District leadership had goals for this Steps for Peace one mile walk and resolution.
Increase awareness of the District 7390 40 clubs throughout our 7 counties.
Underscore our designation to Positive Peacebuilder both globally and locally.
Engage Rotarians and families in Peacebuilding activities.
Alert the public to opportunities to engage in Positive Peace through District events.
More than 40 Rotarians and family members, plus 8 furry friends, stepped out for Positive Peace completing the one mile walk around the State Capital and under the camera lenses of WGAL 8 and WHTM 27. Those walkers represented a cross section of society and our community in ages, ethnicities and roles in Rotary.
Even on this cold and windy day, enthusiasm was high. District Governor Paul Thompson gave interviews as did other walk participants underneath the massive billboard on 3rd and Forster Streets in Harrisburg.
That evening and through the next day both TV stations ran their coverage multiple times during their pre-network and post-network news programs. Samples of their coverage are also available on each station’s website.
You can view the station’s videos by clicking on the links provided.
District Governor Thompson extends a heart-felt, “thank you to each of the brave walkers and their furry friends, to Andy Rebuck of the Harrisburg Club for the billboard placement and Bob Saline of the Mechanicsburg North Club for informing and engaging the TV stations.
Our initiative for Positive Peace both globally and locally continues via our contribution at the Rotary International level and scheduling of member and public learning sessions about Positive Peace. Everyone can also view the Rotary /EIP Positive Peace course at positivepeace.academy/Rotary on YouTube.”
Since 2002, 1700 individuals have become Rotary Peace Fellows and now work in 140 countries around the world. Many serve as leaders in governments; NGO’s; education and research institutions; peacekeeping and law enforcement agencies; and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.
District 7390 is seeking individuals who have a background in peace work and would like to further develop their skills as a peace builder. Each year Rotary awards 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of Rotary’s peace centers.
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is designed for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Fellows must be committed to community and international service and the pursuit of peace.
The Rotary Peace Fellowship provides training for a master’s degree or a program certificate (shorter length of study). Rotary Peace Fellowships may not be used for doctoral study. Rotary members and their family are not eligible to receive these fellowship (see more details below).
The application process for study in 2026-2027 will be open on the Rotary International website February 2025. Applications may be submitted between February and May 15. Please carefully review the qualifications for this prestigious fellowship and consider if your club knows a potential candidate you can encourage to apply. Interested applicants need to review the Peace Fellowship program, determine if they meet the qualifications, and compile the required information/documents.
District 7390 will provide a recommendation for an applicant if they prepare a competitive application. Contact Anna-Mae Kobbe, District 7390 Peace Fellows Chair at amkobbe@gmail.com or 717-457-0632 if you have questions.
Applicants must follow these steps to prepare a competitive application:
Research the curriculum and programs at each of the Rotary Peace Centers. For the master's program, you will be asked to rank the two centers you prefer if you meet the eligibility criteria for both programs.
Engage with Rotary. Use the Club Finder to locate the Rotary or Rotaract club nearest you. Connecting with a Rotary club or district is a great way to learn about Rotary's work in your community and around the world.
Read the Application Overview to learn the steps involved. An overview with more instructions on submitting a thorough and complete application is available when you start an application.
Gather required documents. Applications require a resume, academic and/or professional recommendations, personal statement video and essays, transcripts from postsecondary colleges and universities attended (master’s only), English language proficiency test scores (master's only), and social impact plan (certificate only). Allow time to request university transcripts and register for IELTS or TOEFL exams if your program requires these. All materials must be in English.
Submit your application between February and 15 May. All applications are considered final upon submission. Ensure your academic and/or professional recommendations and Rotary district recommendation are entered prior to submitting your application.
Await qualification notification and selection results. If you are selected for a fellowship, you will be notified in November which Rotary Peace Center will be the site for your studies.
Apply for admission to the university where your Peace Center is located. Being selected for the fellowship does not mean you have been admitted to the university.
Certificate program eligibility
Candidates for the certificate program at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, either must be from Africa, have worked in Africa, work with African communities or initiatives outside the continent, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding approaches within the region.
Candidates for the certificate program at Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Turkey, either must be from the Middle East or North Africa, have worked in the region, work elsewhere around the world with communities or initiatives related to the Middle East or North Africa, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding approaches within the region.
Selection process
Submitted applications are screened for eligibility requirements. Qualified applications move forward for further review and evaluation. The Rotary Peace Centers Committee, composed of Rotary members, and university representatives review the top candidates and select finalists. Selected candidates are notified in November.
