2019-05 May

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear fellow Rotarians, The people who know me best — my family — know that my passion for Rotary is boundless. They also know that I don’t expect them to get involved in Rotary the way I have. It’s a choice that’s up to them. But I must admit, I can’t help smiling when I see them making the right choice. At the end of the Toronto convention last year, my 12-year-old granddaughter turned to me and said, “I’m inspired to do something. What can I do?” Naturally, I did what any other Rotarian grandfather worth his salt would do: I asked her if there was an Interact club in her school. When she discovered there wasn’t, she attempted to set one up. Unfortunately, her principal had other ideas, but we should not be deterred from helping Rotary youth programs whenever we can, because their value is beyond question. Take Rotary Youth Leadership Awards as one example. It transforms young people into more confident, focused individuals with a better understanding of the world around them — changes I was pleased to see in my 16-year-old grandson after he participated. My family is just the beginning. Everywhere I go, I meet people of all ages whose lives have been changed by our youth programs. They tell me how, five or 15 or 25 years ago, Rotary Youth Exchange taught them a new language or introduced them to a new culture. Their eyes light up when they talk about how New Generations Service Exchange helped them advance in their career, or about how membership in Rotaract first ignited their passion for giving back to the community. Rotary’s programs for young leaders extend our ideals of service, friendship, and leadership develop- ment beyond the doors of our clubs to hundreds of thousands of young people each year. And when we serve with and for those young people — as sponsors, project partners, and mentors — it brings out the best in us, and it brings out the best in Rotary. May is Youth Service Month, and there are many ways your Rotary club can celebrate. Sponsor an Interact club or Rotaract club, and your Rotary club will give young people in your community the tools they need to take action, become leaders, and gain a global perspective. Team up with your local Rotaract club for a service project. Get to know the participants in Rotary’s programs for young leaders and share their stories with your community. You’ll find more ideas in this year’s Rotary Citation brochure, located under the Awards section of the Member Center at my.rotary.org. This month, let’s Be the Inspiration to the young leaders in our communities by mentoring them, engaging them, and working side by side with them on meaningful projects. It’s an investment in their future and in the world they will live in after we’re gone. And it’s work that will forever enrich their lives, and our own. BARRY RASSIN President, Rotary International

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contents Vol. 197, No. 11 MAY 42 “ Imagine a world features beyond war built by Rotarians. 34 PUTTING CIVILITY BACK INTO CIVIL DISCOURSE Rotarians find that bringing red and blue Americans together ”— Rotarian Action Group for Peace banner to talk—and listen—fits neatly with The Four-Way Test. 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By David Sarasohn | Illustrations by Joan Wong 6 INBOX  42 ALL WE ARE SAYING . . . 8 EDITOR’S NOTE Al Jubitz and Dennis Wong, two founders of the Rotarian Action Group for Peace, are working hard 1 1 our world to give peace a chance. • Learning curve By Geoffrey Johnson | Photography by NashCO • Secondhand treasures • Q&A with John Caulfield 48 THE FOUR-WAY TEST IN A POST-TRUTH ERA • Rotarians destigmatize opioid recovery • People of action around the globe As political passions swirl about, keep your eye on the • Snapshot: Berea, Ohio goals of truth and fairness. • May events By Joseph Epstein | Illustrations by Davide Bonazzi 2 7 viewpoints  52 THE ROTARIAN CONVERSATION • Shoe-leather civics Author Gregg Easterbrook argues that even though optimism • The good shepherd has gone out of style, the world is in better shape than ever. 57 our clubs By Frank Bures | Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa • Rebels with a cause ON THE COVER When truthfulness seems to be losing its prestige in public life, how do we “refuse to be false”? • 5 questions about Rotary Friendship Illustration by Davide Bonazzi Exchange • Club innovation: Genève International, OPPOSITE Rotarian Robert MacKenzie (center) and Katie Rodrigues, Switzerland who often speak together to raise awareness of substance abuse • Convention: Info on the go disorder, greet Bob Dyer at an event in Alfred, Maine. See page 14. • Message from the trustee chair Photography by Alyce Henson / Rotary International • Crossword THIS PAGE Al Jubitz (left) and Dennis Wong of the 64 LAST LOOK Rotarian Action Group for Peace. Photography by NashCO May 2019 The Rotarian | 3

JOHN REZEK Editor in chief General O cers of Rotary International JENNIFER MOODY Art director 2018-19 JENNY LLAKMANI Managing editor President BARRY RASSIN East Nassau, Bahamas GEOFFREY JOHNSON Senior editor President-elect HANK SARTIN Senior editor MARK DANIEL MALONEY Decatur, Alabama, USA DIANA SCHOBERG Senior sta writer Vice President JOHN C. MATTHEWS Mercer Island, Washington, USA VANESSA GLAVINSKAS Contributing editor Treasurer NANCY WATKINS Copy editor PETER IBLHER Nürnberg-Reichswald, Germany MARC DUKES Production manager Directors FRANCESCO AREZZO Ragusa, Italy JOE CANE Design and production assistant OLAYINKA HAKEEM BABALOLA Trans Amadi, Nigeria JEFFRY CADORETTE Media, Pennsylvania, USA CYNTHIA EDBROOKE Senior editorial coordinator BASKER CHOCKALINGAM Karur, India LAWRENCE A. DIMMITT Topeka, Kansas, USA SANNA LERENMAN Circulation manager RAFAEL M. GARCIA III Pasig, Philippines JWK MEDIA GROUP Advertising representatives KEIICHI ISHIGURO Tsuruoka West, Japan ROBERT C. KNUEPFER JR. Chicago, Illinois, USA Ad inquiries: [email protected] JWK MEDIA GROUP FLORIDA — 954-406-1000 AKIRA MIKI Himeji, Japan 212 SE Eighth St., Suite 101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 EUN-SOO MOON Cheonan-Dosol, Korea JWK MEDIA GROUP NEW YORK — 212-292-3718 DAVID D. STOVALL Hall County, Georgia, USA 800 Third Ave., Suite 2800, New York, NY 10022 BRIAN A.E. STOYEL Saltash, England PIOTR WYGNAŃCZUK Gdynia, Poland Send ad materials to: Marc Dukes, The Rotarian, One Rotary Center, GREGORY F. YANK O’Fallon, Illinois, USA 1560 Sherman Ave., 14th floor, Evanston, IL 60201; phone 847-866-3092; PAULO AUGUSTO ZANARDI Curitiba-Cidade Industrial, Brazil email [email protected] JOHN HEWKO General Secretary Media kit: rotary.org/mediakit Kyiv, Ukraine To contact us: The Rotarian, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201; phone 847-866-3206; email [email protected] Trustees of The Rotary Foundation Website: therotarian.com To submit an article: Send stories, queries, tips, and photographs by mail 2018-19 or email (high-resolution digital images only). We assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Chair To subscribe: Twelve issues at US$12 a year (USA, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin RON D. BURTON Norman, Oklahoma, USA Islands); $16 a year (Canada); $24 a year (elsewhere). Contact the Circulation Department (phone 847-424-5217 or -5216; email [email protected]) Chair-elect for details and for airmail rates. Gift subscriptions available at the same rates. GARY C.K. HUANG Taipei, Taiwan To send an address change: Enclose old address label, postal code, and Rotary club, and send to the Circulation Department or email [email protected]. Vice Chair Postmaster: Send all address changes to Circulation Department, The Rotarian, BRENDA M. CRESSEY Paso Robles, California, USA One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201. Call the Contact Center: USA, Canada, and Virgin Islands (toll-free) 866-976-8279. Trustees Elsewhere: 847-866-3000, ext. 8999. ÖRSÇELIK BALKAN Istanbul-Karaköy, Turkey Unless otherwise noted: All images are copyright ©2019 by Rotary International MÁRIO CÉSAR MARTINS Santo André, Brazil or are used with permission. DE CAMARGO Published monthly by Rotary International. The Rotarian® is a registered trademark of Rotary International. JOHN F. GERM Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA Copyright ©2019 by Rotary International. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Evanston, Ill., USA, MARY BETH GROWNEY SELENE Madison West Towne-Middleton, and additional mailing offices. Canada Publications Mail Agreement No. 1381644. Canadian return address: MSI, PO Box 2600, Mississauga, ON L4T 0A8. This is the May 2019 issue, volume 197, number 11, of Wisconsin, USA The Rotarian (ISSN 0035-838X). Publication number: USPS 548-810. PER HØYEN Aarup, Denmark SEIJI KITA Urawa East, Japan 4 | The Rotarian May 2019 JULIA D. PHELPS Amesbury, Massachusetts, USA K.R. RAVINDRAN Colombo, Sri Lanka KENNETH M. SCHUPPERT JR. Decatur, Alabama, USA GULAM VAHANVATY Bombay, India MICHAEL F. WEBB Mendip, England SANGKOO YUN Sae Hanyang, Korea JOHN HEWKO General Secretary Kyiv, Ukraine

Join us! 31 May 2019 Hamburg, Germany Photo ©Rotary International WASRAG’s eleventh Summit will focus on led by keynote speakers Dr. Patrick CONSUL SPONSORS “Achieving Lasting Impact” – targeted at Moriarty (CEO of the IRC) and Dr. Maria ensuring all Rotary WASH projects will Elena Figueroa (Johns Hopkins University) EMISSARY SPONSORS meet SDG#6 (Access to Safe Water and to help us achieve that elusive target. Catholic Relief Services Sanitation for all) and be sustainable. By popular demand our round table Medentech We have a wonderful line-up of experts, sessions will be repeated this year. Suez Water Technologies DIPLOMAT SPONSORS Space is limited – please register now at www.wasrag.org ONE DROP Sawyer

