The world has a new hero for peace. It comes as no surprise to me that this hero was born out of comedy. Humor is an asset that gives strength to stay connected to life as it is, with people as they are, and to grow courage and ease in others.
 
Thank goodness for the comedians among us. How often has a funny and fun-loving Rotarian opened a channel for hope and action previously blocked by worry and stress? Let’s value our Rotary comics and make room for their gifts.
 
President Zelensky’s actions stand out in stark relief to the stark challenge Ukraine is facing. But most challenges to peace are complex, nuanced, and tangled. Solutions take careful understanding, focus, and enough energy for patient and persistent service.  Everyday heroes for peace are less obvious.
 
Large acts for peace and small acts for peace all matter. It is impossible for us to separate them or to judge them properly. We are limited in our awareness, but we can grow it and grow our appreciation. Be on the look-out for peacebuilders and thank them. If you’re one – please pause in gratitude for your own good fortune. No one shares peace who doesn’t possess peace.
 
As I write, District Governor Elect Ben and our 6250 Presidents Elect are making plans to attend the President Elect Training Seminar (PETS). The next months will be defined by Rotary’s annual leadership hand-off. The rest of my remarks are devoted to the joy of planning and the rewarding engagement that good planning offers. The better we do, the more our mission will be accomplished, the more joy will fill our Rotary experiences.
 
 
 
There are two sources of energy to get from “here” to “there”, two methods of observing, two sets of strategies that accompany the energy we’re sourcing, two kinds of experiences, and two types of outcomes.
 
Energy Source
Self (What we want)
A force higher than self (Mission, Areas of Focus, Community, Peace)
Observations
What we like and don’t like - judging
Data of all sorts - curiosity
Strategies
Pushing and pulling for the outcomes we want
Service, with the other’s wellbeing and growth as the focus
Experience
Winning and losing
Growing and learning
Outcomes
Naturally unsustainable
Naturally sustainable
 
 
Since we’re all so very human, we all tap into both sources all the time. The goal is to get better at noticing what’s motivating us, and to take the path of unselfish service sooner and more habitually. Be generous in helping others do the same. If the choice is difficult, it is because we believe that something important to us is at risk. Be humble, strong, and kind always-with yourself as well as your neighbor.
 
Your strategies will be your plan. You have a plan – the only question is whether you can articulate it in an engaging way.
Can you describe your aspirations in a SMART goal? Can you imagine who you need on your team in sufficient detail so that when you recruit you are likely to attract the right people? Can you lay out a budget of time and money so you are sure that you will have the right resources at the right time? Can you be content to act within your means, adjusting wisely as you go? Will you know when it is time to celebrate?
 
We have a planning tool to share with you. Let me know if you’d like to see it. Nothing would make me happier.
 
Long Live Rotary.
 
 District Governor Karen