Throughout the process, applications are reviewed based on the following criteria:
Qualification based on the eligibility requirements
English proficiency
Commitment to peace and development
Leadership potential
Compatibility with fellowship objectives and fit with Rotary
Academic record and compatibility with preferred university program
Feasibility and impact of Social Change Initiative (certificate only)
Eligibility restrictions
The following people are not eligible for the fellowship:
Active Rotary members, or Rotaract members who are also Rotary members*
Employees of a Rotary club or district, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity
Spouses, lineal descendants (children or grandchildren by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, or ancestors (parents or grandparents by blood) of any living person in these categories
Former Rotary members and their relatives as described above (within 36 months of their resignation)
* Rotaract club members who are not also Rotary club members are eligible to apply.
Candidates must have at least three years between the completion of their most recent academic degree program (undergraduate or graduate degree) and their intended start date for the fellowship. Candidates currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or who will be enrolled in the upcoming academic year, are not eligible to apply.
Rotary Peace Fellows who have completed the certificate program, master’s program, or a Global Grant Scholarship, must wait three years between the end date of that program and their intended start date for the fellowship.
Members of the Rotary Club of York-East chose to celebrate the spirit of giving this New Year’s Eve by volunteering to serve lunch at The Daily Bread, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding those in need. The volunteers arrived early on December 31 to prepare and serve meals, ensuring that guests of The Daily Bread received a hot, nutritious lunch in a welcoming environment. "We wanted to end the year on a note of service," said Tim Koller a Rotary Club member. "The Daily Bread does such important work in our community, and we’re honored to be a small part of it." The Daily Bread, located in downtown York, serves free meals to individuals facing food insecurity. Its mission aligns with the Rotary Club’s dedication to supporting local communities through hands-on service and philanthropy. Volunteers described the experience as deeply meaningful, noting the gratitude expressed by those they served. "It’s a reminder of how impactful even a few hours of service can be," one Rotarian said.
The Daily Bread welcomes individuals and groups interested in volunteering. For more information on how to get involved, visit their website or contact the organization directly.
Pictured: Tim Koller, Sandy Graham, Jim Norton and Jeff Snyder
Rotary Global Grants Scholarships fund an awardee’s first year of graduate study abroad in one of Rotary’s seven Areas of Focus (listed below). Candidates must live in or attend college in District 7390, which encompasses Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties in Pennsylvania.
Scholarship highlights…
Plan to pursue career in one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus (listed below).
Award is for first year only of graduate studies abroad
District 7390 will not fund any applicant’s study which is for the second or later year of a multi-year graduate study program abroad.
Minimum study budget of $30,000 per year. Award capped at $30,000.
Must be proficient in language of host country.
Based on…
Academic merit
Studying a Rotary Area of Focus
Residence in or attendance at a college in District 7390
Rotary’s Areas of Focus are…
Promoting peace
Fighting disease
Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
Saving mothers and children
Supporting education
Growing local economies
Supporting the environment.
The deadline to apply for a Global Grant Scholarship is January 25, 2025. The interviews will be held February 15, 2025 and applicants MUST be available for the interviews on that date.
Celebrate Rotary’s 4-Way Test by engaging with high school students in your local communities! The March 7, 2025 deadline for your club’s entries in this year’s District 7390 4-Way Test Speech and Essay Contests is fast approaching. If you have not already started planning your contests, now is a great time to start.
All of the information about both contests can be found at https://www.rotary7390.org/page/four-way-test-speech-contest. At this page, you can find rules, information, guidelines, suggested timelines and prize information which will help your club organize and hold its own contests, with your club’s winning entries being submitted to the District Contest by March 7. Both contests ask students to either speak or write about how the 4-Way Test can impact their everyday life.
The Speech and Essay Contest Committee stands ready to serve as a valuable resource to your club. Please contact Mike Handshew (mrhandshew@gmail.com)for questions about the speech contest and Steve Grubb, (stevengrubb@comcast.net) regarding the essays.
This event will include District 7430, 7390, 7490 and 7410, providing a wonderful opportunity for celebration, inspiration and fellowship. Not only will you enjoy the Conference but you will have access to a large range of family-friendly activities while here!
BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY and FEEL THE MAGIC!!!
Total Conference registration is $75. Just want to attend on Saturday? Saturday ONLY registration is $200.
Friday, April 4
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Rotarian Check-In
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Opening Session & Dinner
Saturday, April 5
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Plenary Session #1 - Peace
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Plenary #2 - Peace Fellowships
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch with Keynote Speaker
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
District Sessions - Four-Way Test SPEECH Contest Finals and ESSAY Winner Presentation
Pictured: Tim Koller, Sandy Graham, Jim Norton and Jeff Snyder
.png)
