As I have been getting ready for this holiday season, I took some time to reflect on Rotary’s six areas of focus and the impact that we, as Rotarians, have had around the world. I specifically focused on peace and conflict prevention and resolution. During the holiday season it seems that it is a time when conflicts cease for a few hours.
I picked up David Forward’s book, “A String of Pearls” which gives a history of how Rotary’s passion for peace became a reality and tells inspiring stories of how Rotary peace fellows are serving humanity and changing the world. The following are just two of the stories in his book.
Kevin Melton
Kevin Melton, a native of Fairfax County, Virginia was involved in a peer-to-peer mediation program in high school, which was where the seed for conflict resolution was planted. In college, following the attack on the World Trade Center, he wanted to understand why it had happened. Following graduation he went to work with the Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution and began building skills and designing training programs with people from other countries. He then went to work with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). With them, he spent time is South Sudan and then eventually in Afghanistan where he helped support a program to persuade farmers to grow crops other than poppies.
A friend he had meet at USAID told him about the Rotary Peace Fellows program and he was accepted at the Rotary Peace Center is the University of Queensland in Australia. After completing the Peace Fellowship, he joined the USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives and was sent to the Arghandab District in Southern Afghanistan where he was stationed with a Stryker Brigade of the US Army. His charge was to “stabilize the area”. In the first 10 days, 10 men from the unit were killed. He was now on the front line. His tour of duty lasted 18 months and he was using the skills he learned to help stabilize the area. Kevin returned again to Arghandab for another 11 months and today, the area is one of the safest places in Afghanistan.
Kevin acted as a catalyst for the local people to rebuild their own society. He said that “it is by no means perfect, but this little piece of Afghanistan has learned the value of community and social cohesion and what they can do together”.
Path Heang
Path Heang was born in Cambodia and in the early part of his life knew nothing but conflict. As the Vietnam War was ending, the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia and began a reign of terror that became known as the Killing Fields. In 1975, an estimated 2 million Cambodians were forced into labor camps in rural areas where they basically became slaves. At the age of 6, the Khmer Rouge came into Path’s village and split his family up with each going to a different labor camp. He recalls his experience in the labor camp where there were no human rights and the living conditions that they were forced to endure. Violation of any of their many rules resulted in severe punishment, torture and even execution. During this period of time, as a young boy, he witnessed many executions and saw bodies lying in open graves. In 1979 the Vietnamese Army invaded Cambodia and the United Nations brokered a coalition government in which the Khmer Rouge had a seat but no power. He returned to his village and was reunited with his family. He finished his schooling and followed in his father’s footsteps and became a teacher.
Even though the Khmer Rouge had no political power, it continued to wage a guerilla war until 1998 and there were many guns and weapons in the hands of many people. Robbery, domestic violence and deadly conflict were a daily occurrence.
Path felt a strong influence to leave teaching and wanted to do something related to humanitarian service. He joined a non-governmental organization whose mission was to encourage people to surrender their guns. During this time he learned that removing the tools of violence is only the beginning of a post-conflict society. Removing violence from the mindset and mentality of the people is more promising and lasting to restoring peace.
In 2001, as Path was thinking more about becoming a peacemaker, he was reunited with a couple from Australia who had helped him through college and he shared with them his desire to study more about peace and conflict resolution. They shared his story with a Rotarian friend of theirs in Australia and the connection to the Rotary Peace Fellow program was made.
Today, Path works for UNICEF and serves as the Chief of the Central and Southern Zone Office in Phenom Penh, Cambodia. He says, “I see my job as building a more equitable society for marginalized people. I have the ability to influence the law, policy formulation and resource allocation for some of the most disregarded people in our country. Every child should have access to an education, to clean drinking water, to safe sanitation. Those sub populations who live in remote mountain villages, or border refugee camps or city slums may think that nobody speaks out for them. But they are wrong. I am their voice.”
