Applications for the 2024 Rotary Peace Fellowships are now available!

Dear club presidents and district officers,

You can help promote peace in the world by encouraging peace and development leaders in your community to apply for the Rotary Peace Fellowship.

Each year, Rotary awards fully funded fellowships for peacebuilders from diverse backgrounds to study at one of our peace centers located at premier universities around the world. This year, we’ll select 50 peace fellows to study in our master’s degree programs and 40 fellows to earn a professional development certificate.

Rotary Peace Fellows use their training to amplify their work at the local, regional, or global level. Clubs and districts can partner with them on peacebuilding initiatives before, during, and after their fellowships.

But we need your help finding candidates. Rotary and Rotaract members can get involved by:

 

Happy New Year, my dear Rotarians! Together we can make 2023 our year for world peace!

 

When my twin granddaughters were born, I was in Trader Joe's and the checkers rang the bells at the counters. "These bells are ringing in an era of peace," I told everyone. 

 

That was a few years ago, and I still believe Peace is Possible, which is the theme for my year as 2022-23 Chair of the RAGFP. Peace is something we have to work for,, as I have learned from the 100+ Podcasts with Peacebuilders (PeacePodcast.org). 

 

And our UN Secretary-General made peace in his annual message:

 

 

 

 

When all 191 UN member states and each of our 35,000 Rotary Clubs continue to work for the peace our world needs, through service projects, our thoughts, and local actions, peace will be a reality. 

 

How we create a culture of peace is evolving. Peace building is more effective at the community level where needs are known and solutions come from collaboration and cooperation between all sectors which also creates greater respect for one another and benefits all citizens.

 

As Paul Harris, our founder, sums it up:

 

"Rotary changes us and those we serve. I believe we can change the world one club at a time."

 

A Peace Pole sponsored by the Prescott Frontier Rotary Club was dedicated Sept. 21 at the Yavapai College.  The Peace Pole is located adjacent the library entrance from 5 to 7 p.m.

 

This project represents the realization of a vision held by Nancy Van Pelt. The project presented an opportunity for Yavapai College Art students to develop a sculptural interpretation of a Peace Pole. A rigorous review process resulted in the selection of a truly unique and inspiring version of a Peace Pole.

 

Following a celebration of the 2020 International Day of Peace, the Prescott Frontier Rotary Club Board approved the formation of a Peacebuilders Committee. Nancy Van Pelt's recommendation to place a Peace Pole in a prominent Prescott public setting was endorsed as the committee’s first priority.

 

Our proposal for a student-led design competition was enthusiastically endorsed by the Yavapai College (YC) Foundation. A design developed by YC sculpture student, Ron Miller, was approved for fabrication and placement on campus by the Art Department Selection Committee.

 

One of the project goals is to reinvigorate the YC Rotaract Club which has been dormant since the onset of the pandemic. I am pleased to report the Art Department Chair has expressed his support of a presentation of the Virtual Reality-based peacebuilding program presented during the recent peace symposium. Extra credit will be offered for participation in the program. The program will serve as an introduction to the RI Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Area of Focus as well as the Rotaract Club in general.

 

A dedication of the Peace Pole sculpture and celebration of the 41st anniversary of the International Day of Peace will be held 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, September 21, 2022. The dedication will take place in the plaza adjacent the library entrance.

 

“This project represents the realization of a vision held by Nancy Van Pelt. The project presented an opportunity for Yavapai College Art students to develop a sculptural interpretation of a Peace Pole. A rigorous review process resulted in the selection of a truly unique and inspiring version of a Peace Pole,” said Robert Wertz, chair of the Prescott Frontier Rotary Club Peacebuilders Committee.

 

The sculpture is secured to a 14-inch pedestal that will include a plaque, which prominently features the Rotary Logo and support provided by our foundation.