It’s a new year, and we always start with such high hopes—for a year filled with peace and joy.
Yet, we are confronted daily with a relentless barrage of conflict. In 2024, we had 323 school shootings—an improvement over 2023, when there were 349. Feel better now? I didn’t think so. We still face the war in Gaza, uncertainty in Syria, the horror in Sudan, the conflict in Myanmar—the list goes on.
Here at home, we are more polarized than we’ve been since the Civil War, with a level of political division unknown to most of us before. Regardless of their beliefs, we are often urged to see those who disagree with us as the enemy. Stop and think about that for a moment—our fellow Americans as the enemy?
Yet—yet—through all of this, we have the beacon of Rotary: a shining light that offers an elusive prayer for hope. Rotarians avoid politics and religion, granting us the freedom to work together to bring peace to our world.
Every project in some way shares resources, provides opportunities, eliminates disease, educates children—especially young girls—and promotes peace. We provide economic opportunity, clean water, maternal health, and, most importantly, hope.
As Bobby Kennedy said in 1966:
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Every Rotarian is waging peace.
This month, we have an opportunity to learn new and better ways to achieve our goals. Rotary District 5150 is one of eight Rotary districts sponsoring a Peace Conference in Rohnert Park from January 24–26, 2025. Details and registration are HERE.
As we start this new year, with the eternal hopes of Rotarians everywhere, let us continue our tireless efforts. To quote John Lennon: “All we are saying is, give peace a chance.”
Thank you. Happy New Year to you, your families, your clubs, and to our world - Peace.