inbox Telling Rotary’s story to exist, and if just being social is all “Great War” during the conflict to mark its they can muster, that’s fine. I’ve been a scale — in this case “great” to distinguish it I am a 28-year member of the Rotary Club member of one Rotary club for 40 years. from previous smaller international conflicts. of Mariposa Yosemite, California. Your When I joined its 19 members in 1979, My father and several uncles served in that article “Namaste, Y’all” in the February we were principally a social club that did conflict, and I can assure Mr. Guyer that none issue so beautifully tells why my club very small service projects, contributed of them, nor anybody else, thought the war was continues to finance storytelling in our to The Rotary Foundation, and gave small good or “great” in the modern sense. county’s rural schools. $100 college scholarships. It was upon those friendships that our club has been JOHN DANIELL For years, my Rotary club has supported built and grown to a membership of 115 Shelton, Connecticut the nationally known Mariposa Storytelling that contributes $40,000 a year in college Festival in March. This year’s festival scholarships, End Polio Now, Meals on The home front featured Native American storyteller Dovie Wheels, and over $200,000 in Kiva loans. Thomason, who tells Lakota and Plains Our philosophy was to save or help My February issue of The Rotarian arrived Apache stories to inspire delight in the spoken one person at a time. last week and I immediately read it, as word and teach respect for values passed I typically do. The magazine included two on through generations. “Change the world” may sound great, but articles on Rotary’s peace efforts around what in effect happens in successful clubs the world — worthy efforts. They prompted The article is a breath of fresh air in worldwide is the members enjoy working me to wonder whether Rotarians worldwide this time of political unrest, and it together, like each other, do projects they can ought to focus on peace efforts in their explains the goal of Rotary in a poignant, handle, and have time to enjoy the friendships. own countries. Nations around the world, symbolic way. including the U.S., are fractured by dissen- CHRIS ULLMAN sion, anger, and deep hostility among the SUSAN ROBINSON Manhattan Beach, California citizens of those countries toward their Mariposa, California fellow citizens. It is proper for American and Defining ‘great’ British Rotarians to seek to promote peace What a social club can do in the far-flung regions of the world, and for I just received my February issue and read Carl Japanese and Argentine Rotarians to do While President Barry Rassin’s February Guyer’s letter about the Great War [“Insanity the same. But what about local peace message about strong, vibrant clubs of War,” Inbox]. Mr. Guyer is obviously initiatives? Where is the Rotarian voice that are transforming their communities accustomed to the common use of the term of reason, gentility, and goodwill in their is well taken, I feel his slight of some clubs “great,” meaning good, wonderful, terrific. own countries? I see little evidence of as “hardly more than social clubs” needs People began to refer to World War I as the to be addressed. Many clubs are struggling REPRINTING ARTICLES The Rotarian frequently receives requests to reprint its articles. In the interest of raising awareness about what Rotary does, we encourage readers to share our articles in this way. Any article, in its entirety, may be reprinted in a Rotary-denominated publication such as a club or district newsletter. For other publications, both consumer and nonprofit, reprints require the expressed prior permission of the magazine. In all reprints, author, photographer, and illustrator credits must appear with the article, along with the following: Reprinted by permission from The Rotarian magazine, [month/year]. Copyright © [year of publication] Rotary International. All rights reserved. If you wish to reprint an article from The Rotarian, contact us at [email protected]. After publication of the reprint, please mail a copy to: The Rotarian, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201. See also myrotary.org/en/terms-using-rotary-international-trademarks-and-copyrights. 6 | The Rotarian May 2019

such efforts. Since I am an American, RI Board passes diversity policy I challenge the Rotarians in the other countries to seek to do the same with One of Rotary’s top priorities is diversifying our membership to ensure that we their own fellow citizens. more fully reflect the communities we serve. There has been an ongoing conversation about the lack of diversity in Rotary’s leadership. For example, while Theoretical peace is a nice construct. 22 percent of Rotary’s members are women, that statistic is not reflected in our Real reconciliation among divided and leadership. We can do more, and in January, Rotary’s Board of Directors approved hostile people is an urgent priority. a diversity, equity, and inclusion policy for Rotary International: STEPHEN W. REED As a global network that strives to build a world where people Pasadena, California unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity Editor’s note: See page 34 for an initiative and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, addressing peace within the United States. regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Get your ducks in a row Rotary will cultivate a diverse, equitable, inclusive culture The article “Duck Soup” in the February issue in which people from underrepresented groups have does not mention an evaluation of the actual or potential environmental issues related to greater opportunities to participate as members and leaders. dumping thousands of these rubber ducks in natural waterways. A cursory review of This is a statement for everyone — from the club level to the Secretariat. All of information available online will show that Rotary needs to make diversity — of age, race, gender, culture, sexual orientation there have been some problems. It is my and identity, etc. — a priority. opinion that there are many better ways of raising money for good causes other than The Board has also set a goal to increase the number of women both in Rotary dumping nonbiodegradable objects in rivers and in Rotary leadership positions to 30 percent by June 2023. To achieve and streams. this goal, we all have work to do. We still need to bring in good people to our organization, so we should not lose sight of good men either; we want qualified BOB BARTH individuals from all sectors. San Francisco We have made great strides this year by appointing more women to serve as A missing step? International Assembly training leaders, regional leaders, and RI committee members. At the local level, clubs can encourage more women and those from One of Rotary’s challenges is plainly other underrepresented groups to take on leadership roles. As more diverse illustrated in the February issue in the candidates are elected, the pool of candidates who can serve at the senior piece titled “Path to the Presidency.” leadership level increases too. While the magazine lays out the steps a Rotarian must follow to reach the It is time for Rotary to create a new future for the organization, one that is more position of RI president, the final step in open and inclusive, fair to all, builds goodwill, and is beneficial to all of Rotary. the path is clearly not the truth when measured against Rotary’s Four-Way — RI PRESIDENT BARRY RASSIN Test. No woman has ever achieved that distinguished honor. to proclaim that its “path” fully meets the only four steps …” conveniently overlooked a first standard of The Four-Way Test. fifth step: One must be male. Am I missing In fairness to all Rotarians, this something? Obviously that step is not “on path should reflect the real truth that, at WILLIAM R. MCLEROY paper,” but look at the past 114 years! Is present, the trail for a woman candidate Aledo, Texas another bout at the Supreme Court in order? narrows and almost always ends before reaching the level of RI director. Your article “Path to the Presidency” was CARL KRUSE all correct except for missing the first step: Poway, California Women can successfully lead Be born male. nations. That should likewise be a goal Let me be the 1.199 millionth Rotarian to point for Rotary International — if it is firmly BRENDA KING out that in your article “Path to the Presidency” Weyburn, Saskatchewan you left off the first step: being born male. I found it rather interesting that the wording HOWARD JULIEN “While on paper the path to the presidency is Bremerton, Washington May 2019 The Rotarian | 7

SERVICE A message from the I t’s di cult to disguise the truth in a declarative ABOVE SELF editor in chief sentence. What it says either is true or isn’t. But JOHN REZEK modern usage is full of aimless intensifiers and The Object of Rotary specious qualifications that provide all manner of I listen imprecision and obfuscation. Plus we have the THE OBJECT of Rotary is to encourage and foster to speech as passive voice, where actions can exist but those who the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise caused the action hide in protective custody. and, in particular, to encourage and foster: though it were wri en. I listen to speech as though it were written. I can’t FIRST The development of acquaintance help myself: It’s one of the hazards of editing for a liv- as an opportunity for service; I can’t help ing. When I hear people needlessly complicating what myself. they’re saying, I figure they’re trying to say something SECOND High ethical standards in business and else. When I hear people repeating in similar professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all ways what they’ve already said, I presume they don’t useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s know what they mean. When I hear people retreat occupation as an opportunity to serve society; into buzzwords, I stop listening because whatever they’re saying is nonsense. And if they declare they’re THIRD The application of the ideal of service in each being transparent, I conclude there’s nothing there. Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life; Given our current troubles with clarity and verac- FOURTH The advancement of international ity, we asked Joseph Epstein to think about The understanding, goodwill, and peace through Four-Way Test in our post-truth era. One of America’s a world fellowship of business and professional foremost essayists, Epstein is a prolific writer, with persons united in the ideal of service 31 books, most recently last year’s Charm: The Elusive Enchantment and The Ideal of Culture: Essays. His The Four-Way Test piece in this issue o ers a lucid and erudite medita- tion on Rotary’s core beliefs. OF THE THINGS we think, say, or do: 1) Is it the TRUTH? When the magazine approached Al Jubitz, one of 2) Is it FAIR to all concerned? the founders of the Rotarian Action Group for Peace, 3) Will it build GOODWILL and and asked if he would join us and co-founder Dennis Wong for a conversation about their group, his answer BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? was an emphatic yes. “It was The Rotarian that gave 4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? birth to the RAG for Peace,” he said. He was referring to “Peace Force,” a February 2012 article that chron- Rotarian Code of Conduct icled Jubitz’s financial backing of the fledgling Rotary Peace Fellows program. Coincidentally, its author, The following code of conduct has been adopted for David Sarasohn, also wrote this month’s story the use of Rotarians: “Putting Civility Back into Civil Discourse,” about AS A ROTARIAN, I will Better Angels, a group that mediates between conten- 1) Act with integrity and high ethical standards tious groups of people to establish better understand- ing and lower volumes of speech. in my personal and professional life 2) Deal fairly with others and treat them and their Sarasohn is a graceful writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, occupations with respect and The Nation, and he is a longtime contributor to 3) Use my professional skills through Rotary to: The Oregonian. I knew him long before we fell into magazine careers. He was studying history and I was mentor young people, help those with special majoring in religion when we were classmates at needs, and improve people’s quality of life in Trinity College. Small world — and that’s the truth. my community and in the world 4) Avoid behavior that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians 8 | The Rotarian May 2019

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THEODORE KAYE our world Learning curve ALVIN LAM Rotary Club of Innovation Hong Kong In high school, Alvin Lam was active in Interact and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, but it was Rotaract that turned him into a leader. When he learned in May 2016 that his Rotaract Club of Kowloon North West was shutting down along with its sponsoring Rotary Club of Kowloon North West, Lam and other Rotaractors were disappointed. May 2019 The Rotarian | 11

