Rotary Leadership from Global Peace to the Local Environment and Far Beyond
This week provided two examples of the reach and impact of Rotary in the world and in the community as events in Hershey and Camp Hill highlighted Peace and the Environment.
On Monday, the Hershey Rotary Club hosted 80 international students, from 77 nations, assigned to the Army War College for a year to study strategy and the instruments of statecraft. Over lunch the students learned about Rotarians’ historic role in conflict resolution and peace initiatives from the 1930’s onward. That engagement has manifested itself for close to a century through such actions as creating Institutes of International Understanding, sponsoring the London Conference at which UNESCO was conceived, sending the largest non-governmental delegation of 49 Rotarians to the UN Charter Conference in San Francisco, arranging with WHO and UNICEF to conduct a world-wide polio eradication campaign, and funding Peace Scholarships and most recently Peace Universities. It is a remarkable story about Rotarians showing relentless efforts to learn about, talk about, and achieve Peace, a torch our District must now carry forward.
Six past District Governors attended the lunch and assisting in explaining Rotary’s mission to the students.
Pictured L-R: PDG John Anthony (Mechanicsburg-North), PDG Fred Gellert (Carlisle-Sunrise), PDG Alden Cunningham (Carlisle), DG Paul Thompson (Hershey), PDG Kevin Cogan (Carlisle-Sunrise), PDG John May (Hershey), PDG Tom Davis (Hershey)
At the local level, the Rotary Club of West Shore participated in the Camp Hill community event of STORMFEST where every aspect of water treatment was the theme. The Club set up a booth and passed out 4 types of trees, thanks to the generous support of Bartlett Tree Experts, while explaining to the many visitors how Rotary is engaged in water preservation and other environmental issues in the area. Club member and Hydrogeologist Joe McNally, Chair of our District Environment Committee, is busy planning projects to increase our environmental outreach and thereby our member engagement in volunteer opportunities. If you have an environmental concern or interest, please contact Joe and join his Committee.
Would you like to participate in an international hosting opportunity?
Here's your chance! We are looking for people to host (September 17 - September 20), 10 Australians who will be visiting our District. They are a lot of fun and speak English. (Australian English, anyway!) The hosts provide a place to sleep, and breakfast, and as a group, take them to see things of interest in your immediate area. Any activity with a fee they pay for themselves.
If you'd like to meet new people and make lifetime friends, please email shushmapatel.rotary@gmail.com to discuss this opportunity.
The Rotary Leadership Institute is an opportunity to meet with other Rotarians, share experiences, and learn new skills to take back to your club. You don't have to be in the leadership chain to benefit from this institute. If you want to learn more about this wonderful organization that we call Rotary, and find out what you can actually do to start changing the world, put attendance on your schedule.
When Can I Attend RLI? - Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Central Penn College (600 Valley Road, Summerdale, PA 17093).
What is the Cost to attend RLI? - Rotary Clubs should pay for their members to attend RLI. The cost is $125 per Rotarian to attend.
What is RLI? - A leadership and development program to strengthen Rotary Clubs through education, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas among its future leaders. A three-part curriculum facilitated by experienced, trained faculty members engaging participants through open discussion, problem solving and creative role-play.
What will I learn at RLI? - More about Rotary, The Rotary Foundation, Membership, Ethics, Service Projects, Communications, Strategic Planning and Analysis. You’ll also make new friends and enjoy fellowship and networking opportunities.
Course Levels: Parts I, II, III and Graduate (Graduate Topic TBD)
Where can I find more information about RLI? www.rlinea.org.
The Rotary International Convention: Unforgettable moments, enduring relationships
The Rotary International Convention is where you’ll find people of action from around the world brainstorming solutions to some of the most pressing challenges and celebrating our works of service that create lasting change.
The convention is where you’ll renew connections, discover fresh perspectives, and create unforgettable moments and enduring relationships.
At the convention, you’ll:
Participate in engaging breakout session discussions
Attend motivating general sessions
Network with fellow changemakers
Mingle with old and new friends
Browse exhibits and visit the House of Friendship
Explore an exciting host city
Enjoy live entertainment and enriching attractions
The convention is our largest event of the year, a chance for members to show the general public who we are and what we do. Join us at this year’s Rotary International Convention and show the world who you are and all that you do.
The 2023-2024 Rotary Youth Exchange Outbound Class will be holding a Rebound get-together on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Central Penn College (600 Valley Road, Summerdale, PA 17093). We will be meeting in the ATEC building. Click here to view a map of Central Penn College. We will be on the upper floors of the ATEC building in classrooms 200 & 202.
The students and parents are required to attend a de-briefiing session from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m.
At 3:00 p.m. Rotarians, family, and friends are invited to attend! This is a chance to hear more about the fantastic experiences our students had throughout the year.
Light refreshments will be provided. The cost for Rotarians, family, and friends to attend is $10 per person.
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