Peace Service 2021-22 | District 5495

Peace Building in District 5495

Submitted by Robert Wertz
District 5495 Peacebuilder Chair

84th Ripple of Peace: Be a witness for Peace.

When people are bombarded with stories of conflict, unrest, terrorism and the possibility of war, they tend to feel discouraged, depressed or angry. Stories of Peace, win-win solutions, and effective Peacemaking activities on the other hand, can lead to feelings of hope and love.

Be a witness for Peace by sharing stories of Peace and successful Peacemaking efforts with others. Scour news articles and the Internet for inspiring tales. Then do one or more if the following:

Create and distribute a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter of Peace to your friends and family members via mail or e-mail.
Write an article or letter to the editor of your local newspaper or call in to a radio talk show to acknowledge successful Peacemaking efforts.
Start a website containing and calling for stories of Peace and Peacemaking.
Initiate a Peace story collection drive at your place of worship or work

Promote Peace.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson

May you know and be Peace.

***

Ripples of Peace No. 81, 82 and 83

Submitted by Robert Wertz
District 5495 Peacebuilder Chair

Dear Friends of Peace,

By nurturing and encouraging goodness in everyone, we are a primary beneficiary of that action. An action that may inspire us to practice the:

81st Ripple of Peace: Sponsor a child or community in another country.

Many people see a direct relationship between the prospect of Peace and the elimination of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease, especially among the world's children. They believe that giving people hope and the chance to have healthy and productive lives is an essential way to invest in the future and improve the prospects for lasting Peace.

If this appeals to you, investigate various charitable organizations that have programs through which you can sponsor a child, either in another country or in the United States. Your monthly donation can help feed, clothe and educate a child who might otherwise suffer throughout his or her entire life.

Consider organizing your community or an organization to which you belong to sponsor a small village or community in another country. Explore available options for sending needed supplies, as well as encouraging letters, to your adopted community.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson

May you know and be Peace.

Ripples of Peace, No. 78, 79 and 80

Submitted by Robert Wertz
District 5495 Peacebuilder Chair

Dear Friends of Peace,

If you didn't have an opportunity to attend a religious service different from your own, another option is to practice the:

78th Ripple of Peace: Sign a petition for Peace

Petitions have become a useful way of promoting a particular viewpoint. They are usually forwarded by their sponsors to people with policy-making and decision-making authority related to the issue at hand.

Search the internet and check with Peace organizations to find petitions for Peace. Sign and pass along those that best express your ideas regarding Peace.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson

May you know and be Peace.

***

Last call for D5495 'Champions of Peace' Award nominations

Rotarians in D5495 are involved in amazing work, all of which contributes to achieving Peace. D5495 Rotary Clubs and Rotarians are invited to nominate one or more fellow D5495 Rotarians for the 2025 “Champion for Peace" award to be presented at the 2025 District Conference by DG Michelle Holcomb..

The deadline for all nominations is April 1.

This annual award is presented to a fellow Rotarian who exhibits “an enduring commitment to peace.” Champion for Peace recipients are selected by members of the D5495 Peacebuilders Network committee.

Past recipients include Chuck Fitzgerald (2018), Kevin Pitts (2019), Nancy Van Pelt (2020), Tony Cerato (2021), Dr. Ruth Tan Lim (2022), Elizabeth Mahoney (2023) and Craig Wilson (2024).

Your nominee’s commitment to peace may be demonstrated through actions that build or strengthen the conditions for peace, or they may be directly categorized as a “peace project.”

Click here for more information and a downloadable/fillable nomination form.

Ripples of Peace, No. 74, 75, 76 and 77

Submitted by Robert Wertz
District 5495 Peacebuilder Chair

Dear Friends of Peace,

Now that we have brought Peace to the world through our smiles, we can practice the:

74th Ripple of Peace: Build relationships with your neighbors.

In this highly mobile and busy society, people frequently live somewhere for years without ever getting to know their neighbors. Yet the sense of belonging and community that comes from having good relationships with the people who live close by is ample reward for the effort. And the connections we make with neighbors can both contribute to and reflect our inner and outer Peace.

Make it a point to meet and know your neighbors. Start by welcoming newcomers with a loaf of bread or a bouquet of flowers. Offer to water your neighbors' plants or collect their mail while they travel. Ride-share or take turns driving your children to school and sports events. Organize a block party, start a book club, or hold a community yard sale.

As you get to know the people in your building or on your street, talk about what is important in your respective lives. Build deep relationships with those neighbors to whom you feel closely connected. Who knows? Some of them may join you in your actions for Peace.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson

May you know and be Peace.

***

Peace is possible and it starts with us!

A Message from Director Dan Himelspach

I recently attended the 2025 Presidential Peace Conference in Istanbul for the dedication of the newest Rotary Peace Center. 1,000+ Rotarians and supporters gathered to support the prospect that there can be peace in the world. Peace is possible and the peace cycle starts with the individual were common themes. It was also acknowledged that seldom has the world been more polarized. It was an incredible event.