There are many other amazing stories of Rotary Peace Fellows and the impact that they are making everyday to make this world a better and more peaceful place to live. If you are interested in reading more of their stories, the book may be ordered via this website: http://www.rotarystringofpearls.com
Wishing you a joyous Holiday Season and a Happy New Year filled with Peace, Good Health and Happiness
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Rotary Club of York East and the Southern Tier Steering Committee will host the first event of the sixth RMB season on Tuesday, January 15 at the Springettsbury Police Department, 1501 Mt. Zion Road, York, PA. Dan Stump of the Rotary Club of York East will be taking the lead in organizing this event. Next week we should have a RSVP link and a cost. Hopefully event sponsors will be found to keep event costs as low as possible. You can become an event sponsor for $100, and you will be mentioned in all event promotions both local and district wide leading up to the event date. For $500 you can become a major sponsor and receive mention in local and district wide RMB promotions for one year. Sponsors should provide their logos to Melissa in the District office at office@rotary7390.org.
The Rotary Club of Mount Joy spread some Christmas cheer by going Christmas Caroling along Main Street, Mount Joy. Eight members of the club plus friends and family, dressed in their best holiday apparel, stopped at houses and local businesses to sing songs and celebrate the season. The stops included friends, family and pubs where they were greeted with applause. Happy Holidays to all.
Randy Sibert, President of the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation presented the 2018 President’s Award to Brian Deal, facility at Dauphin County Technical School and Celina Bertovic, facility at Central Dauphin High School, in recognition of their significant leadership to ensure that students at Dauphin County Technical School and Central Dauphin High School have the maximum opportunity to obtain scholarships. The Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation will award $63,000 in ten different scholarships to graduation seniors in five area schools in May 2019.
Randy Sibert, President of the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation and Brian Deal, facility at Dauphin County Technical School
Randy Sibert, President of the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation, Celina Bertovic, facility at Central Dauphin High School and Ken Miller, Principal of Central Dauphin High School
The Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation presented their annual report to the Rotary Club of Colonial Park at a recent meeting. In 2018 the Foundation awarded $49,000 is scholarships and in 2019 the Foundation will award $63,000 for ten different types of scholarships. The 2019 Foundation scholarships are available to students in their senior year at Dauphin County Technical School, Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg Christian School, Central Dauphin East High School and Central Dauphin High School. For additional information go to the Rotary Club website at www.colonialparkrotary.org
Pictured L-R: Colonial Park Rotary Club President Dave White and The Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation President Randy Sibert
The Rotary Club of Lancaster hosted a great RMB networking event on December 12, 2018 at the beautiful and spacious offices of EZ Marketing in Lancaster with roughly 35 Rotarians and guests attending from nine clubs representing all areas of District 7390. Catering was provided by Joanne Pinkerton’s Gathering Place Caterers and the heavy hors d’oeuvres were delicious and more than ample. The event was FREE thanks to event sponsors Anonymous, DeBord Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, EZ Marketing, Edward Jones Investments and Renovation by Garman. Thank you sponsors! Thank you also to the Rotary Club of Lancaster for hosting this wonderful networking event, to Rob Gallagher and the Eastern Tier Steering Committee for the great job they did in organizing the event, and to the Rotarians and guests that attended the event and made it such a worthwhile and fun connection-making opportunity. Kudos to all!
Is your Club or changing meetings due to Christmas and New Years? If they are, please email office@rotary7390.org with the changes. A list will be published in the weekly newsletter!
Carlisle-Sunrise – No Meeting December 25 or January 1
Denver-Ephrata - No Meeting December 27 or January 3
Hanover - No Meeting December 25 and January 1
Lancaster-South - No Meeting December 26 or January 2
Lancaster-Sunrise - No Meeting December 27
Northern Lebanon County - No Meeting December 25 & January 1
District Club Grant projects support short-term, humanitarian projects that benefit local or foreign communities. Once a year, a club may request grant funds for a project or may collaborate with another club's project. There is a maximum of five clubs per project.
You are encouraged to be creative and select projects that meet special needs in your local or global community. Some projects done in the past include: refurbishing playgrounds and parks, books for literacy projects, supporting youth development projects, assisting with a family health festival, collecting and purchasing food for a food bank, providing dental care in Honduras, and providing clean water to foreign villages.
The District Grants Committee reviews each grant application for the appropriateness of the project based on Rotary International's humanitarian guidelines. Upon approval, clubs will be matched on a dollar for dollar basis up to $2,500, based on the amount of funds available and the number of grant requests.