our world continued from page 11 Then Eugene Fong, 2013-14 governor of District 3450, asked Lam to help char- ter a new Rotary club. Lam had previously been a member of the Rotaract Club of City University of Hong Kong when he was pursuing his degree in computer studies. He says he tried to live by the club slogan To Serve, to Learn, to Lead. “I did learn how to lead during my Rotaract service,” he says. “It gave me a platform to develop and practice personal skill sets and pro- fessional knowledge.” Lam and Fong got to work recruiting Secondhand treasures potential members, and today the Rotary Club of Innovation Hong Kong has 21 members who range in age from their WHEN FIVE TRUCKS arrived at a second- Sometimes the club receives a donation mid-20s to mid-40s. They’ve embarked ary school in the city of Venlo in the Nether- of something unique. A few years ago, a on a number of projects, including sup- lands, members of the Rotary Club of dossier of documents related to the history port of a district program that works with Venlo-Maas en Peel were ready. of the city of Papendrecht brought in young people who are homeless. They’ve The trucks were filled with items to be $8,000. The oldest of the documents, set up a program using kendama, a type of sold at the club’s 33rd annual book and re- which the city bought, dated to 1328. cup-and-ball toy, to help children with au- cord sale. The seven-day event in early Jan- “The city of Papendrecht organized a tism build their self-confidence, improve uary raised $95,000 that will go toward special exhibition with these documents,” coordination, and develop concentration. projects that improve the lives of children says club member Peter Elbers, noting that They’ve also organized a Rotary informa- in Brazil, Malawi, Peru, and Sri Lanka.   the documents contained previously un- tion day to help students learn more In partnership with the Society of St. known information about the city’s history. about careers in everything from mobile Vincent de Paul, the club mustered about After 33 years, Elbers has some tips on app development and e-commerce to dig- 200 volunteers, including people who are how to organize a successful book and re- ital photography and art therapy. not Rotary members, who made sure the cord fair. Most important, he says, is to plan Today, Lam, 40, is an IT and telecom- event went off without a hitch. About from the start to make it an annual event. munications professional with a master’s 10,000 book and record aficionados from “Don’t try to organize such a fair only degree in e-business management, and he throughout the Netherlands, and from other once,” he says. “When people recognize the credits much of his success to his early countries including Germany and About 10,000 book Belgium, attended the sale experiences in Rotary, including his time as a member of the Interact Club at the and took home 60,000 books and record aficionados school formerly known as the Shau Kei and 15,000 records. attended the sale. The club members work Wan Government Technical School. “I was involved in all kinds of Interact throughout the year to organize the fair. The quality of what you are selling, they will COURTESY OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF VENLO-MAAS EN PEEL activities, including fundraising and club has drop-off points for book and record come back.” community service projects,” he says. donations, and volunteers sort through them A reliable volunteer workforce is also a Lam is currently his club administra- twice a week. must. Club member Jaap Verhofstad tion chair and deputy district secretary, The items are categorized by genre, and brought his children to help set up and break and he serves on his district’s innova- a coordinator responsible for each category down the fair. “My children have had a few tion, IT, and public image committees.  makes the final decision on what will be hours of fun helping out at the fair during the “Rotary is a place where you can learn included in the sale. Most books sell for sale,” he says. “Our 11-year-old twins are too a lot when you devote yourself to serve,” between 50 cents and $2.50, but those young for the heavy work — but in a few he says, “and the good will come back that are new or special can cost between years we will have two more strong men.” to you.” —ANNE STEIN $3 and $50. — ANNEMARIEMANNION 12 | The Rotarian May 2019

“The ability to observe, listen, and understand a foreign country and culture served me well in my career as a diplomat. ”John Caulfield Ambassador to the world In four decades as a diplomat, John THE ROTARIAN: What about your experience CAULFIELD: There’s a complicated history, and Caulfield represented U.S. interests in nine countries. He served at the as an Ambassadorial Scholar led you to think an emotional history. I used to call the U.S.- U.S. Embassy in London; as one of about the foreign service as a career? Cuba relationship “the bad divorce.” It’s so three people at the small consulate traumatic and difficult for everyone involved. in Cali, Colombia; in Venezuela af- CAULFIELD: People were always asking me Sometimes it’s hard to act in your own best in- ter the U.S. ambassador to that coun- terest, because you’re so concerned about the try was expelled by President Hugo questions about the United States — about other people. I met incredible people in Cuba, Chávez in 2008; and in Cuba at a everything from Native American culture to very brave people, and I value that experience. I time when the two countries had no the space program. And they would ask why hope the Cuban people will have greater oppor- diplomatic ties at all. we do things the way we do in the U.S. During tunities in the future than they’ve had. this year of study when I was a kind of unof- Caulfield traces his career in for- ficial representative of the United States, and TR: What skills are important in diplomacy? eign service back to 1973, when he given all the questions people were asking, I was a Rotary Foundation Ambassa- thought, “You know, it might be interesting to CAULFIELD: You’re the person who explains to dorial Scholar in Salvador, Brazil. do this as a career.” Now retired as a diplomat, he lec- your own government what’s going on in the tures on Latin America and consults TR: Your first posting was in Cali, Colombia. country where you’re posted. You have to listen with businesses that want to reach and to understand what makes this country the Cuban market. What was your role? tick. What are the people here trying to ac- complish? What are they interested in? And VIKTOR MILLER GAUSA CAULFIELD: I was vice consul there. As part of at the same time, I’m there to explain not only U.S. culture but also the interest of the U.S. my job, I was in charge of issuing visas to peo- government in a particular situation. Some- ple in Cali who wanted to travel to the United times you have to figure out what that is in a States. At that time, Cali was known for prob- new situation. lems with the drug trade. I had to really listen to people, because not everyone was going to I go back to that early experience on my Ro- tell me the truth, and it was important to dis- tary scholarship. The skills I started to develop tinguish fact from fiction. I learned what it as a young man continued to pay off through- meant to be an official representative of the out my career. The ability to observe, listen, and U.S. abroad. understand a foreign country and culture, and the deeper understanding of my own culture TR: Your last posting was in Cuba, when there that I got from talking about the United States, served me well in my career as a diplomat. was no U.S. embassy in that country. What were the challenges? — FRITZ LENNEMAN May 2019 The Rotarian | 13

our world Rotarians destigmatize opioid recovery Last October, Ben Lowry, an attorney in was my son,” he says, his voice crack- seminars to educate the community on PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALYCE HENSON / ROTARY INTERNATIONAL ing with emotion. “There was a young the dangers of opioids, supports educa- Portland, Maine, was searching the city’s woman dead in the street, probably in tion campaigns in public schools, and streets for his eldest son. her 20s. It’s a very difficult thing to see, raises money to train recovery coaches especially when your son is living out who assist drug users who are trying to Just a year earlier, his son had been there. You don’t think it’s going to hap- turn their lives around. in college studying engineering when he pen to you until it does.” began using drugs. Before too long, he was “I don’t know if I will be able to help my hooked on opioids. Lowry and his family With that experience in mind, Lowry, son,” Lowry says, “but if I can help others spent more than $100,000 on treatment a member of the Rotary Club of Port- in a similar situation, I want to.” and recovery programs. Finally, Lowry land, joined a group of Rotarians from gave his son an ultimatum: Stop using or Maine and New Hampshire who had According to the U.S. Centers for Dis- move out. His son moved out. come together to prevent overdose deaths. In partnership with public ease Control and Prevention, Maine and Now, hearing the wail of sirens on this health agencies, the District 7780 Re- New Hampshire recorded nearly 800 cold fall night, Lowry feared the worst. covery Initiative Committee organizes opioid overdose deaths in 2017 — a terri- “Someone said there was an overdose ble toll, but a small fraction of the 47,600 nearby, and I hurried over, thinking it 14 | The Rotarian May 2019

opioid deaths nationwide that year. And Zoe Brokos, a community health pro- organize one of the seminars in his com- in January 2019, in an overview of the motion specialist with Portland’s Public munity, and he attests to their ability to opioid crisis, the National Institute on Health Division, demonstrated how to alter widely held perceptions. “About Drug Abuse reported that about 80 per- use the kits. She acknowledged that the three-quarters of the way through the cent of people who use heroin first mis- fear of public rebuke can keep people program, one of our better-known Rotar- used prescription opioids. from giving or seeking help. Making the ians asked the question, ‘Why do we want auto-injectors more available, Brokos to help these people?’ ” Bouchard recalls. Robert MacKenzie, a member of the explained, shifts the focus to adminis- “There was a moment of silence, and Rotary Club of Kennebunk, Maine, and tering assistance. then someone at the next table shared that town’s police chief, has also been how his neighbor’s son became depen- personally touched by that crisis: One “There is still a lot of stigma associated dent on prescription painkillers after a of his daughters struggled with heroin with naloxone even in the recovery com- knee surgery and progressed to heroin. dependency and is now in recovery. But munity,” she said. “We have to get past Then someone else shared a story, and it that process, he says, is a long and un- that and think about providing a compas- continued on like that. Pretty soon, we certain one. sionate community response. It’s like hav- realized this touches everyone.” ing a fire extinguisher. You hope you will MacKenzie was instrumental in or- never have to use it, but you are really go- At many of the Rotary forums, peo- ganizing District 7780’s Overdose Rec- ing to be glad you have it if you do.” ple in recovery tell their stories to un- ognition and Response seminars. His derscore that point. Andrew Kiezulas, main goal is to reduce the stigma asso- John Bouchard, a member of the Ro- a graduate student at the University of ciated with opioid use, which, he says, tary Club of Saco Bay, Maine, helped can be a significant barrier to drug users getting help. He thinks Rotarians can A member of the Rotary Club of York, Maine, Susan Gross shares the lessons she learned at the Recovery spread the message that the opioid epi- Coach Training Academy. Opposite: Kennebunk Police Chief Robert MacKenzie was instrumental in demic is not a criminal justice issue, but organizing District 7780’s Overdose Recognition and Response seminars. a public health issue. “A lot of people tend to shy away from the subject because they look at it as dirty or evil and want nothing to do with it,” MacKenzie says. “They think it doesn’t happen in their town. But guess what: It happens in every town.” At a November seminar at York County Community College in Wells, a town 30 miles southwest of Portland, about 70 Rotarians and community members turned out to learn how to rec- ognize an opioid overdose and adminis- ter naloxone to counteract it. Dozens of naloxone auto-injector kits, each about the size of a deck of cards, were laid out on a table in the college’s auditorium alongside information pamphlets. May 2019 The Rotarian | 15

our world At the seminar in his community, says John Bouchard, “we realized this [crisis] touches everyone.” That attitude, he says, holds commu- Below: After his son had problems with opioids, Ben Lowry got involved with educating people about the nities back from addressing the issue dangers of substance abuse. “If I can help others in a similar situation,” says Lowry, “I want to.” compassionately, and it overlooks the complicated factors that can lead an Southern Maine, has been in recovery The 2017 National Survey on Drug individual into dependency on a drug. since 2012. He became dependent on opioids after a back injury in 2007. He Use and Health reported that 2 million Maine’s Rotary Club of Biddeford- now helps run an on-campus residential people in the United States had misused Saco organized a Red Ribbon Commit- recovery center, and he has researched prescription opioids for the first time in tee that coordinates with nearby towns the impact of language on substance use. the past year, for a total of 11.4 million to sponsor events in schools to teach stu- people misusing prescription opioids dents about the dangers of prescription “When you lay out a rap sheet on the nationwide. and nonprescription drugs. The commit- same person, with the same history, and tee has also been working to establish a you change the term ‘substance abuse’ to “I had one patient who said she had local chapter of Learn to Cope, a nonprofit ‘person with substance use disorder,’ it messed up her leg when she was 16, and support network that offers education, makes a big difference in how that per- they put her on oxycodone,” recalls Earl resources, and peer support to parents son is treated,” Kiezulas says. “A person Freeman, a prevention specialist who and family members dealing with a loved labeled as an abuser will more often be works with the District 7780 commit- one’s addiction to opiates or other drugs. referred to punitive measures. But if they tee. “She said it was after that first pill are labeled as having a disorder, they are that she knew something had changed.” Meanwhile, MacKenzie and the Ken- more often referred to treatment, they nebunk Police Department have part- have more time with doctors, they get Freeman has had his own encounters nered with a local nonprofit volunteer access to more services, and their out- with the misplaced stigma attached to organization called Above Board to estab- comes are significantly better.” opioid use. He notes that some of his lish a Recovery Coach Training Academy. medical colleagues ask him why he Led by certified trainers, the four-day wants to work with “those people.” course graduates peer mentors who are then paired with people in recovery. Susan Gross, a member of the Rotary COURTESY OF BEN LOWRY 16 | The Rotarian May 2019

