David Bradshaw talked about Discon and the importance of many Rotarians as possible attending.
He was backed up by a number of other members.
Because Discon is literally down the road this year we expect that more members will be there to raise the Rosebank Banner.
Robert Domijan is featured on the "Rotary Artists - behind the Canvas" page (Top left of The Ramble, just click on the link). The Artists' Page is updated every week with a different artist so please remember to have a look at it.
Raffle sheets were handed out to all Rotarians and the three prizes are the paintings at the bottom right of the collage.
This Week
Hugh Rix will be chatting about himself and his career.
Here he's receiving a parcel of Easter Eggs for Woodside Sanctuary that he ran for many years.
Careers Day
We really improved on Careers Day this year with more vocations than before, five different tertiary institutions which included all the local universities and about 330 Grade 12's.
The registration system worked well and the Soweto buses also arrived in reasonable time despite one breaking down!
Everyone I spoke to on the bases really felt it was worthwhile and though I was initially worried when some bases were empty first time round but eventually they all had a reasonable number of interested learners. I think it took time for the learners to realise that they could speak to anyone. Some of them were very organised, went to the base they were interested in and then to the tertiary institution to ask about their requirements.
There were some gaps which we will have to fill next year with vocations that were requested. There were also useful suggestions from people on bases as to what we should aim at in the future and additional bases we should consider.
I can't thank everyone enough for their help, assistance and input. As soon as we have had the follow-up meeting I will let you know the feedback from the Grade 12's.
Rosebank Rotary Anns
The Rotary Anns are once again holding their annual Bridge Drive on Wednesday 18th May at St Michael's Church, Bryanston.
We appeal to the Rotarians to help us with a few prizes: bottles of wine and boxes of chocolates are always welcome, or if you are visiting your favourite restaurant, please ask them for a meal voucher. Most restaurants are only too happy to oblige. Please make sure that the voucher does not expire before the date of the event - they usually make them valid for 6 months from that day.
Prizes can be given to Les Short at any Friday lunch.
Rotary Peace Fellowships
The Board is currently investigating the possibility of recommending someone for a Rotary Peace Fellowship. This will give you an idea of what it is all about.
Creating peace in Myanmar
Rachel Hall Beecroft with local youth on a field visit to Hpa-An, Karen State.
By Rachel Hall Beecroft, Rotary Peace Fellow at the University of Queensland, Australia
I looked around me at the faces of these change makers and felt overwhelmed by happiness, power, and positivity. These everyday people were coming together for a shared cause — peace. They were giving up aspects of their life to become something greater than themselves alone. They were contributing, they were committing, and most importantly, they were changing the world around them.
As a Rotary Peace Fellow studying for my master’s degree in Brisbane, Australia, I spent eight weeks creating the change I want to see in this world through my Applied Field Experience (AFE). The AFE is an opportunity to get out of the classroom and into the field, applying my new skills and new knowledge to real world situations.
They were giving up aspects of their life to become something greater than themselves.
I found myself in Myanmar (a country in Southeast Asia formerly known as Burma) working for a civilian peacekeeping organization. Myanmar has an incredibly tumultuous past between more than sixty years of civil war and decades of rule by an oppressive military dictatorship.
A poster describes the villagers’ desire to live in peace.
The organization works for peace in war-torn countries using two principles: nonviolence and civilian action. In Myanmar, they train civilians from targeted areas to act as civilian protection monitors and civilian ceasefire monitors. These villagers are trained in nonviolent techniques, relationship building, confidence building, and on what actions they, as community members, can take to ensure fellow civilians are protected from violence and that local ceasefire agreements are respected.
These civilians told of their actions to create peace and end violence — about how they held awareness raising trainings at churches, schools, and community centers to teach their fellow villagers about nonviolence, peace, and the power they communally had to create change. They met with local stakeholders including government officials, military commanders, and guerilla leaders to inform them that they would be taking steps to protect civilians in that area and any incidents perpetrated by any of the warring sides would be monitored, documented, and conveyed to the relevant authorities.
As I looked around the room, I saw regular people whose lives had been transformed by their contribution to the peace process. I saw people who had previously lived in an environment of oppression and fear, and who now had the courage to stand up to create change in their own communities.
Learn more about the Rotary Peace Centers program
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