Please adhere to the following deadlines when applying for a District Club Grant:
March 15, 2019 - Grant Intention Forms Due (Must be signed by 2019-20 Club President)
April 30, 2019 - Full DCG Application Due
Your Club MUST also be qualified to request a grant. Please follow these steps for qualification:
Complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This form MUST be signed by the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Club Presidents.
Complete the On-line Grant Training found here. You must watch all 5 videos and complete the assessment tests.
Once the grant training is completed by at least one member of the Club and the MOU has been submitted to the District office, the Club will be qualified to participate in a grant until June 30, 2020.
All Grant Forms and more information regarding Grants can be found here.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA Emphasizes Leadership, Citizenship and Personal Growth.
Do you know an outstanding Junior that has what it takes to become a dynamic leader and change not only themself but the world?
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary District 7390 (South Central PA) where students develop their skills as leaders while having fun and making connections. The 2019 RYLA Conference will be held June 9-13, 2019. This will be the 59th Consecutive RYLA in Rotary District 7390.
Students must be between their Junior and Senior year in high school to attend. Approximately 140 High School youth attend annually.
The schedule includes various speakers, career seminars, a challenge course, team building activities, a conference band and chorus and much, much more.
What are the benefits?
Students will connect with leaders in their communities and around the world to:
Build communication and problem-solving skills
Discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in their school or community
Learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors
Unlock their potential to turn motivation into action
In a Summer Cultural Exchange, students spend three to six weeks in their host country visiting with another family and seeing another part of the world. The Short-term Exchange Program arranges for the student's family to host a matching student from another country in return. This program provides an excellent opportunity to experience a new culture in a brief period of time. Like the long-term exchange, the short-term exchange requires a sponsoring Rotary Club in each country, and students are selected on the basis of a written application and interview process.
Parents should be prepared to cover the cost of travel, health insurance and a few other costs for the STEP student. Candidates should complete an application and submit it their sponsoring Rotary Club. Remember - all applications MUST BE TYPED and signatures on the application MUST be in BLUE INK. The sponsoring Rotary Club will hold an interview and, if appropriate, send the student to the District Interviews/training session on January 26, 2019.
You can find more information regarding the Short-Term Exchange Program, please click here!
Rotary Global Grants Scholarships fund graduate students who are interested in studying abroad in one of the six Areas of Focus for Rotary. Candidates must live in or attend college in District 7390, which encompasses Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties.
Scholarship highlights…
Graduate studies abroad
Plan to pursue career in field of study
1 to 2 year scholarship
Minimum of $30,000 per year
Must be proficient in language of 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…
Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
Disease Prevention and Treatment
Water and Sanitation
Maternal and Child Health
Basic Education and Literacy
Economic and Community Development.
The deadline to apply for a Global Grant Scholarship is January 12, 2019. The interviews will be held February 16, 2019 and applicants MUST be available for the interviews on that date. Successful applicants can begin their studies as early as the fall of 2019.
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friends and family, dressed in their best holiday apparel, stopped at houses and local businesses to sing songs and celebrate the season. The stops included friends, family and pubs where they were greeted with applause. Happy Holidays to all.
The Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation presented their annual report to the Rotary Club of Colonial Park at a recent meeting. In 2018 the Foundation awarded $49,000 is scholarships and in 2019 the Foundation will award $63,000 for ten different types of scholarships. The 2019 Foundation scholarships are available to students in their senior year at Dauphin County Technical School, Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg Christian School, Central Dauphin East High School and Central Dauphin High School. For additional information go to the Rotary Club website at .jpg?_=636809373724480901)
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District Club Grant projects support short-term, humanitarian projects that benefit local or foreign communities. Once a year, a club may request grant funds for a project or may collaborate with another club's project. There is a maximum of five clubs per project.
In a Summer Cultural Exchange, students spend three to six weeks in their host country visiting with another family and seeing another part of the world. The Short-term Exchange Program arranges for the student's family to host a matching student from another country in return. This program provides an excellent opportunity to experience a new culture in a brief period of time. Like the long-term exchange, the short-term exchange requires a sponsoring Rotary Club in each country, and students are selected on the basis of a written application and interview process..png?_=636809373724480901)