MacKenzie’s goal in addressing audiences — such as this one at York County Senior College in Alfred, THE OPIOID Maine — is to reduce the stigma associated with opioid use. “[People] think it doesn’t happen in their town,” EPIDEMIC he says. “But guess what: It happens in every town.” Within a 12-month period Club of York, Maine, and the district’s on my own experiences with my son.” in the United States: Recovery Initiative Committee, recently completed the course. She shares that ex- Meanwhile, after overdosing three 130+ perience with other Rotarians and incor- porates the lessons she learned into her times and getting robbed at knifepoint People died every day from encounters with people in recovery. opioid-related drug overdoses twice, Lowry’s son landed a job and In January, MacKenzie organized a (estimated) session for emergency first responders, moved back in with his father — al- followed by recovery coach training for 47,600 30 community members. The first re- though, according to the elder Lowry, sponders will use the new coaches as a re- People died from source pool when they encounter people he smokes marijuana with his friends. overdosing on opioids struggling with substance abuse disorder. “I don’t know if that’s recovery or not, 81,000 Ben Lowry completed the course in November. (His trainer, Jesse Harvey, is but at least he’s not doing harder stuff,” People used heroin for the first time a Portland Rotarian.) Lowry encourages others to take the training. “It opened says Lowry, who still endures some 28,466 my eyes to a lot of things,” he says. “I can certainly empathize with people based sleepless nights. “I hope his living with Deaths were attributed to overdosing on synthetic opioids me and working is his first real step of other than methadone recovery. But you don’t know. All I can 2.1 million do is keep trying.” — ARNOLDR.GRAHL People had an opioid use disorder Fighting disease is one of 2 million the six areas of focus for Rotary. People misused prescription Learn more at rotary.org/en opioids for the first time /our-causes/fighting-disease. 886,000 People used heroin 15,482 Deaths were attributed to overdosing on heroin Source: Analysis of 12-month data, 2016-18, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services May 2019 The Rotarian | 17

our world Canada Mexico Belize Singapore Australia Pareooupnledothf eacgtlioobne Some 400,000 Belize Canada Singapore Singaporeans live on less Since 1977, the Rotary Club of Belize The Rotaract Club of Sarnia In a city-state that ranks among than $5 a day. in Belize City has assisted nearly Lambton, Ontario, joined young the top 10 developed countries 300 children with congenital heart patients at a mental health unit in in wealth per adult, hardship persists, conditions, providing diagnostic an art therapy session creating particularly among the elderly. The procedures and heart surgeries holiday scenes. Six designs by Rotary Club of Singapore North packs performed by visiting cardiologists patients were reproduced on holiday and delivers food to needy seniors in from the United States. In 2018, the greeting cards. Sales of more than the Teck Ghee neighborhood, says cost of surgical and catheterization 200 sets of cards generated Club President Kok Kit “KK” Wong. procedures for nine children, totaling $750 for hospital programming, “We provide a loaf of bread and $28,000, was covered through says Club President Reid Eyre. “Many grocery items to residents every fundraisers and contributions from people in our community don’t know Wednesday” at four distribution U.S.-based foundations and the that there is a child and adolescent centers, Wong says, “and for those Rotary clubs of Alturas, California, and mental health inpatient unit at our with mobility issues, we deliver them Tampa, Florida. The Belize club has local hospital,” he says. “It was time to their homes.” This project started also donated medical evacuation for the Rotary family to get in there in October 2015 with 100 beneficia- airplanes, firetrucks, and an ambulance and support them.” ries; now, six to 10 volunteers reach to the Belize Emergency Response 300 people every week. Team, a nonprofit that specializes in pre-hospital emergency care. 18 | The Rotarian May 2019

Mexico ness donated the paint, so we Australia Fewer than only needed to buy paintbrushes 100,000 koalas, In August, members of the and a few tools,” says Club The Rotary Club of Beaudesert planted designated as Rotaract Club of Empresarial President Gonzalo Martínez. And 100 eucalyptus trees in a nature pre- “vulnerable” Piedras Negras visited local hospi- during an event at the Emiliano serve to provide nourishment and cover by the Australian tals and brought breakfast for Zapata Elementary School, the for koalas. The animals are “seriously government, patients’ relatives who had been Rotaractors taught the students diminishing in numbers locally, mostly exist in the wild. there all night with their loved about recycling, planted trees, due to encroaching urban development ROTARACT CLUB OF EMPRESARIAL PIEDRAS NEGRAS ones. In October, after speaking to collected clothing donations, and loss of habitat” caused by drought the principal of the Ernesto Vela and provided blood pressure and wildfires, says Club President Les- del Campo Elementary School, screenings for the children’s ley Turton. Koalas are also susceptible who told them the school was in parents. The club benefits from to certain bacterial and viral infections desperate need of repainting, the support and advice of its that can lead to blindness and infertility. the Rotaractors brought together sponsoring Rotary club, which The club has also partnered with the teachers, parents, friends, and sends a member to every Rotaract Rotary Club of Currumbin-Coolangatta- members of their sponsoring club meeting. “We are a nice Tweed and other District 9640 clubs Rotary club, the Rotary Club of Rotary family,” Martínez says. to fund koala vaccinations at the Empresarial Piedras Negras, to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. “We have spend a day painting the entrance a chance to make a real difference to and exterior walls of the six- the future of koalas,” Turton says. classroom school. “A local busi- — BRAD WEBBER May 2019 The Rotarian | 19

FIND A CLUB ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! Grand Canyon; Monument Valley; Stay Get Rotary’s free Club Locator app and find a meeting wherever you go! 4-nights in national park lodges on your www.rotary.org/clublocator Caravan tour. Call now for choice dates. Advertise in 8-Day Tour $1495+tax,fees The Rotarian See the greatest national parks [email protected] of America's Southwest on a (954) 406-1000 Florida fully guided tour with Caravan. (212) 292-3718 New York Visit Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Sedona, Lake Powell, 5($06 % ) $6 6 / $0 Monument Valley, and more! Join the smart shoppers and ( / / , ( 5$03 32&2 experienced travelers. Let Caravan handle all the )2817 $ , 12) <287+ details while you and your family enjoy a well-earned, 6 , 0 , '() (77(6 worry-free vacation. Happy Travels! 6%$ $ , 0$ 7 “Brilliant, Affordable Pricing” &86 720(56 (59 , &( —Arthur Frommer, Travel Editor $+25$ / ('$ &+$ Choose A Fully Guided Tour 10 days Guatemala with Tikal 58%<5(' 21$ 7 ($5 8 days Panama Canal Cruise and Tour 9 days Costa Rica Natural Paradise 25( / (21 7: , 6 7 10 days Nova Scotia, P. E. Island 9 days Canadian Rockies, Glacier % $ 55 ( / 6 3 ( 5021 7 + 8 days Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion 9 days California Coast, Yosemite ('$7( (63 8 days Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore 8 days New England Fall Colors FREE Tour Catalog: C1-a8r0a0v-aCnA.cRoAmVAN $7$5 , 5($ 8321 6 75( 7&+$ 7527 $5< #1 In Value—Guided Tours Since 1952 , 27$ $872 87 , /( 63(' 7((1 , 6/(7 |2.12205x9.5T_Thhee.RRootatraiarni_aMnAYM.20a1y92_G0C1.9indd 1 3/8/19 10:34 AM

23Reinvent our wheel What is your club doing? In coming Share your club’s great new ideas. months, The Rotarian will be showcasing: Email us at • NEW MEMBERSHIP MODELS [email protected]. • WAYS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY • PROJECT IDEAS • FUNDRAISERS

our world SNAPSHOT Berea, Ohio A former newspaper editor and reporter, LINDA G. KRAMER knows the power of a photograph. “As a reporter for a local daily, I often had to take my own pictures,” she says. “One of the lessons I learned was the value of people in photos — position, expression, emotion.” Kramer, a member of the Rotary Club of Berea, was attending the Berea Memorial Day Parade last year when she saw a little boy listening attentively to the Berea-Midpark High School marching band. “It was an extremely hot day,” Kramer recalls. “Most people were in the shade under a tent, waiting for the speeches to begin. The boy sat in the sun for the longest time wrapped up in the patriotic music.” 22 | The Rotarian May 2019

May 2019 The Rotarian | 23

our world MAY events 11 th Sing like a star EVENT: Karaoke fundraiser HOST: Rotary Club of Burbank, California WHAT IT BENEFITS: A local hospital’s new ER building campaign WHAT IT IS: This is karaoke with a twist. Attendees make a $25 donation to choose a song and challenge others to sing it. If those who are challenged refuse to sing or 3 rd choose a different song, they must donate at least You’re glowing $40. Start planning your song list. EVENT: Glo-Ball Golf Classic HOST: Rotary Club of Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Texas 18 Tales of ales and tails th WHAT IT BENEFITS: Creation of a playground accessible to EVENT: Ales and Tails Crawfish and Red Dirt Festival children with disabilities WHAT IT IS: The first nine holes of this golf tournamen t HOST: Rotary Club of Vinita, Oklahoma are played in the afternoon, followed by WHAT IT BENEFITS: Vinita Rotary Foundation scholarship fund dinner, awards, and a prize drawing. After WHAT IT IS: “Red dirt” is a subgenre of country music that gets the sun sets, players golf the same nine ho les its name from the Oklahoma soil. Hear the sound with “glo-balls” for some fun in the dark. and enjoy piles of Louisiana crawfish, boiled Cajun- style with potatoes and corn. Games and craft vendors will be on site as well. 4th 24t h- 27th A clawsome meal EVENT: Lobster dinner HOST: Rotary Club of Gettysburg, Memorial Day Pennsylvania remembrance WHAT IT BENEFITS: Local nonprofits EVENT: Field of Honor WHAT IT IS: Don’t be shellfish! Plan to come to this HOST: Rotary Club of Green Valley dinner. Tickets include a whole lobster (Henderson), Nevada (claws and all), steamed shrimp, WHAT IT BENEFITS: Local charities side dishes, and nonalcoholic beverages. WHAT IT IS: More than 1,000 U.S. flags will be on display Memo- rial Day weekend to recognize the veterans, active duty military, first responders, and community mem- bers whose lives exemplify Service Above Self. You can purchase flags to honor your personal heroes. Tell us about your event. Write to [email protected] with “calendar” in the subject line. 24 | The Rotarian May 2019

