presented, and attendees participated in roundtable discussions. Following the forum, intercountry committees from around the world met to discuss opportunities to further advance Rotary’s peace initiatives. Read more.

The second Rotary Global Peace Forum, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, 25-27 January, featured keynote speaker Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a member of Myanmar’s parliament. This gathering focused on the importance of conserving and protecting the world’s environmental resources, and the crucial role of young adults as catalysts for peace. Read more.  

The final peace forum is scheduled for 17-18 May in Hiroshima, Japan. With the theme Peace Begins with You, this event will focus on sustainable daily approaches to promoting peace to ensure lasting impact. Visit the Hiroshima Rotary Global Peace Forum website to learn more and to register.
Sandy Hook School fund launched
The Rotary Club of Newtown, Connecticut, USA, has established the Sandy Hook School fund in response to the devastating shooting there in December. Donations will be used to support the needs of families affected by the tragedy.
New Rotarian Action Groups and Rotary Fellowships recognized
Learn more about getting involved with these new Rotarian Action Groups and Rotary Fellowships that recently were recognized by the RI Board of Directors:

   
Resources available to enhance sustainable water initiatives
Planning a water project? Interested in learning more about sustainable water and sanitation initiatives? The Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group has created two new technical guides, available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese
Upcoming events and deadlines:

2012-13 Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) Video Contest
Rotarians who have partaken in a Rotary Friendship Exchange are encouraged to participate in the 2012-13 RFE video compeittion. Submissions must be 30 seconds to three minutes long and address on eof the following themes:

• Make a Friend, Make an Impact: serving humanity together
• Friendship without Borders
• Working differently: what my Rotary Friendship Exchange taught me about my 
  vocation

Read the Rotary Friendship Exchange Official Contest Rules and Regulations, upload your video to a YouTube account, and complete the Rotary Friendship Exchange Video Contest Submission Form by 15 March.

Webinar will focus on alleviating hunger and malnutrition
Participate in a March webinar on the global fight against hunger and malnutrition to learn how you can help enhance food security. Panelists from the Global FoodBanking Network, the Rotarian Action Group for the Alleviation of Hunger and Malnutrition, and the Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group will provide examples of sustainable, replicable food security initiatives undertaken by Rotary clubs and districts around the world. Learn how your club or district can participate in the global effort to alleviate hunger and malnutrition. (Times listed below are Central Time; check your local time.)                      
Two Rotaract clubs promote peace through long-term partnership
Congratulations to the Rotaract Club of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, and the Rotaract Club of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, on their new twin club partnership focused on promoting peace between their countries. The clubs plan to collaborate on a variety of service initiatives, including assisting with polio vaccination camps, organizing HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, and raising funds to provide food grains to struggling farming families.
Project in Israel promotes peace amid diversity
February is Rotary World Understanding Month. What is your club doing to promote peace in an interconnected world? The Rotary Club of Mainz-Churmeyntz, Germany, is working on a project that unites Israel’s diverse communities to help local disabled children. Read about the club's initiative and learn about this intercultural, interreligious approach to achieving peace through service.
Service Project Resources
ProjectLINK
Search Rotary's online database of club and district service projects in need of assistance.
Rotary's Areas of Focus Guide (965)
Get this informative, color booklet for an introduction to Rotary's six areas of focus.
Communities in Action (605A)
Find step-by-step instructions for developing, implementing, and evaluating successful service projects.
Community Assessment Tools (605C)
Learn about eight useful tools for selecting an effective service project, including asset inventory, community mapping, and focus groups.