Rotary Club of St. Paul
March 19, 2024
President Heidi Fisher called the hybrid meeting to order at 5:15 pm. Heather Britt was scribe. The greeter was Michael-Jon Pease. Inspirational minute was Shelly Rucks. Guests, visitors, and happy dollars was Susan Rostkoski. The A/V Tech Team was Matt Magers and Ken Crabb.
Pledge of Allegiance
Inspirational Minutes & Four Way Test with Shelly Rucks
Introduction of Visiting Rotarians & Guests with Susan Rostkoski.
Ken Crabb introducing speaker of the day, Mike Spellman, Rotary International & The Institute for Economics & Peace
Presenter started at 5:24pm --
· Giving this presentation to all 60 clubs.
· Peace is a new theme in Rotary this year – make peace visible is the initiative. Based upon a partnership between Rotary International and the Institute for Economics and Peace.
· IEP = global nonprofit, think tank, headquartered in Sydney, offices all over globe
· Relationship to change way we think about, plan, execute projects all over the world
· What is peace? What is peace made of? What sustains peace? Can peace be measured and quantified?
- 24,700 data sets; from UN, World Bank, World Health Organization and so on
- Two concepts: positive peace versus negative peace
· Negative peace = absence of violence or the fear of violence
- Start by measuring presence of violence or fear of violence
- Highest scores = most violent (least peaceful) in the scoring (from June 2023 report)
- Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, D. Rep. Congo, Russia, Ukraine, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Mali, Cent. Afr. Rep.
- Lowest scores = least violent
- Iceland, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Singapore, Portugal, Slovenia, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Czechia
- Global peace index map
- US is 131 of 160something
· Positive peace = intentional creation and maintenance of conditions supportive of sustainably peaceful societies
- What are those conditions?
- Well-functioning government, equitable distribution of resources, free flow of information, good relations with neighbors, high levels of human capital, acceptance of the rights of others, low levels of corruption, sound business environment
- Definitions of each of these, 3 indicators for each of the 8 pillars
- Dynamic and interconnected system of pillars of peace
- Own effect and interdependent effect on the others
· Comparison of 7 areas of focus of Rotary with the 8 pillars of peace
- Peace & conflict resolution, providing clean water, saving mothers & children, supporting education, fighting disease, growing local economics, protecting the environment
· Rotary projects can be designed to affect ONE pillar primarily, SOME pillars more and others less so, or ALL of the pillars
· We benefit from added CONTEXT (customs, practices, institutions, attitudes), AWARENESS (of the broader impact of our actions), INSIGHT (into the factors which might help or hurt the outcome of the project), FRAMEWORK (for sound decision-making)
- These yield safe, effective, long-term projects · Attend free IEP course at: www.positivepeace.academy/rotary
· Lots of additional reports available
- There is a state by state report for the US
- Where is MN? Maine = #1, Vermont = #2, New Hampshire = #3, Massachusetts = #4, Minnesota = #5
- Ecological Threat Registry
Q & A
· US index – 2.448 (we’re in the bottom fifth)
Certificate for Mike.
Happy Dollars: Susan Rostkoski
· Doug – 4 grandkids and their groovy stuff!
· Jim – Centennial scholar update, forum
· Michael-Jon – Ellen Kennedy recognition
· Aaron – kids & wife
· Shelly – owe everyone for banner, notebook
Rotary Fast Facts with Heidi
· What are 3 of the 4 roles for Rotary in promoting peace?
- Picture frame with clock and Rotary symbol is the prize
- 1 = advocacy/advocates
- 2 = teachers/education
- 3 = take action -- practitioners
- 4 = mediators
· Doug wins!
Upcoming events, meetings, service opportunities with Heidi
Saturday, March 23rd
Service Opportunity
Science Museum
10 to 12 or 12 to 2
Tuesday, March 26th
Meeting – noon
Signature Luncheon @ InterContinental
Dave Beal – Mairs & Powers at 90
Tuesday, April 2nd
Meeting @ University Club
Tony Conn & Yogi Reppman – Peace Pipe Project
Tuesday, April 9th
MEETING Rotation Day
Regions Hospital – Sim Lab
Tuesday, April 16th
18th Annual Forum/Meeting 5 to 7pm
Basecamp, Speaker is Bill Doherty, Topic: Polarization – Minding the Gap, Constructive Conversations in a Polarized World
April 19-23
Service: RYLA
Friday, May 10
Service @ 10 to noon or noon to 2
Science Museum
Thank you! Ended at 6:12 pm.