Page 1 - Rotary Matters - February 2021

February 2021 DG Newsletter

Dear fellow Rotarians and friends of Rotary,
A new year generally brings a sense of hope and new life. While we still struggle with
the effects of COVID-19 our organisation has demonstrated a continued willingness to
learn and adapt.

Lyn and I have resumed visiting the remainder of clubs we could not visit in the
first 6 months, some due to COVID-19 restrictions. In January, we took delight in
attending the Victor Harbor Art Show (Victor Harbor) and Goolwa Markets
(Encounter Bay), a couple of great club projects. The Art Show, in its 42nd year,
won the City of Victor Harbor ‘s Community Event of the Year in recognition of its
longevity, contribution to culture and regional recognition. 2020 Art Show Chair
Tim Shierlaw and President Julie Irwin were proud to be able to accept the
Australia Day Community Event of the Year Award.

Congratulations to our Rotarians who were Order of Australia
recipients as well as those who received Civic Awards.

So much has changed since Rotary was formed in 1905. The world population
then was 1.7 Billion, and today it is just over 7.7 Billion. There were 4 telephones per 100 people and now
it is estimated that 94 percent of the world’s population owns a telephone (either mobile or fixed) and
China and India have more than one Billion mobiles in use at any one time. In the nearly 116 years since
Rotary was founded, seemingly everything has changed except our Rotary Values. We began, committed to
Fellowship, Integrity, Service, and Leadership, and while our (Service Above Self) motto dates back to 1911,
the ethos behind these words have been ingrained into everything we do by our Rotary’s founders. As the
pace of change worldwide continues to accelerate partly due to COVID-19, the need for our Rotary Service
is greater than ever. It is one thing to read about service projects, quite another to witness them in action
and see the grateful faces of people who have benefited from them and how those people's lives have
been changed forever.

February is Peace & Conflict Prevention / Resolution Month

As a humanitarian organization, peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe when
people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global effect.

Millions of people all over the world are currently displaced by armed conflict or
persecution. In fact, 90% of casualties in armed conflicts are civilians, half of which are children.
Through service projects and Rotary programs, the Rotary family is committed to pursuing projects that
address the structural causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to
education, and unequal distribution of resources.

During February, Rotary Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month, we’re celebrating our
commitment to build peace and mitigate conflict.

The Rotarian Action Group for Peace gives Rotary members resources and support to advance peace efforts
and turn ambitious ideas into life-changing realities.