Ian, Susan, Speaker Rachel Yordy, Bill & Rudy at The Oakville Rotary Cluster Peace Dinner
The Oakville Rotary Cluster Peace Dinner hosted Speaker, Rachel Yordy who brought her thoughts about “Peace Through Service and Friendship” to Oakville Rotarians using examples from her experiences throughout the world. Once a year, the three Oakville Rotary Clubs gather together to share an evening designed to promote the advancement of international understanding and goodwill.
District Governor, Ian Ferguson, greeted the Rotarians and their guests by saying that, “Through the power of Rotary, Rotarians strive for a greater peace for ourselves and for our World.” ‘Peace Through Service’ has been highlighted as the organization’s theme for 2012/2013. Rotary International President, Sakuji Tanaka, at the Rotary Global Peace Forum in Hawaii, was quoted as saying, “Through Service, we become more tolerant of our differences and more grateful for the people in our lives. Our sense of gratitude helps us to understand others better and to see the good in everyone. Through better understanding, we learn to respect others, with mutual respect. We live with others in peace.”
Rudy, Susan, Susan & Bill at the Oakville Rotary Cluster Peace Dinner
Speaker, Rachel Yordy, was warmly welcomed at the Oakville Rotary Cluster Peace Dinner. Rachel has travelled extensively throughout the world bringing her message of peace. In 2009/2011 Rachel was one of twelve recipients for the Rotary Fellowship Scholarship and her work has included service in Afghanistan, Haiti, Ghana, Egypt and the Canadian North. She has worked in Egypt Since 2007 as a Child Rights Research Associate that promotes and protects the interests of working children. Her future plans are to pursue a Masters in African Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, to work for the reintegration of child soldiers, and to promote peace education in sub-Saharan Africa.
Rachael says “I am so grateful to have Rotary’s support to continue on this path.” She defined ‘Peace’ in two ways; Peace can be the “Absence of Conflict and the Absence of Violence” or the “Presence of a Social Justice State of Wellness”. She adds that, “Peace is a process with goals that are manifested in behaviour that can be either personal or political”.
In Oakville, we are fortunate to be home to three dedicated and active Rotary Clubs whose incoming Presidents organized this year’s Peace Dinner; The Rotary Club of Oakville’s Rudy Habesch, The Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, Bill Koopman and the Rotary Club of Oakville West, Susan Sheppard. The Oakville Rotary Clubs meet at a variety of times throughout the week, are welcoming and open to people of all cultures and ethnicities. Rotary Clubs are not affiliated with any political or religious organizations.
Ralf, Raymond & Duncan at the Oakville Rotary Cluster Peace Dinner
Consider joining a Rotary Club in Oakville. Perhaps you wish to use your professional skills to help others or see a need that you could help change. Maybe you’re seeking connections with other service-minded professionals in your community or abroad. What would it take to change the world? Rotary’s 1.2 million members believe it starts with a commitment to Service Above Self; “Peace Through Service and Friendship”
To learn more about Oakville’s Rotary Clubs, visit their web-site at www.oakvillerotary.org
Rotary Club of Oakville (RCO) has Monday Meetings at 6:30pm Rotary Centennial Tower, 17 Stewart Street; Contact: Linda Hill at linda.hill.pol@gmail.com.
Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar (RCOT) meets on Thursday at noon Otello’s Banquet & Conference Centre, 2273 Royal Windsor Drive (at Ford Drive Contact: Bill Koopman at billkoopman@aol.com
Rotary Club of Oakville West (RCOW) has Tuesday Meetings at 7:15amHoliday Inn, 590 Argus Road Contact: Dave Saucier at Dave@cacd.ca
Tags: community, Rotary Club of Oakville
About the author: Janet Bedford
A Real Estate Broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services on Lakeshore Road in Oakville, I have 25 years of helping clients realize their dreams, specializing in helping my clients buy and sell homes in the Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas and the Grimsby areas. I love Oakville, its people and the exciting events I cover! My hobby, a passion, is taking pictures, writing articles and telling the world about the people, the businesses, the events, the places to visit and about this amazing Town - Oakville!
Follow
Subscribe
Thank you Janet and Oakville.com. On behalf of the Rotary Clubs in Oakville we sincerely appreciate your coverage of the Rotary Peace Dinner held in Oakville. Sharing the message of peace and goodwill is an important component in developing positive global relationships and making a difference in our international community. Thank you.
Great article and so much appreciated. The Rotary Clubs in Oakville have been community supporters since 1925. We all support Rotary International project and the Rotary Foundation but our hearts are with the community through the provision of grants to local charities, providing housing for families and seniors and programs for students in highschool and college/university.
Thank you.