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viewpoints Shoe-leather civics There’s nothing like canvassing door-to-door to demonstrate that ‘democracy is a verb’ by PAUL EN G LEM A N RICHARD MIA O n Saturdays last fall, miles.) Over eight weeks, I rang Personally, I found this lack I would get up early 300 doorbells and made contact with of political literacy rather ap- and drive to a region 150 people. Some days I partnered with palling, but as a canvasser, I known to many Chicagoans as people I’d known for a long time, other welcomed it, in the hope that the Land Beyond O’Hare, days with folks I’d just met. My recollec- merely being courteous — sometimes going as far as the tion of the experience is largely a blur, and perhaps offering a com- Wisconsin border, to knock but I came away with some memorable pliment on a garden or a on doors for a first-time can- anecdotes and lasting impressions. Halloween display — might didate for U.S. Congress. sway an undecided voter. At about one of every two houses, If you’re bracing for a po- residents were either not home or un- At one house, I learned that litical screed, not to worry. willing to answer their doors. Every a young woman who resided This isn’t really about politics; third house had a barking dog or two, there would be mailing in her it’s about civic engagement. every fifth a sign prohibiting solicitors. ballot from Japan. A neighbor Most of those who did open their doors two doors down declared no I got involved with this ef- said they were planning to vote — but interest in politics and had no fort after hearing from a col- about half didn’t know the name of their intention of voting. A couple lege friend who was the four-term incumbent congressman. of people said they thought longtime director of a Chi- voting should be mandatory. cago community organiza- A woman who works at a tion. On the first weekend, pharmaceutical company the group of canvassers con- confided that she believed in “socialized sisted of four volunteers. By the end of medicine” — and that she was no longer October, our ranks had grown to 50. on speaking terms with her mother be- cause of political differences. One man We knocked on doors in communi- sounded apologetic as he told me he had ties that had seemingly dropped from already voted — for “the other one.” And the sky, car-dependent subdivisions quite a few married couples, I learned, planted on yawning expanses of retired have opposing political leanings. farmland. One town where I canvassed On occasions when I encountered a had seen its population mushroom from strong supporter, I would offer to have 124 to nearly 6,000 in 15 years. It was a a yard sign delivered. No one accepted. world I knew nothing about. As one man explained succinctly: “Neighbors.” The congressional district that we So what exactly is civic engagement? canvassed stretches about 80 miles from According to Brian Brady, it’s partici- north to south, touching seven counties pating in the democratic process. “In a and measuring almost 1,600 square narrow sense, it’s being informed and miles. (My own more densely populated district, which includes parts of Chicago and neighboring suburbs, is 96 square May 2019 The Rotarian | 27

voting,” he says. “In a broader sense, it’s “Politics is what stands where to vote. A campaign risks being becoming active in community affairs in the way of settling our active to the point of annoyance. As one and issues, elections, and campaigns.” supporter told a partner of mine, “I’m disputes; civics is a going to vote for her — unless you people Brady is president of Mikva Chal- way of settling them.” bother me one more time.” lenge, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organi- zation that trains high school students Mikva in 2016 was an anecdote about Thanks at least in part to all that in what he calls “action civics.” Several how his political career began. In 1948, bothering, 2018 marked the highest friends of Abner Mikva, a former U.S. he stopped by a Democratic Party ward voter turnout for a U.S. midterm elec- congressman and federal judge, started office in Chicago and said he was there tion since 1914 — before women had the it in 1998 as a project to teach civics in to volunteer for Illinois gubernatorial vote — with more than 49 percent of four Chicago schools. With the involve- candidate Adlai Stevenson. “Who sent registered voters participating. (But ment of Mikva and his wife, Zoe, a you?” asked a cigar-chewing ward when you consider that 30 percent of teacher and education advocate, the or- heeler. “Nobody sent me,” Mikva re- citizens of voting age are not registered, ganization expanded to Washington, plied. The ward guy’s response has be- you’re left with the disheartening real- D.C., and Los Angeles. It offers oppor- come a classic line in Chicago: “We ization that far less than half the people tunities for students to learn the inner don’t want nobody nobody sent.” who can vote, do.) workings of the democratic electoral system by serving as election judges or It so happens that my career as a can- That level of participation seems on committees focused on youth issues, vasser began with Mikva’s congres- pretty dismal to me. As someone who volunteering for political candidates, sional re-election campaign in 1976. He has voted in every election since I be- and interning for officeholders. (Full won by a mere 201 votes out of more came eligible in 1972, I view voting as disclosure: My two sons participated in than 200,000 cast, a margin of less than not only a right but a privilege and re- Mikva Challenge during high school, one vote per precinct. On Election Day, sponsibility. But Brady points out that one logging enough hours volunteering 10 minutes before the polls closed, I had among younger people of voting age — for the 2008 Obama campaign to earn successfully rousted a student, home whose lack of participation is often at- a trip to the inauguration, and the other from college, who did not realize he was tributed to apathy or indifference — one serving on a youth committee that made registered to vote. That experience con- of the chief reasons for not voting is that education policy recommendations to vinced me that in some elections, every they simply don’t know how. the mayor of Chicago.) vote really does matter. With regard to people who do vote, a Operating under the motto Democ- The overall goal in political canvass- study published last year by a Stanford racy Is a Verb, Mikva Challenge prepares ing is to identify supporters and make professor and a UC Berkeley political young people to become active and re- sure they vote. In the initial effort, a can- scientist determined that campaign out- sponsible leaders in their communities. vasser hands out campaign literature reach has a negligible impact on per- Surveys show that alumni have a much and tries to determine whether someone suading voters in general elections. They higher level of participation in volunteer intends to vote — and whether that per- found that most voters — even those who civic activity than other 18- to 29-year- son is “undecided” or a “strong” or “lean- identify themselves as independent — olds; 88 percent of alumni are registered ing” supporter or nonsupporter. This can are already steadfastly committed to one to vote, compared with 53 percent of be tricky, because many people believe political party or the other. their peers. One Mikva alumnus became their vote is nobody’s damn business. a Chicago alderman at age 26, three oth- Traditionally, canvassers would record I know quite a few door-knockers ers ran for City Council this February, this information on voter lists attached who would volunteer to differ with that and still others have run for public office to a clipboard, but this being 2018, we conclusion. On election night, I at- in other parts of the country. had an app for that. tended a small gathering with some of them. As the returns came in, we shared Brady sees little difference between In a well-organized campaign with a small sense of accomplishment for civics and politics. “To me, they’re pretty enough volunteers, canvassers go back having done our part — and a greater much the same, but politics has become for multiple rounds, knocking on doors sense of optimism that civic engage- pejorative,” he says. “Politics is what previously unanswered, leaving cam- ment can still play an important role in stands in the way of settling our disputes; paign materials, encouraging early vot- our political system. n civics is a way of settling them.” ing, and making sure supporters know Paul Engleman is a Chicago-based A crowd-pleaser among the stories freelancer and a frequent contributor to shared at a memorial service for Abner The Rotarian. 28 | The Rotarian May 2019

Rotary führt Menschen zusammen, die weltweit Gutes tun. Unsere Mitglieder setzen sich für Potential shines brightest when it’s inspired. That’s why Rotary clubs invest time and expertise in 로타리는 문제 해결에 앞장서는 세계 각지의 사람들을 ‘인류애 실천’이라는 공통된 목표로 이어줍니다. 우리 nachhaltige Veränderungen in ihren Gemeinwesen ein, damit es Menschen besser geht. encouraging others to be the best they can be. Empowering those who have big dreams to achieve 회원들은 지역사회 주민들과 더불어 오래 지속되는 변화를 일구어 냅니다. 우리는 실천에 나서는 사람들입니다. Wir sind Rotary. Wir tun was. Mehr über uns bei Rotary.org/de great things — that’s what people of action do. Learn more at Rotary.org. 함께 연결을 통해 삶을 개선해 가세요. Rotary.org에서 자세히 알아보세요. TOGETHER, WE Your story Rotary believes healthy communities are strong communities. That’s one reason we’ve here. worked tirelessly to help immunize 2.5 billion children against polio. Bringing the world closer Rotary une a personas de todo el mundo para dar soluciones y hacer el bien. Ya sea brindando capacitación to eradicating a deadly disease — that’s what people of action do. Learn more at Rotary.org. vocacional o apoyando a emprendedores de la localidad, contribuimos al fortalecimiento de nuestras comunidades. Somos Rotary. Somos gente de acción. Más información en Rotary.org/es Tell the community about your club – and the world about Rotary. Rotary has launched a global campaign to let the world know we are People of Action. The more clubs that join in, the further our message carries. Go to rotary.org/brandcenter for step-by-step guides, easy-to-follow templates, and ideas and inspiration to tell your club’s story. Help spread our inspiring message around the globe.



