Leymah Gbowee won the Nobel Peace Prize In 2011 along with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Yemeni peace activist Tawakkol Karman, nominated for their “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work.”Gbowee, who had lived in a refugee camp, worked as a counselor for child soldiers and led a nonviolent peace movement that played a pivotal role in ending a bloody 14-year period of Liberia’s civil war.
Join keynote speaker Gbowee at the 2023 Rotary Convention in Melbourne. Read more about Gbowee and register now for the convention.
McInally's Scottish heritage is apparent in his office, where a brightly colored landscape painting by the Scottish artist John Lowrie Morrison adorns a wall. Scotland isn't always as dreary as it is typically depicted, he notes. "Sometimes it's a very bright place." In fact, there are a lot of stereotypes about Scotland that McInally is looking to move past. "The tartan, the plaid, it's very traditional, very stereotypical," he says. His presidential tie, instead, was inspired by the bright colors used by Morrison, his favorite artist, along with the colors in a seashell from Thailand that helped inspire his presidential theme. Among other colorful curiosities in McInally's office is a giant cardboard rendition of his head, which he received after a Rotary institute in Minneapolis. Visitors are keen to hold it up for social media selfies. "I think they get more sense out of the head than they do out of me," he says with a laugh.
McInally joined the South Queensferry club when he was 26 years old. He and his wife, Heather, had recently gotten married and wanted to put down roots in the community outside of Edinburgh. A farmer they had met invited them to a Rotary social event and then to a couple of Rotary meetings, and before McInally knew it, he was on the road to Rotary membership. (Heather McInally is also a Rotarian, belonging to the Borderlands satellite club of the Rotary Club of Selkirk.) "I couldn't see how a dentist working in isolation in Edinburgh could make a huge difference in the world," he recalls. "But I very quickly realized that by being part of Rotary, I could, and I did."
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Whether you’re posting on social media, inviting community members to volunteer with you, or speaking at an event, you’ll get more people to take action by using precise words and clear examples. Our Communication Guide, inspired by Rotary’s Action Plan, offers advice for clear and effective messaging, such as: Be specific: Inviting community members to “serve meals to hungry children” is more accurate and compelling than asking them to “defeat hunger.” Be inclusive: It’s easier for people to imagine themselves getting involved with Rotary when you refer to “members and participants” rather than to “Rotarians.” For additional guidance and more concrete examples of powerful communications, read our Communication Guide and be inspired! This guide will help you create communications that effectively promote your club’s good work, attract new participants and partners, inspire donors, and motivate volunteers. The tips and examples will help your club and Rotary be stronger and more influential as we: • Increase our impact • Expand our reach • Enhance participant engagement • Increase our ability to adapt Whenever you communicate with people — whether you’re posting on social media, inviting community members to join you in a service project, or speaking at an event — you have an opportunity to increase awareness of Rotary and what we do |
Opening Thought --- Susie Your Perspective is not My Reality, but Mine is ---
A famous book writer sat in his study and began to write a few points on the year that had passed:
• Had surgery to remove my gallstones.
• Turned 60, Retired, quit a company I loved and left a job I had been doing for 35 years.
• I was abandoned by my beloved mother who passed away.
• My son failed his final medical exam because of a car accident. The cost ofrepairs marked the peak of a truly miserable year.
The writer’s wife entered the room and saw her husband sad and pensive. From behind she could see her husband’s writing. Slowly she backed away.
Fifteen minutes later she returned and place a piece of paper on the desk in front of her husband. It read:
• Last year my husband finally managed to get rid of the gallstones that were causing him so much pain for years.
• I am grateful that he was able to retire in a healthy and happy state of mind and body. I thank God that he was given the opportunity to work and earn for 35 years to support our family.
• Now my husband can spend time writing which has always been his passion.
• In the same year my 95-year-old mother-in-law, without any pain, returned to God in peace.
• The same year God protected our son from harm in a terrible accident. The car was seriously damaged but our son survived without any injuries.
• Last year was full of extraordinary blessings for which we are grateful.
We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
Past District Governor Grant Spackman introduced Mark as a highly skilled at engaging and influencing decision maker, both internationally and within Australia.He has a reputation for leading and delivering successful sales initiatives at state, national and international level. Mark is Member of the Rotary Club of Beecroft and Rotary District Membership Chair 2012-13. Beecroft has come from a club of fifteen to a club in the forties and growing with engaged members that represent their community and its needs, matching the 6 avenues of service to the communities need and being a place for great fellowship and meaningful engagement in projects.
Diversity is key and having clubs aligned to projects, business, families and traditional needs can be good way of achieving this. Mark has a copy of guide to Rotary form the 1930s he found when moving from buildings. What was true then is still true now, a place for fellowship and business acquaintances doing good in our communities.
Mark shared many ideas and we will review these to use and likely implement. Doug Syme thanked Mark for this thoroughly engaging talk his leadership and insights into his club had evolved to match what its community needed and wanted and how its new resources had continued to grow the club and help Rotary to be its best. Mark was presented with a local bottle of wine and thank you card by our own artist Joan Hay.
An international bestseller, inspirational speaker and award-winning advocate Juliana became a member of our Papamoa Rotary on the 1st of December 2022.How lucky we are, here in Papamoa. After becoming a paraplegic at 19 caused by a mysterious illness, Juliana began her journey as a spokeswoman for the inclusion movement, championing her way from South America to here in Papamoa.
After a 7yr battle with NZ Immigration Juliana has recently been granted her residency.
She doesn’t let anything hold her back. Juliana has succeeded locally and internationally, creating and directing TV show Make A Difference, short film If The Eyes Cannot See, The Legs Cannot Feel, as well as winning the award for Best True Story in Marie Claire Magazine and making her autobiography “In my chair or yours?”. I suggest you all go onto her website and read what you really “can do”. www.juliana.co.nz
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