Every Rotarian: A Peace Ambassador

Are you a peace-builder? Do you believe that peace-building is at the heart of all of Rotary’s work? Is it not that establishing peace, promoting understanding, and enhancing unity must be every Rotarian’s constant pursuit? Peace and understanding must always take center stage in each Rotary Club, as it must be at the heart of everything we do as Rotarians.

As we welcome the month of February, the ideals of brotherly love, peace, unity must be constantly kept in mind. After all, February is not only known as the month of love, but in fact has a special significance in each Rotary Year. Perhaps unbeknownst to some Rotarians, the month of February is special in the Rotary calendar since it is designated as World Understanding Month. The month also includes the anniversary of the founding of Rotary International on 23 February 1905, which date is now designated as World Understanding and Peace Day.

In designating World Understanding Month, the Rotary International Board encourages all Rotary Clubs to plan programs for their weekly meetings and undertake special activities to emphasize and underscore that promoting understanding and goodwill are indeed essential for world peace. Rotary’s unmistakable and timely goal is to create environments where peace can be built and maintained through sustainable and measurable activities in communities worldwide.

To be sure, peace-building remains a cornerstone of Rotary International’s mission as a humanitarian service organization. In communities around the world, and in our own backyard, let us constantly strive to let peace and understanding reign.

Thus, in our individual conduct and dealings as members of Asia’s First Rotary Club, let us consciously act as peace ambassadors --- purveyors of good tidings, elicitors of smiles in everyone’s faces, and true practitioners of the 4-Way Test. This cog-in-the-wheel ambassadorial job must be lovingly carried out not just during the World Understanding month of February, but all year round; in fact, in all the years of our lives.