viewpoints The good shepherd There is pain, but also a kind of comfort, in easing a beloved pet’s passing by S H I R LEY ST EP H EN S O N RICHARD MIA O ur family recently spect and even look out for them. He favorite snacks and toys. We said goodbye to our visited my mom, who is in her 80s, know what upsets their bel- dog. I’ve loved many most weekends. She would invite him lies, what sounds scare pets, but Ranger was my onto the couch and he would lay his them, and which hip rub is spirit animal. I used to tell head in her lap. They would sit for hours just right. In many cases, the friends that losing him would like that, paw in hand. On walks in the relationship is much more put a serious dent in my be- city, he tilted his chin to the sky and than animal companionship. ing. A 70-pound shepherd howled along with passing sirens. The It is friendship, acceptance, who dutifully tracked every rest of us often joined in. He delighted family, purpose. It’s a degree family member’s where- us. He guided us. He was my example of loyalty and adoration that abouts, he was a gentle crea- of how to be. we may not experience with ture. I adopted him when he most humans. So when we was seven years old. Like Many people have known this joy. see our four-legged friends many older dogs, he had Pets are often more integral to our suffering at the end of life, spent far too much time in daily rhythm and wellness than our hu- the knowledge that we can shelters, moving from state man relatives. We know our animals’ end their pain is both a relief to state before ending up in a and a terrible burden. no-kill shelter in Chicago. He was missing teeth and afraid Ranger was probably in of feet and dark doorways. more pain than we realized. But with love and routine, he turned We were still playing for the into a confident, calm keeper. His soul- long run, thinking we had a couple of fulness radiated. years left. But it was the wrong time- line. I called a friend who had recently In his prime, he was valiant, and a lost her chocolate Lab and told her that bit foolhardy. One January morning as Ranger seemed to be winding down. we played fetch on a snowy beach, he We had been trying to arrange rehab, spotted two coyotes sauntering along but new symptoms had emerged. a lakefront path and tried to herd them, “When you’re ready, say goodbye to occasionally looking at me over his him at home,” she advised. “That’s shoulder as if to say, “Thanks for ar- what we did.” She described her dog’s ranging this! Great fun!” Later he was passing as beautiful — he was in his bed subjected to two new feline family with the whole family beside him. “I’ll members who he initially seemed to never forget that vet’s caring manner,” think were chew toys that scurried for she said. We agreed that making the his entertainment. But he came to re- end of life as comforting as possible for May 2019 The Rotarian | 31

Why should our pet was as important as everything tentment. Our dog was not content. He you consider preceding it. could no longer do his shepherding. advertising in When we arrived home, his front paws The Rotarian? I contacted Amir Shanan, a veteri- drummed repeatedly in an effort to narian who founded the International stand and greet us. But he could not For one thing, Association for Animal Hospice and raise himself. we have loyal, Palliative Care, a nonprofit whose mis- engaged readers sion is to address “the physical, psy- Palliative care provides what is who spend a chological, and social needs of animals needed for comfort, which often is not considerable amount with chronic and life-limiting dis- another medical intervention. It fo- of time with our eases,” and to provide support for their cuses on the smallest pleasures, which magazine: caregivers. tend to yield the greatest joy: eating a favorite food. Resting in a patch of sun. • Eight in ten (86%) The World Health Organization de- Petting a dog’s fur. It is devastating to read at least three of fines palliative care as an approach lose the assurance of times to come, every four issues that “provides relief from pain and but it can also be liberating to slow published. other distressing symptoms … inte- down and immerse ourselves in the grates the psychological and spiritual now. In her poem “A Note,” Wisława • On average, readers aspect of patient care; offers a support Szymborska wrote: “Life is the only spend 52 minutes system to help patients live as actively way / to get covered in leaves, / catch with an issue. as possible until death”; and helps fam- your breath on sand, / rise on wings; / ilies cope. Perhaps most important, to be a dog, / or stroke its warm fur; / Interested? palliative care aims to “enhance qual- to tell pain / from everything it’s not; / ity of life, and may also positively influ- to squeeze inside events, / dawdle in Contact JWK Media ence the course of illness.” views, / to seek the least of all possible Group to inquire. mistakes.” Although we tried a new approach to [email protected] pain management with Shanan, we Shanan explained that there is no (954) 406-1000 Florida knew that euthanasia was our next step perfect time to set a pet free. Rather, (212) 292-3718 New York for Ranger. For some, this is not an ac- there’s a range, and we want to be ceptable option. For me, it feels intoler- within it. His perspective was invalu- Based on 2018 GfK MRI reader survey data able to wait for an animal’s natural able. At his first visit, he spent over an passing once I know that pain and suf- hour with us, addressing our family’s fering outweigh his comfort and joy. A distress as much as our dog’s. He asked domesticated dog is dependent on its if we were sleeping, and how we man- human. Minimizing pain and distress aged the stairs as we navigated a is as much a part of my responsibilities 70-pound dog in the sling we used to as vaccines, nail trims, and heartworm support his back legs. prevention. Euthanasia is the ultimate decision. It requires compassion, and Concerns about cost evaporated. it creates anxiety. Veterinary hospice helped us forgo un- necessary treatments as we focused on These considerations can toss us making Ranger comfortable. It was the into a chasm of anticipatory grief. We right health care investment. I think of may begin to see each moment as sor- the money we spend on electronic gad- rowful and worry about the risk of re- gets or travel because we believe those gret. Is it too soon, or too late? When things make our lives better or make us Ranger was sick, I vacillated hourly. If happy. Ranger fetched us immeasurable he ate heartily, I thought he was going happiness. And saying goodbye to him to recover. If he panted longer than in his favorite spot, where he knew he usual, I feared I had waited too long and was safe, with his squeaky hedgehogs his pain was unbearable. A good pallia- and us beside him, was the best version tive team helps pull back the lens and of a dreaded farewell. assess overall wellness, ability, and con- 32 | The Rotarian May 2019 3/19/19 6:10 PM 1-3v drytoast-readership-promos-2018.indd 1

It is devastating to lose WANT A MORE the assurance of times to come, EFFECTIVE WAY TO SET CLUB GOALS? but it can also be liberating to slow down and immerse ROTARY CLUB CENTRAL POINTS THE WAY. ourselves in the now. GET STARTED AT ROTARY.ORG/MYROTARY We never have enough time with May 2019 The Rotarian | 33 those we love. Ranger’s absence still hurts. For a month, vacuuming made me cry, because it was another bit of him gone. I think about him every day and channel his steady energy to help with our new endeavor, Lulu. She is a five- month-old pup we fostered, then ad- opted. Many people, including myself, ask why we got a puppy. I think it has to do with wanting more time. The five years I had with Ranger didn’t seem nearly enough, yet I know that part of the reason we bonded so quickly is that he was an older dog when we met. He had nothing to prove, except devotion. He was ready to relax. Lulu’s intermittent hyperactivity makes me miss Ranger’s soulful ease. But she also helps me remember that life can expand after loss. Ranger was considered a problem dog at the shelter. He was vocal, and after weeks in a cage, he went on a hunger strike. But with us, he was a mellow, quiet gentleman who never skipped a meal. I suspect that with routine and love, Lulu will ease into a similar calm confidence that our old pal had. Now, Lulu takes 20 minutes to walk one block because she must in- vestigate and marvel at everything. When we finally get back home, I con- gratulate her, just as on that last morn- ing with Ranger, we again told him that he was a good dog and that he had done all his jobs well. The manner in which we chose to say goodbye helped us feel that we had done ours well, too. And then we let him off the leash. n Shirley Stephenson is an advanced practice nurse and a regular contribu- tor to The Rotarian.

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putting civility back into civil discourse THE WOMAN SITTING AT THE END of the carefully arranged tables looks as though she would rather be someplace else — maybe at her real estate agency, maybe just with people she knows, people who see the world the way she does. But a friend asked her to come here, and she agreed, and she will carry out her role. “It’s not my notion of a family,” she says firmly, her chin set as she explains the burden of holding conservative views in a liberal town. “It’s my truth of a family. I don’t want my views to be considered hate speech. But I don’t want to celebrate things that I don’t celebrate.” At least half the people sitting around the table disagree with her. But none of them show it, not by a snort, or an impassioned interrup- tion, or even a rolled eyeball. It’s almost as if she’s in a place, and a moment, where people actually talk to each other — and listen to each other. by David Sarasohn | illustrations by Joan Wong May 2019 The Rotarian | 35

She, and the other people in the room, are in a work- The hope, explains Dan Sockle, the other moderator, shop of Better Angels, a growing movement built around is to end with “more introspection, more humility.” the idea that red and blue Americans can meet and talk for a day without name-calling or Twitter-blasting one Sockle got here partly by way of Rotary; he’s a mem- another — and that the custom could spread. In a church ber of the Rotary Club of Three Creeks Vancouver, activities center in a suburb of Portland, Oregon, seven Washington. He thinks the idea of Better Angels fits people from each side of the ever-widening divide — all rather neatly with The Four-Way Test. of them white, most of them old enough to remember the time before the internet ate politics — get together, S ockle spent 22 years in the military, work through a set of carefully arranged exercises, and bouncing around Germany, Italy, Korea, discover that they can talk politics without sounding and southwest Asia. He came back to the like a cable news network. United States for a government job in Since its inception in 2016, Better Angels has held Washington state, but left again to work hundreds of workshops around the United States, from daylong events to 21/2-hour training sessions, to help with a military program in Iraq, partly because his son people cultivate the vanishing skill of listening. was stationed there. Sockle noticed that Iraqi politics had some similari- “I’m really worried about our country, about the way we’re separated more and more.” This morning in Oregon, people start out wary about ties to what he had seen back in the United States. “If the venture, so wary that a visiting writer is instructed everybody’s screaming, who’s listening?” he asks in a not to quote anyone by name. Wearing red- or blue- speech he often gives. rimmed name tags and sitting in alternating red and blue seats, participants offer opening statements that Returning stateside, he came to rest — although sound discouraged yet determinedly hopeful. Their “rest” isn’t really a word that comes to mind where Dan concerns cross party lines. Sockle is concerned — back in Washington state, just across the Columbia River from Portland. He joined the “I’m really worried about our country, about the way Three Creeks Rotary club as a charter member and be- we’re separated more and more,” says someone wearing came active in Peacebuilders, an effort of the Rotarian a red tag. Action Group for Peace, speaking to clubs in the West and Hawaii. “A lot of my friends are really quick to cut off anyone who objects to them,” admits a blue sitting nearby. In the spring of 2018, he came across Better Angels, a project dedicated to producing less screaming and “I’m really tired of the vitriol,” says a neighbor, sound- more listening. The name comes from Abraham Lin- ing indeed tired of it. “Something is terribly wrong in coln’s first inaugural address, when, looking at an this country.” onrushing civil war, the president expressed his faith that “the better angels of our nature” would one day In the course of the day, they will talk, separately bring Americans together again. After four years of war and together, about the stereotypes each side holds and massive casualties, they did. about the other — and how those stereotypes might contain a kernel of truth. They will devise questions Sort of. to ask the other side, and answer the questions from Sockle is a man of lengthy answers and big enthusi- across the line. asms who sweeps other people up in them. For this session of Better Angels, his fourth, he has invited the From the front of the room, one of the moderators, president of his Rotary club; a former district governor; Linda Scher, assures the group that nobody is there and his own son. The week after this event, he’ll drive to persuade anyone else, and cautions that partici- 200 miles to a Better Angels training event in Grants pants should be careful with body language. It seems Pass, a southern Oregon town situated, geographically that these days Americans have trouble not only talk- and politically, at the other end of the state. ing to each other, but even sitting near each other inoffensively. 36 | The Rotarian May 2019