Indeed, peace begins with individuals and how they treat each other. Just as there is a peace cycle there is also a cycle of conflict and loss of civility. Escalating disagreements often lead to dismissal followed by ridicule and disrespect. Arguments based on reason are ineffective and changes of position appear impossible. Soon arguments turn to the extreme and focus on personalities rather than addressing the conflict and exploring solutions. Disgust and hate follow, leading to total disregard for those who do not agree. The cycle becomes infectious and justification of dehumanizing treatment of the opposing side seems normal.

You do not have to agree to understand. To understand, find out why they believe what they believe without challenging every point. Positions are often formed with incomplete or inaccurate information, which sometimes is the product of intentional misinformation. Understanding someone’s perspective reduces animosity because it shows respect. Importantly if they feel their perspectives are understood, they will be more open to others’ viewpoints and consider modifying their own.

It is important to understand that there are multiple correct ways to achieve a goal. The difference may be cultural, stylistic, or simply preference. Accepting and learning from diverse approaches can help develop solutions that address concerns from all sides.

In polarized discussions, a just solution must feed the need but not the greed. Most will respond positively to the fact that someone is considering their needs. It is reasonable to get what you need but not to demand what you want.

Rotarians, while it may not be easy, try this approach; it can be hugely beneficial in polarized environments. Rotarians are uniquely qualified to rise to the occasion. We are clearly invested in helping others and our overall goal is to make the world to be a better place for everyone.

Ripples of Peace: No. 71, 72 and 73

Submitted by Robert Wertz
District 5495 Peacebuilder Chair

Dear Friends of Peace,

Now that seeds of Peace have been planted in the earth, we can also figuratively plant them in our mind while practicing the:

71st Ripple of Peace: Use your imagination to create Peace in your personal relationships.

When we are in the middle of a conflict with someone important in our lives, it can be challenging to see around the problem. Our imaginations, however, can leap over the problem and actually experience the solution.

The next time you find yourself in a conflict with a family member or friend, use your imagination to explore a positive outcome. Sit quietly and imagine that the problem has already been solved. Jump forward in your imagination and, without knowing how the change occurred, focus on what your relationship with this person is like now that the conflict has been resolved to each person's benefit.

Be present in the solution. Notice what you see, hear and feel. Imagine what you are saying to this person and what he or she is saying to you. Allow yourself to bask in the positive experience for as long as you can.

Repeat this exercise often. Then carry your good feelings and images with you when you are with the other person.

Act as if your positive outcome is true.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson

Imagine.

May you know and be Peace.

***

Applications now open for Rotary Peace Fellowships

Please help us add to the amazing list of more than 1,800 Rotary Peace Fellows in more than 140 countries who have been awarded the Rotary Peace Fellowship and are still doing important work to improve the lives of others.

The Rotary Peace Fellowship is a program within The Rotary Foundation. It is fully-funded at no cost to our Rotary Clubs or Rotary Districts. Only 50 Master's Degree applicants are selected each year, and D5495 has had 3 applicants selected since November 2021.

Think of someone you personally know, or in your social and professional network who are working in any of Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus (locally, nationally, or overseas), already has a bachelor’s degree, and would be interested in a master’s degree or Professional Development Certificate. Our 11-member strong D5495 committee can assist you and them in this process.

The application process runs from February 1 - May 15, 2025.

Help us find qualified candidates here in Arizona, as well as in other areas of the world. Please go to the D5495 website’s Peacebuilding TAB and click on the Peace Fellowships/Peace Center links to share information with your clubs as well as others who might benefit from this amazing opportunity.

Click Here for More Information on D5495 Peace Opportunities!

Ripples of Peace, No. 68, 69 and 70

Submitted by Robert Wertz
District 5495 Peacebuilder Chair

Dear Friends of Peace,

If anyone expressed resistance to creating your montage. this represents an opportunity to practice the:

68th Ripple of Peace: Recognize signs of separation and build unity.

Our relationships that we care most deeply about offer us repeated chances to act either from fear and anger or from faith and forgiveness. Fear, anger and other so-called negative emotions arise most often when we feel separated from others, from our own inner Peace, and from a source of power greater than ourselves. Faith and forgiveness come from feelings of oneness with others and an alignment with our true selves and the divine in all life.

Learn to recognize signs of separation in your intimate relationships: an ongoing desire to pull back or control, unexplained irritability, judgements about others, impatience, unfounded feelings of being hurt, and chronic low self-esteem. Acknowledge these aspects of your whole self without judgement. Then do what you know aids you in reconnecting with your own inner Peace, with the love of God, and with family and friends.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson

May you know and be Peace.

Ripples of Peace, No. 66 and 67

Submitted by Robert Wertz
District 5495 Peacebuilder Chair

Dear Friends of Peace,

When we empower our friends to make their own choices regarding Peace it is important to practice the :

66th Ripple of Peace: Avoid responding in anger

Words gain strength when accompanied by strong emotions. Words of anger, when spoken from the feeling of anger, carry intense energy that can rupture relationships in ways that are challenging to repair.

The next time you are tempted to vent your anger toward someone you care about, stop. Give yourself as much time as necessary, perhaps removing yourself from the situation, until you can express how you feel in a caring way. While you may still feel anger, allow yourself to reconnect with your heart before you speak.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World by, Rae Thompson.

Anger is an aspect of the human condition that doesn't serve the Peacebuilder. By transforming negative into positive energy, we demonstrate the potential to achieve Peace.

May you know and be Peace.