Rotarian Dan Sockle.

“This will be like drinking from a fire hose.” That’s how our guest speaker last week, Dan Sockle, a Rotarian Peacebuilder from the “Three Creeks” Club in Vancouver, Washington, described his presentation, and he wasn’t kidding!

Dan’s goal was to explore what Rotarians can do to build peace by collaborating more within and beyond Rotary. He outlined some of the challenges we face and possible solutions. He had tons of thoughts, ideas, and suggested projects, and discussed them in rapid-fire mode.

He touched on “Mediation 101,” and addressing the challenges of hate and divisiveness in our society today. He covered foundational communication skills, like listening, that can help turn the tide on politically and media-driven “tribalism” that has furthered extremism and taken it to new heights.

Among the many other ideas: to partner more with those on the “front lines” of conflict:  Rotary Peace Fellows, Rotarian veterans, active law enforcement and even chaplains. He advocated sharing the 4-way test beyond Rotary.

Another concept he is working on is a “Guest Speakers Bureau” to serve area schools. He is close to having a functional website for receiving both volunteer speaker input and search capabilities for educators and club program coordinators.   He hopes this initiative will serve several purposes, including:

  • Increasing a general awareness of real life experiences, bringing more role models, representing various professions and life experiences, into our schools and classrooms.
  • Opportunities to bring a “value-added” to Interact and comparable school clubs (like Kiwanis’ Key clubs), potentially growing existing clubs and/or developing new clubs – especially as opportunities arise to extend Interact down to the middle school levels.
  • Elevating knowledge and dispelling a few myths regarding what Rotary is and does.
  • Complimenting/enhancing/growing District 5100’s existing “Speakers Bureau” serving area Rotary clubs.
  • A little more cross-fertilization and collaboration among both Rotary clubs and other civic organizations with similar values and service to their immediate and broader communities.

He also briefed us on the “Better Angels” initiative, a bipartisan citizens’ movement launched in 2016 to try to unify “red” and “blue” Americans. “‘Better Angels’ is building new ways to talk to one another, to participate together in public life and to influence the direction of the nation,” he said.  For a copy of Dan’s presentation, email me at [email protected].

MIKE CARUSO HONORED AT DISTRICT CONFERENCE

This just in — Congratulations are in order for Mike Caruso, who was honored as a recipient of Rotary International’s Distinguished Service Above Self Award at last weekend’s Rotary District 5100 Conference in Salem.
The purpose of the award is to recognize individual Rotarians who have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, in any form and at any level, with emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary.
 
This is Rotary International’s highest honor for individual Rotarians. A maximum of 150 recipients world-wide may be selected each year. So well deserved, Mike! 
PREPPING FOR THE MURAL

 Special thanks to Judy Robinson’s husband, Marvin (above), who donated the time and equipment to pressure wash the side of the Steve’s Auto Body building on Highway 99W where our Rotary mural is going to go (and saved the rest of us from a work party!)  SERVICES PLANNED FOR BILL DOLAN

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for Club Past President Bill Dolan at St. Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul this  Friday, May 25, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.   A Celebration of Life reception will follow.

VARIOUS AND SUNDRY
 Auggie Gonzales will miss this week’s meeting, as he is in Mexico for the wedding of his son Benjamin. Ben is a dentist and participates in our annual Guatemala dental mission.
Walter Want reported his 15- year-old granddaughter has been accepted into an Olympics development program for soccer in Los Angeles. Walter also celebrated his 76th birthday by donating $76 to the Duck for Polio Plus!
Don’t forget–May 31 is the deadline to submit applications for RYLA. If you know of someone who would be a good candidate, please contact Om Sukheenai or Aaron Lewis.
Shannon Buckmaster completed training and is now an official CASA advocate.
One…two…cha cha cha. Dale Welcome says to be sure to mark your calendar for the June 13 meeting and to bring your spouse. The program will feature professional ballroom dance instructors who will help teach us some moves.