The  February 2025 Video from Christine Etienne, Rotary International Director, Zone 28 & 32 

To our Rotary Family! in Zones 28 and 32 !!!

As I thought about what to share with you during this month of February, which is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month, I think about the conflict that exists and how our world needs Rotary today more than ever. After all, peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We promote peace by supporting peace fellowships and through our service projects including the eradication of polio.

Rotary members from across the globe will be gathering in Istanbul, Turkey from February 20-22 for the Presidential Peace Conference focused on “Healing in a Divided World” to build on Rotary’s contributions to promoting peace. The conference will also celebrate the inaugural class of Peace Fellows at the new Rotary Peace Center in partnership with Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.  The event is currently sold out but you can join the waitlist if you interested in attending.  Click here for the link.  Please enjoy this month’s video featuring a stellar Peace Fellow, Sarah Sanderson Doyle, as she shares her journey.

This is also the month to celebrate Rotary’s birthday.  It was 120 years ago on February 23^rd that our Founder Paul Harris convened the first Rotary meeting in Chicago, Illinois, to unite professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Today our organization includes members dedicated to humanitarian service in over 36,000 clubs and over 200 countries and geographic areas around the world. Together, may we all continue to share the Magic of Rotary and invite others to join us in fellowship and service so that we continue to make a difference for another 120 years and beyond.

Yours in Rotary,