Rotary was built upon the idea of advancing goodwill and understanding – it’s in our mission, and part of everything we do. The Rotary Foundation has six areas of focus, each of which is important. But every one of them depends on peace in the world.

There are endless ways to help build peace in our world, through our clubs and through our Foundation. The polio eradication initiative, as the largest global public health initiative in history, is doing a tremendous amount to promote peace – by building partnerships between the public and private sectors, by improving health infrastructure and monitoring the poorest areas, and by making it clear to all that we cannot have a healthy world if even one child is forgotten.

This month, we celebrate World Understanding Month and Rotary’s 115th birthday, the efforts of every club and Rotarian should be directed toward doing something for peace. The district is pleased to announce Steven Shepelwich, member of the Oklahoma City Rotary Club as our Rotary Peace Fellowship Subcommittee Chair; and he will be guiding our efforts.

Together, we promote peace. Building a peaceful world begins in our own backyards. That’s why Rotary brings communities together to learn from our differences, gain new perspectives, and form stronger connections. Promoting peace through understanding - that’s what people of action do.

Yours in Rotary,