August 25, 2011: Rotary Log (Rev. Helmick)

After calling the meeting to order, President Tony introduced Lisa Mills to welcome guests, Samantha, Bernard, Nancy and Jerry, as well as visiting Rotarian Colleen from the Nashua West Club.

President Tony reminded all that there is no meeting next week.  The next meeting will be on September 8^th, which will be a lunch on the outdoor patio.   Mort generously guaranteed sun for the patio lunch.  

President Tony informed the group that information on the Give a Hand Program was available on the club website.  General announcements followed with Kathy Edison announcing the Harvest For Hunger Food Drive, inviting all to a meeting following our next meeting on September 8^th, and Leo Gagnon announcing the availability of sponsor space on the club website, interested parties should contact him.

A special announcement was delivered by Rick Page. Rick introduced our new youth exchange student, Marie-Cecile Melsheim, from Vaux Le Penil which is located about 50 miles from Paris, France.   Marie-Cecile will attend Portsmouth High School this year.  Cassandra and Lynn will serve as her Rotary counselors during her time in the states.   This announcement ended with the presentation of a very exciting gift for Marie-Cecile, a stuffed animal, baseball hat and “Portsmouth” t-shirt. 

Happy dollars flowed freely after that to the point where President Tony described the giving environment as “infectious.”   Dollars were given for new websites, birthdays, boats, milestones and the return of kids to school next week.

Our guest speaker Reverend Raymond G. Helmick, who works tirelessly in the area of promoting international peace through conflict resolution and transformation, was introduced by Jean.  Rev. Helmick is a Professor of Conflict Resolution at Boston College and Senior Associate in the Program of Preventive Diplomacy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C.  He is also an esteemed Faculty Member at the Rotary Peace Center in Bangkok, Thailand. 

As an internationally recognized mediator, Reverend Helmick brought a unique and interesting perspective on a number of past and present conflicts across the globe.  A planned focus of Rev. Helmick’s presentation was a film clip from a documentary film entitled “Kenya.”  Unfortunately audio-visual glitches prohibited the viewing of the film clip, but no matter as the Reverend’s presentation on approaching conflict, understanding the issues and moving toward resolution was both engaging and educational.

Reverend Helmick informed the audience that Rotary International has serious interest in, and plays an active role in supporting, global peace initiatives.   From sponsoring the documentary film efforts, to sponsoring institutes throughout the world, Rotary is an active participant in promoting world peace.   Reverend Helmick spoke in detail on efforts to establish a peace center in Kenya similar to the successful center established in Thailand.   He spoke of a network of younger professionals interested in promoting the peace efforts, and how he has worked with them to develop skills that will benefit their efforts.  

Finally, Rev. Helmick spoke of his involvement in seeking resolution to conflicts, beginning with his service in Northern Ireland in 1972.  His approach to resolution is based initially on treating both adversaries with respect while establishing what is at the heart of the conflict.   He noted that parties, while always curious about the beliefs of their adversaries, generally seek justice and that establishing peace without ultimately fulfilling the parties’ respective need for justice, will not establish enduring peace.   However, if the parties can be brought to an understanding of the root issues, and find creative manners in which to view those issues, than perhaps a non-violent accommodation can be reached and the conflict resolved.

When questioned as to how his services are called upon, the Reverend responded that he doesn’t wait for calls, he simply barges in.  

Finally, Bob won the pot of $55 and Dick won a gift certificate for dinner at the Portsmouth Country Club.   A humid overcast day greeted the departing Rotarians and guests, with the threat of Hurricane Irene lurking for the weekend.