The Rotary Barn was warm and cozy last Thursday, and our guest speaker happened to be this correspondent, speaking on Rotary’s Peace programs and most especially, the new Rotary Peace Center at Bachesehir University in Istanbul.  Indeed, I was there a few weeks ago for the first graduation ceremony of the new program. 

The talk last week started with a discussion of the difference between the term “Peace” and the term “Ceasefire.”  Ceasefires are determined and signed by statesmen in conference rooms.  Some can be lasting and game-changing – a good example is the Good Friday accords led by Maine’s own George Mitchell which have heralded almost 30 years of peace in Northern Ireland.  Other ceasefire/peace accords are ephemeral and last about as long as it takes the ink to dry on the paper they are written on. 

The point is that lasting peace can only happen when the people on the ground have the security, economy, and humanitarian resources in place to support sustainable peace.  And that is why Rotary’s Peace Centers are designed to give students the tools they need to work with damaged and vulnerable people on the ground. Rotary Peace Fellows graduate from the program and land jobs in NGOs, government, academia, media, arts, and international organizations such as the UN and WHO.  

The Peace Centers are also designed to develop home-grown peace workers in areas most in need of this talent.  Since the pandemic, Rotary has opened a Peace Center at Makarere University in Kampala, Uganda; at Bachesehir in Istanbul; and is on target to open a third Center in Pune, India, at Symbiosis University.  Running these and the other six Centers located around the world costs Rotary about $6 million annually, and this cost is paid for by Rotarians who specifically give gifts – including legacy gifts – to support the program. 

And one final thought: Rotary International is the only NGO I know that has a plan for peace and is actively working to make it happen. 

In other news, Loretta and Bob once again joined us for the evening, and this time they went away with information about joining Rotary.  We look forward to having them with us “for real.” 

On Thursday Feb. 26, our guest speaker will be Jon Dunsford, a retired engineer and recreational sailor who has been an enthusiastic student of the maritime history of New England most of his life. He has been studying the vessels of Boothbay and building models for over 10 years.  His talk is Part 1 of the history of the Boothbay Region shipyards.  The tale starts at the turn of the 19th century, when roughly 200 registered ships, barks, brigs and Schooners were built in the Boothbay Region, and Jon will continue up through the boom years ending in the financial crash of 1857-58. Be there! 

The barn cleanout is scheduled a few days later on Feb. 28. This is a rescheduled snow date because, as is well known by now, whenever President Laurie schedules a barn cleanout, the weather gods retaliate with a snowstorm. So assuming clear skies (and a clear parking lot), be there at 9 a.m. that Saturday.  We’llclear and salvage and donate as appropriate to the Inn Along the Way and make room for new donations.  Need I remind you that pickups will start again next month and that the barn will be open for business the first Saturday in April? 

It’s the barn that makes it possible for us to support projects both here in the region and, when appropriate, further afield.  President Laurie announced that at its last meeting, the Board voted $500 to be a sponsor of the Garden Club’s new fundraiser, a Tea by the Sea that will take place June 19.  Sounds like a lot of fun – with a garden market and two seatings for tea at the Yacht Club and all this to support the Garden Club’s scholarship and other activities.  Tickets are available online. 

The Board also voted to support two international grants that are being developed by Rotarians in nearby clubs.  We are donating money in support of both the literacy project in Guatemala organized by the Freeport club and the Uganda water project that involves the Biddeford-Saco club. In both cases, Rotarians are making a difference on the ground, and we are as well, through our donations. 

Laurie also pointed out that whenever we receive a thank-you note, which is often, it is posted on the bulletin board in the Clubhouse.  So if you want to see just how thankful, for example, the Boothbay Dolphin Swim Team has been for our gift, just check it out.  

Speaking of the Region’s youth, our high school Interact club will be taking over the clubhouse on Thursday, March 12 and cheffing up a spaghetti fundraiser to support all their activities and charities.  I anticipatea yummy dinner with various sauces, available to either eat in or takeaway.  Mangia bene!  

Interested in Rotary and all the good work we do in the community?  Speak to any club member or just show up on a Thursday at our clubhouse, 66 Montgomery Avenue, Boothbay Harbor.  The fun is underway by 6 p.m.; dinner is served at 6:30 and our program begins by the time dessert is served.  Come by and join us – you’ll be glad you did.