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Rotary Global History Fellowship Authorized by Rotary International www.RotaryHistoryFellowship.org What Paul Harris (and other Rotary Leaders) Said - May 2, 2005 “Must the best genius of men be devoted to the science of war and none to the science of averting it?” Paul P. Harris, We Must Plan for Peace, THE ROTARIAN, February 1940 Rotary World Peace Scholars study international relations, conflict resolution and negotiation — providing promising leaders the tools to further the cause of peace. With the winds of war on the horizon, Paul Harris spoke of averting war! Rotary is a unique organization and part of the Rotary Foundation’s mission statement is “...achieving world peace and understanding”. Rotary provides these fully funded (Rotary World Peace) scholarships towards a masters degree in peace and conflict resolution to 70 students yearly Hosted at seven leading universities around the globe, the 70 Rotary World Peace Scholars study international relations, conflict resolution and negotiation — providing promising leaders the tools to further the cause of peace. Dr. Edward “Eddie” Blender, Editor, WPHS PDG D5470Vail - Eagle Valley Rotary
Fellow Rotarians,
Thank you Eddie, for this week’s quote by Rotary Founder Paul Harris. Peace and Toleration has always been central to Rotary. Paul Harris wrote the following quote in the National Rotarian January issue of 1911. It was the premiere issue of the official magazine for Rotary:
If this Rotary of ours is destined to be more than a mere passing thing, it will be because you and I have learned the importance of bearing with each other's infirmities, the value of toleration.
30 years later, Paul Harris said in a Radio broadcast on Rotary's 36th anniversary:
Rotary is a miniature model of a world at peace, one which might advantageously be studied by nations. Rotarians believe that the universal application of tolerance and friendliness would bring about the international peace so earnestly desired by everyone. At the end of his life, Paul Harris wrote the following two quotes in his final book “My Road to Rotary”: Friendship was the foundation rock on which Rotary was built and tolerance is the element which holds it together. There is enough atomic energy in every Rotary club to blow it into a thousand bits were it not for the spirit of tolerance. Rotary is an integrating force in a world where forces of disintegration are all too prevalent; Rotary is a microcosm of a world at peace, a model which nations will do well to follow. You can read “My Road to Rotary” on our website at www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org/library/myroad/index.htm. Rotary International President Glenn Estess made the following statement in his speech at the United Nations on November 6, 2004: There are few organizations that last 100 years - and the fact that Rotary has reached this important milestone is a sign that the world is in great need of what Rotary has to offer - service, fellowship, world understanding and peace. You can read the complete speech by RI President Glenn Estess on our website at http://rotaryhistoryfellowship.org/my_friends_in_rotary.htm. You can also read about Rotary and the United Nations at www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org/history/history/un/. In reaction to last week’s newsletter, I received the following message from District Governor Elect Paul Broughton in Rotary District 5390, which is located in Montana: Dear Mats: You might also include the fact that Districts 5390, 5360 and 5370 founded the world's first International Peace Park - Waterton- Glacier back in 1932 on the U S / Canadian border. A ceremony called "Hands across the Border" is celebrated each year between the two nations. This year it takes place at the Prince of Whales Hotel September 15 - 18, 2005. Past R I President Tom Davis from the Rotary Club of Butte was instrumental in the formation of the Peace Park. There are some 134 peace parks now in existence throughout the world. Yours in rotary, Paul Broughton District Governor Elect 5390 Thank you Paul, for sending me this information. I would like to add that Rotary Districts 5360 and 5370 are located in Canada on the other side of the U.S. - Canadian border. Paul Harris wrote in his book the Rotarian Age about the U.S. - Canadian border: There are those who believe that the best assurance of peace between two neighboring countries is a row of fortifications on the borderland, though it has been repeatedly demonstrated throughout the ages that it will not work. One hundred unbroken years of American-Canadian friendship which has existed along three thousand miles of unfortified borderland discredits the case of those who proclaim the inevitability of war. You can read “The Rotarian Age” on our website at www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org/presidents/1910harris/paulharris/signature/rotarianage/index.htm. It is the mission of Rotary Global History Fellowship to inform about the historic achievements of Rotary. Rotary Global History Fellowship is organized in the International Rotary Sprit with members from all over the world. You can become a member by clicking on the link www.joinrghf.org. More and more Rotary Clubs read our weekly feature “What Paul Harris Said” at their Rotary meetings. You can read previous issues of “What Paul Harris Said” on our website at www.WhatPaulHarrisSaid.org. Your friends can also sign up to receive “What Paul Harris Said” by sending an e-mail to Chairman@RotaryHistoryFellowship.org. Let’s us together Celebrate the Peace Achievements of Rotary and its History! Mats Ingemanson Chairman Rotary Global History Fellowship (Authorized by Rotary International) www.RotaryHistoryFellowship.org
Eddie Blender has prepared a Rotary Anniversary Issue from Rotary Global History Fellowship. It has six pages of great information with pictures about how Rotary started the Early Years of Rotary and the spirit of Rotary. You can download a free copy from our website at http://rotaryhistoryfellowship.org/Rotary_GHF_Anniversary_Issue.pdf. When Rotary International President Glenn Estess announced his Presidential theme “Celebrate Rotary,” he said the following: Our first hundred years will stand as an inspiring record of men and women of all races, religions, nationalities and political creeds who have made significant contributions to creating a more peaceful world. Rotary International Past President 2000-2001 Frank J. Devlyn said: Rotary Global History Fellowship is an instrumental tool for those forward-thinking people who wish to learn from our history, in order to guide our future.
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