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Expressing his enthusiasm for Better Angels, Sockle take turns sitting in the center of the room while sur- points to his eye, which is swollen for medical reasons rounded by the other side. After agreeing that the media but does look a bit like the result of a heated discussion exaggerates differences and emphasizes extremes — about the proper definition of family. even today, no political difference is so wide that it can’t be bridged by dislike of the media — both sides voice “Here’s what you’re getting if you stay polarized,” he their beliefs and fears, and now have less anticipation declares with mock warning. of being attacked. I n the day’s first Better Angels exercise, the “I have a son who won’t have a family because of con- reds and blues separate, which helps reassure cerns about the environment,” says one of the women those uneasy about interacting with people on the blue side. whose outlook is so clearly wrong. The goal is to think about stereotypes, and one stereotype Explains a man from the other side: “It’s good to be is already reinforced: The blue team is almost all skeptical about policies and change. Republicans put women, the red side heavily male. more emphasis on who we are and how we got here.” Asked what image the other side has of them, and what might be its kernel of truth, the blue team mem- Gradually, the two groups get comfortable enough to bers quickly fill up their whiteboard. They think that admit to some discomfort with their own side. reds believe blues are unpatriotic, have anti-family values, are obsessed with political correctness, and are “The Democratic Party has moved away from what driven to tax, spend, overregulate, and grab everyone’s it should be,” confesses one of its adherents. guns. But the blues see themselves as believing in in- clusion and respectful language, and don’t think that A red then concedes that his Republicans have moved America is necessarily better than anyplace else. away from Abraham Lincoln, from the Dwight Eisen- The reds have some trouble choosing from all the hower who created the interstate highways, from Teddy negative images they think blues have of them. While Roosevelt and conservation. they see themselves as just more practical and cautious, they eventually agree that the other side considers them By the last exercise, when people from the two sides racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, intolerant, and anti- come together in small groups to ask each other ques- tions, certainty on both sides seems a lot wobblier than it was in the morning. “A lot of liberals equate conservatism with racism and sexism, and that’s not OK,” admits a blue partici- pant. “We keep ourselves so isolated.” Another notes, “I live in a completely blue bubble.” by the last exercise, certainty on both sides seems a lot wobblier than it was in the morning. environment. Somehow, they go back out to talk to the A red tells a cluster of blues: “There are no easy an- blues anyway. swers to any of these things. Even when I phrase my positions, they sound so lame.” The contrast might explain why, especially in Port- land, it can be harder to recruit reds than blues for For the program, it’s a gain when each side says such Better Angels events. things. And another gain when the other side listens. “The stereotypes about reds are so much more harm- A t the Better Angels workshop, Nelson ful,” says Scher, who works as a family mediator. While Holmberg wears a red-rimmed ID tag. blues may be considered as too soft or as wanting to He’s representing the Republican side, throw money at problems, she says, “the red stereotype but he’s also representing something else. is that you’re a terrible person.” “Applying The Four-Way Test to the On the other hand, Sockle reports that in ruby-red Grants Pass, “blues are a little more reluctant” than reds idea of having a civil conversation is really appropriate,” to come to a Better Angels event. In general, when invited to encounter the other side, “people fear an ambush.” he explains. “Being able to be part of both Rotary and In the second exercise, the Fishbowl, the two sides Better Angels is incredibly valuable.” May 2019 The Rotarian | 39

Holmberg is president of the Rotary Club of Three A t the end of the long day’s exercises in Creeks Vancouver — which, he notes proudly, has com- Oregon, reds and blues regather in the pleted more than 25 service projects in only 21/2 years of big central room to talk about what they existence. Sockle, the club’s Peacebuilders chairman, might do next. The coordinators write has brought Holmberg today, but it doesn’t appear that Holmberg took a lot of persuading. down the participants’ “action plans” “I’m super-excited that there is this organization on big white sheets of paper, to be sent back to national to address our politics,” says Holmberg. He was par- ticularly taken with the first part of the daylong Better Better Angels headquarters. Compared with the atti- Angels program, identifying stereotypes and finding the kernel of truth. “The Four-Way Test really speaks tudes they brought in this morning, the participants to the idea that we all need to do what we did in that exercise.” now sound more open, less resistant. The same idea is bubbling up through other Rotary The new plans may sound modest, but seven hours clubs. In November 2017, after reading an article about the work that Better Angels was doing, the Rotary Club earlier, they might not have been heard at all. “I make a commitment to you guys that when my fel- low Republicans say Democrats are socialists who want to take our guns, I will say that’s not true,” declares the woman who had been firm about the behaviors she didn’t want to celebrate. “Applying the Four-Way Test to the idea of having a civil conversation is really appropriate.” of St. Paul Sunrise got in touch with Bill Doherty, a A blue woman promises, “I will challenge my more professor of family social science at the University of liberal friends.” Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a co-founder of the new organization. Many of the ideas are about everyday life, a sign that the experience can get very personal. The club invited Doherty to speak about Better An- gels at its annual Community Forum in 2018, stirring “I’m looking forward to talking to my brother,” says such enthusiasm that the District 5960 Ethics Team, a participant. “We’ll see what happens.” in conjunction with Better Angels, hosted three skills training sessions for other clubs in the district, train- One blue vows, on the topic of avoiding occasions of ing 100 Rotarians. One of the other clubs reported that anger and misinformation, “I’m going to stay off Face- “members couldn’t stop talking about it,” says Ellen book, except for kitten and puppy posts.” Luepker, a St. Paul Sunrise member and co-chair of the Community Forum organizing committee. Another pledges, “I’m going to be writing handwrit- ten notes to my representatives about education, the “Doherty kept pointing to The Four-Way Test, saying, environment, and civil discourse.” ‘This is in your DNA,’ ” recalls St. Paul Sunrise member Ed Marek, who will be governor of District 5960 (parts Nobody seems to consider it a wasted day. “The pro- of Minnesota and Wisconsin) in 2020-21. “It comes gram sells itself,” says Sockle — who’s working hard to down to being respectful.” sell it, especially to fellow Rotarians — “once you get people in the door.” The impact wasn’t just political, reports Luepker: “One person says she feels better in family And nobody has to be persuaded about the stakes conversations.” involved. Such communications gains might also be recogniz- “I’m taking with me a faith that we can promote able to someone sitting in on the Oregon session. civil discourse,” says a participant, “as if our country depended on it.” n “I’m loving what I’m hearing,” says Mike Caruso, a past governor of District 5100 (parts of Oregon and David Sarasohn, a longtime columnist for The Oregonian Washington), after listening to the Oregon reds and in Portland, has written for the New York Times and the blues exchange stereotypes. “I’m very excited about Washington Post. He has published three books, including what this could be.” Waiting for Lewis and Clark: The Bicentennial and the Changing West. 40 | The Rotarian May 2019

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Al Jubitz at the Peace Pole in the Grotto, Portland, Oregon 42 | The Rotarian May 2019

photography by NashCO ALL WE ARE S AY I N G . . . Al Jubitz and Dennis Wong, two founders of the Rotarian Action Group for Peace, are working hard to give peace a chance Since its creation in November 2012, the Rotarian Action Group for Peace has helped Rotary advance the cause of global harmony. Six-plus years later, Al Jubitz and Dennis Wong, two of the group’s founders, talked with senior editor Geoffrey Johnson about the group’s goals, its Peacebuilder Clubs and other peace tools, and how the RAG for Peace had its genesis in a Rotarian article. THE ROTARIAN: How did the Rotarian Action JUBITZ: After the article about my peace TR: What were your goals when you Group for Peace begin? work was published, I received a phone started the RAG for Peace? call from Dennis Wong, a Rotarian from WONG: In January 2012, Rotary President- Connecticut. He asked if I had ever con- JUBITZ: Our goal, then and now, was to cre- elect Sakuji Tanaka announced his sidered starting a RAG. I asked, “What is ate a place for peace-minded Rotarians theme: Peace Through Service. The fol- a RAG?” He told me, and I said, “Let’s do to meet, serve, learn, and teach peace. As lowing month, The Rotarian published it.” I called Erin Thomas, who lives in my our website says, we “engage, educate, an issue dedicated to “Making Peace.” It hometown of Portland, Oregon. She was and empower Rotarians” interested in included an article by David Sarasohn a member of the Rotary Peace Fellow peace. We raise the profile of the science about Al Jubitz’s passion for peace and inaugural class. I hired her to make the of peace and explain the practical prac- his support of the Rotary Peace Fellows RAG application and then, once it was tice of peace for Rotarians. program. That is when I had my “aha!” approved, to run the RAG, which she did moment — that peacebuilding could be for three years. She and Dennis were key WONG: We shared the goal that Rotary the key to Rotary’s future accomplish- to the establishment of the Rotarian Ac- International and Rotarians should be ments and growth. tion Group for Peace. known as peacebuilders working to ful- May 2019 The Rotarian | 43

