Chicago COL Presentation - PDG Doug Vincent
Today was an exhausting yet productive day for myself
and our world Peace Community friends. Some of you may recall that in the
spring of 2008 we passed a suggested resolution at the Windsor Peace Summit
regarding development of a Rotary Peace Community program as a result of my Co-Chairing
this initiative during the year of PRIP Wilf Wilkinson.
It was my pleasure to present the proposal to the COL
assembly this afternoon and I'm proud to share the successful news that our
resolution passed with 403 in favour and 101 against.
Following is a recap if the resolution and my proposal
comments:
I would like to move adoption of Resolution 10-71
"requesting the RI Board consider recognizing and implementing a new Rotary
program fostering Rotary Peace Communities and acknowledging existing declared
Rotary Peace Communities
Further resolved by RI that the BOD consider
requesting that future RI presidents emphasize the Object of Rotary by
including the Rotary Peace Community program within their emphasis each year."
For many years, several clubs and districts have
promoted peace awareness through community events and things like peace parks,
peace monuments, peace plaques and peace poles.
Some clubs celebrate annual peace days and often
include school activities to make our next generation more aware of peace . . .
for we will never have true world peace until we have peace in every country,
until we have peace in every city and in every neighbourhood, with harmony in
our schools and in each family.
Under the leadership of Past RI President Wilf
Wilkinson, there were four global Presidential Peace Summits. During that
time, I Co-Chaired development the Peace Community Program which culminated at
the final Peace Summit in Windsor ON, which is the origin of this resolution.
The purpose of this proposal is to have an RI program
to maintain a central global umbrella of information, planning suggestions and
best practices. It would provide a place to register and acknowledge
clubs and districts who have declared themselves as peace communities and can
enhance Rotary's public image initiative.
It would be very helpful to have common program and
process for developing and sharing ideas and consistency in our Rotary peace
building and promotion.
We currently have a website with a download Peace
Community Planning Book containing ideas and suggestions. It includes school
activities and voluntary registration of dedicated communities, should the RI
Directors choose to use it.
There also remains a nucleus committee of peace
volunteers who have helped gather and maintain a wealth of information at no
cost to Rotary. Moving forward we anticipate there will be minimal cost to
provide website pages which coordinate and share consistent guidelines and a
Peace Community registry.
I solicit your favourable consideration of this
resolution which supports Rotary's fundamental focus of promoting world peace.
This just goes to show that any small group of
Rotarians can be heard at the top level of Rotary International through this
parliamentary process.
Thanks to everyone for all of your support on this and
to myself personally.
With best
regards,
Doug V