fill our Rotary mission, “to advance the more ideas, the merrier. We agreed to JUBITZ: To paraphrase Patrick Hiller, the world understanding, goodwill, and align our ideas and actions with Rotary’s. executive director of the War Prevention peace,” and to end wars and all forms of I see the Rotary principles — the Rotarian Initiative of the Jubitz Family Founda- violent conflicts. Code of Conduct and The Four-Way Test tion, we seek paths to transform destruc- — as the core of Rotary actions and peace- tive conflict into constructive conflict. JUBITZ: The ultimate goal is to educate building programs. How often in life has a conflict, when humans away from violence and toward examined and understood through dia- cooperation as a survival strategy on People from academia and business logue, led to a deeper understanding of Earth. We are interconnected. We live or also influenced our thinking, and we root causes that then led to a resolution die together on this planet. brought different peacebuilding ideas in unexpected ways? Peace is like that. from our different Rotary experiences. The surface emotion is but a symptom WONG: We’re also making the case for Ro- Al was an early supporter of the Rotary of deeper issues. Our challenge as Rotar- tary to allot more resources and grant Peace Fellow program; that was new to ians is to seek out the root causes and to dollars for the peace and conflict preven- me in 2012. We decided to focus on and act to heal those wounds. Often, in the tion/resolution area of focus. Imagine promote the peace fellows program, and process, unanticipated friendships will the return on that kind of investment. I think we’ve been successful here. result, and that in itself can help trans- Imagine Rotary’s impact on people form the conflict. around the world, when the 2 million I saw Rotarians like me working at members of Rotary, Rotaract, Interact, the club level to start a grassroots move- TR: How can conflict become a catalyst for and Rotary Community Corps, as well as ment. That became part of every effort, constructive change? the alums of Rotary programs, are en- particularly in social media. Rotarians gaged in peace actions in their daily lives are jumping on the peacebuilding band- JUBITZ: To quote one of my mentors, the in their communities and in the world. wagon at peace conferences, in Peace- ambassador and peace professor John W. And imagine the number of people who builder Clubs, and online. McDonald, “The only way to solve a con- share our vision and would want to join flict, at any level of society, is to sit down us to build a culture of peace. JUBITZ: A key part of our early relation- face to face and talk about it.” ship was to meet in person, which we did JUBITZ: As the banner we display at RI whenever we traveled to each other’s As an example, there was a great story conventions says, “Imagine a world be- neck of the woods. As a team, Dennis and out of southern Oregon in the December yond war built by Rotarians.” I work well together. While I am a more 2016 issue of The Rotarian. It was about practical “doer” or “executor” of ideas, Jim Root, a Rotarian who catalyzed TR: Did the two of you initially have dif- Dennis is a forward and deep thinker. At talks to try to resolve a long-standing ferent ideas about the group’s direction times I tell him I can’t answer all his fight over water in the Klamath River and priorities? How did you resolve provocative questions due to time, but Basin. Relying on his tenacity and an them? that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate experience he’d had at a Rotary conven- them. Just as when he reached out to me tion 20 years earlier, he led discussions JUBITZ: We had no disagreement initially in 2012, he is thinking way ahead to the among the various stakeholders until nor since. That is not to say we didn’t possible ways Rotary can help foster they felt compassion for one another. converse, debate, dream, and decide to- world peace. Friendships were made, minds and gether. I remember many conversations hearts changed, and the conflict was where we asked, “What does peace mean TR: You’ve used the phrase “conflict trans- transformed. A remarkable water con- to you?” Answers would span the gamut, formation.” What does that mean? servation agreement resulted — which, from personal peace to world peace and unfortunately, got hung up in Congress. everything in between. It soon became WONG: It’s important to recognize and But the stakeholders, working with state apparent that we needed to make space acknowledge that conflict and change and federal officials, continue to look for for all definitions of peace. are natural and constant. As opposed to other paths forward — and there are tan- conflict resolution, which puts an em- gible signs of progress. WONG: We had differences, but fortunately phasis on simply resolving disputes, that meant we had a diversity of ideas. conflict transformation focuses on un- WONG: Constructive change can occur Even when we had differences, we agreed derstanding and ameliorating the under- when people look to attitudinal, behav- lying causes that spark conflict to begin ioral, and contextual aspects of conflict with. 44 | The Rotarian May 2019

and its root causes. It is not a zero-sum affiliation with the War Prevention Ini- eradication. That history gives members situation, but one that results in agree- tiative allows us to share academically the credibility to do their work, as well as ments “beneficial to all concerned.” generated peer-reviewed research with access to decision-makers. It’s also worth Rotary principles and conflict transfor- our members. That can further embolden noting that, in 1959, Rotary International mation are complementary approaches Rotarians to dream of a more peaceful published a book called Seven Paths to for constructive change leading to a sus- and nonviolent world. We hope our on- Peace. It’s still highly relevant today. tainable culture of peace. After a while, line peace map encourages clubs to find this approach of stressing constructive peace speakers, initiate peace projects The structure of the club system, change can become a way of life when- in their communities, and partner with with districts transcending political ever confronted by conflict. As second boundaries, is but one clever approach nature, Rotarians begin to incorporate conflict resolution and mediation strate- “Peace is more than a word and a gies into projects. Within their commu- vague feeling. It’s a definable goal that nities, they can identify factors that trigger or accelerate conflict and work can be measured and achieved.” to mitigate them. TR: What specific impact has the RAG for international clubs for large peace proj- by Rotary to bring people together in the Peace had? ects. And the idea of Peacebuilder Clubs spirit of friendship, goodwill, and peace. has caught the imagination of many Ro- Rotary’s aversion to being politicized or WONG: In recent years, there have been tarians; we now have more than 85 clubs religiously identified is further evidence more peace conferences and sympo- on four continents. of our tolerance for differences and our siums, more peace groups and social basic human identity. Also, part of RI’s media sites, and a greater recognition Utilizing these tools, we believe that genius is that ideas and projects come that there are peace elements in every- Rotarians can advance peace beginning from the clubs. The lab is the club, and the thing we think, say, or do. By our pres- in their clubs. Through positive engage- scientists are the members who initiate, ence and outreach, there is more interest ment with their communities, they can experiment, and reinvent solutions every among more Rotarians on the specifics help resolve conflicts that are persistent day. When I decided to spend the rest of of peace in the Rotary world. Now peace or endemic in the places where they live. my life in the pursuit of peace through is more than a word and a vague feeling. Rotarians are great at promoting and Rotary, it was after I had concluded there It’s a definable goal that can be measured supporting co-created solutions to com- was no other organization on Earth as ca- and achieved. munity problems. That’s what we do pable of actually creating world peace. naturally. JUBITZ: Each of the Rotarian Action WONG: And we can do all that while living TR: What kind of resources does your or- Groups has provided Rotarians an oppor- up to my personal slogan: Do Good. Feel ganization provide peace-minded tunity to pursue their interests beyond Good. Have Fun. Rotarians? the club structure. We believe the Peace RAG provides technical expertise for TR: Why is Rotary well-positioned to WONG: The Rotarian Action Group for peace and conflict resolution practices. make a positive impact toward world Peace can serve as an information re- We translate the science to mainstream peace? source for peace activities. In the future, Rotarians with the hope that civil soci- we hope to provide greater support to ety will realize that nonviolent solutions JUBITZ: Rotary has a history of bringing clubs with Rotary Foundation grants work and are far superior to violent meth- people together, yet too many Rotarians to pursue projects that address the un- ods of resolving conflict. are unaware of this history. For more than derlying causes of conflict, including a century, we’ve engaged in peaceful en- poverty, inequality, ethnic tensions, lack Additionally, the RAG for Peace pro- deavors around the world. Rotary’s con- of access to education, and unequal dis- vides peace-interested Rotarians a place tributions are evident in its participation tribution of resources. to congregate and share information and in the creation of the United Nations, the ideas. Our website is full of peace sci- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, JUBITZ: The RAG for Peace is Rotary’s ence, which differentiates 20th-century international peace parks, and polio technical expert on peacebuilding sci- peace from 21st-century peace. Our close May 2019 The Rotarian | 45

ence and practice. We are well-connected WONG: All our members share the desire ing strengthening the Eight Pillars of to the academic community — as is The to build a culture of peace within their Peace defined by the IEP. Rotary Foundation through the Rotary local community and in the world. There Peace Centers — and to peace research are differences in interests and priorities, WONG: As Al asserts, the concept of “peace- associations. Our membership is diverse such as gender equality, peace literacy, ful societal systems” allies closely with and connected to civil society wherever human trafficking, the Middle East, and the principles espoused by Rotary and the we live. The combination of Rotary and the elimination of nuclear weapons. IEP. We know what to do. The question the RAG for Peace can become a global is, do we Rotarians have the will to do it? leader in peacebuilding. JUBITZ: I don’t pretend to understand all nuances of all locales, but the concept of TR: We live in contentious times. What TR: You’re both based in the United States. peace resonates with all people no matter can the members of the RAG for Peace do How does the Rotarian Action Group for where they were born or where they live. to help foster civility? Peace make an impact beyond U.S. We understand that peace is tenuous in borders? some locales, but aspirational every- WONG: Groups such as Rotary are espe- where. As for numbers, we have more than cially needed in difficult times. This is an WONG: The Rotarian Action Group for 600 dues-paying members from 74 coun- opportunity for us to stand up and stand Peace is more than Al Jubitz and Dennis tries, and we send our biweekly e-news- out as trusted problem solvers for the ben- Wong. As an international organization, letter to more than 2,300 Rotarians. efit of all concerned — for all 7.7 billion we engage a global audience with shared people in the world. vision, stories, and programs. We have TR: The RAG for Peace website says that touched many Rotarians at the annual you are “working together to bring about JUBITZ: Peace-minded Rotarians are natu- Rotary conventions, district peace con- peaceful societal systems to replace the ral mediators and conveners of disparate ferences, and through social media. machinery of war, aggression, and coer- groups. The RAG for Peace welcomes Ro- cion.” How are you doing that? tarians who promote conversations and JUBITZ: In addition to the United States, mediate conflicts. Within the contentious we’ve had board members from Bangla- JUBITZ: At our core, we are in the business U.S. body politic, Better Angels meetings desh, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, of education. We believe in Rotary’s eth- are taking place all over the country, often Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Pakistan, and ics and The Four-Way Test. We believe led by Rotarians such as Dan Sockle of Wales. Our honorary board includes in the Rotarian Code of Conduct. We be- District 5100 [see “Putting Civility Back members from Argentina, Cyprus, Mex- lieve humans have far more in common into Civil Discourse,” page 34]. Our web- site and newsletters promote these ac- “The concept of peace resonates tions and encourage our members and with all people no matter where they Peacebuilder Clubs to pick up the baton and lead more of these conversations. were born or where they live.” By convening, supporting, and attending these listening sessions, Rotarians will ico, and New Zealand, among other than not, and we believe we have the tech- find their stride as leaders in their com- countries. Our executive director, Reem nical know-how to deliver peace. We munities. In the end, it will take all hands Ghunaim, was born in Palestine and now provide vast educational resources that on deck to change the trajectory of recent resides in Portland, Oregon. Addition- begin with each person’s “piece of peace,” history, so we welcome all players. n ally, our board has been debating how to as well as their personal peace journey. expand our international influence even Reem, our executive director, is a Rotary Promoting peace is one of Rotary’s more, and we may establish a global Peace Fellow and a member of the IEP six areas of focus. Learn more at council structured utilizing Rotary’s Ambassador Program for one of Rotary’s rotary.org/our-causes, and find information 34 zones. partners, the Institute for Economics and about the Rotary Peace Fellows program Peace (IEP). As such, we educate many at rotary.org/peace-fellowships. TR: What are the characteristics of mem- audiences both within Rotary and beyond bers of the RAG for Peace? Rotary on the alternatives to war, includ- And for more about the Rotarian Action Group for Peace, go to rotarianactiongroupforpeace.org. 46 | The Rotarian May 2019

Dennis Wong at the United Nations Secretariat, New York City May 2019 The Rotarian | 47

48 | The Rotarian May 2019