It is anticipated that some 20 past presidents will attend a celebration of their past service. Plans include an extended meeting, which will include comments from each attending dignitary (in two-minute slots), focusing on something notable in their year albeit: momentous, humorous or calamitous.

Jerry Baysinger and George Wright, themselves past presidents, tracked down as many of our former leaders as possible. The response has been enthusiastic with only those who will not be able to attend being upset. We are urging all of our members to attend this gala event to hear about our club’s history and meet an amazing gathering of the people who led the club for over three-and-a-half decades.

Whether it is establishing a new school, serving as an ambassadorial scholar in a foreign land, or working for global disease control Rotary creates opportunities to build peace throughout the world.

The information shared at the Rotary/Rotaract Peace Symposium is just a small but impressive sample of what remarkable possibilities the world offers for community service on behalf of peace. The local high school curriculum focused on peace, the Portland mayor’s proclamation, the many affiliated community organizations are beautiful examples of what can be done.

This symposium marks an upwelling of enthusiasm and concern for others around the world which Rotary embraces. Other illustrations like Peace Trees Vietnam, Mercy Corps, the World Affairs Council, the Wholistic Peace institute at Concordia and many other represent an increasingly effective human outreach that helps the world make progress in challenging times. -Roger Meyer, MD

Download a copy of the Peace Symposium schedule and brochure here.

Greetings Pearl Rotarians,

I am ringing in the new year Japanese style this year which, for many, involves a trip to a local Buddhist temple and an all-night party in the streets. Tokyo winters are as cold as the summers are hot, and I can now see my breath inside my apartment (the lack of central heat here has been something of an adjustment, particularly for my Thai roommate).

I have already harvested my rather puny balcony vegetables, which got a late start after an extreme (and exciting!) typhoon wiped out the first batch. The first term of classes went well and I am impressed with the diversity of students in the ICU graduate program. Upwards of 15 nationalities are represented in some of my classes, which leads to great debates.

My research papers for last term looked largely at theoretical and practical debates related to social exclusion. To balance academic theory with some hands on experience, I have been getting out and about as much as possible, attending workshops, helping build a straw bale house, visiting local farms and ecology groups, meeting up with Japanese friends, volunteering at a local orphanage, attending Rotary meetings and events, singing karaoke and learning a bit of Japanese from a sweet little retired man who has adopted me as his student and, perhaps, his granddaughter.

This term I am taking a range of classes, and am particularly interested in learning more about non-hierarchical education systems and how to apply them to development models. Also on my mind is this summer’s fast approaching field experience opportunity, for which I am tasked to find someplace in the world to intern (tough life, eh?).

I am currently looking for internships in Bhutan, as I aim to research Zero Waste strategies and the human resources engaged to implement such strategies. I am also helping ICU faculty members organize a large event to facilitate dialogue between artists and policy-makers who are dedicated to peace and reconciliation. The event is part of an ongoing project of the US-based Aspen Foundation, and ICU will have the honor of hosting in October, 2012.

I am enjoying Tokyo and am starting to feel at home here. Living so far from Portland also reminds me of the luxuries of the Pacific NW. Portland and Tokyo differ in many ways. I am particularly missing the vibrant arts scene, Forest Park, friendly neighborhood cats, Mexican food and crunchy peanut butter! On the other hand, Tokyo has great food, kind people, is amazingly safe and exhibits some of the best fashion and most unbelievable hair dos on earth. I look forward to seeing you all in Portland this June, while I participate in the upcoming peace conference that some of you are helping to organize.

Taylor

Still it’s an industry that has grown four-fold in the last dozen years, from about 100 in the late-’90s to over 400 today. One of the oldest in Oregon, located in the North Willamette Valley, bears his name.

Adelsheim, speaking Dec. 13 to Pearl Rotary, said he was “excited but very naive” when he planted his first grapes in 1971. The last four decades have been a continuing education for him on the multiple factors that affect wine production (temperature, rainfall, soil type, sunlight, hillslope, etc.). In addition to working in the field, Adelsheim has dedicated hours to the promotion of the Oregon wine industry, including a stint as president of Oregon Winegrowers Association.

72% of wine produced in Oregon is pinot noir, Rotarians learned. 27% of production is shared by three whites–pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling. The remaining 1% (Adelsheim called them “geek wines”) include pinot blanc and chenin blanc.

Adelsheim’s visit was timed perfectly with the annual PPRC wine exchange, scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 20. Wine enthusiast and Rotarian Mike Rompa will supervise the internal fundraiser. Rotarians and guests must bring $25 to enter and also present a bottle of wine ($25 suggested value and up). It’s helpful to have a couple $5 bills since wines selected by a Rotarian can be bought up to three times (“stolen” may be an accurate word).

“Career Connections” is a development program for the emerging professionals aged 18-24 and Networking Fair is a culminating event for them after completing the seven-week training course. Here Rotarian Larry Berman asks questions of student Marissa Sherill.

Observed Yelena Girich, vocational service chair: “This is a perfect opportunity for the students to interact with professional partners of the school, including members of Pearl Rotary, who are able to give them valuable advice on how to make use of their strengths, reach their goals and gain experience in their field of interest.”

Joining Berman and Girich in this vocational volunteerism were Dave Bangsund, Anne O’Neill and Don Barney.

In his oversight role for Portland’s Children’s Fund which helps underwrite the Open Meadow School’s Step Up program operating in several Portland high schools, Saltzman met on Nov. 9 with administrators, teachers and students involved at the Madison location. Step Up is an after-school program aimed at supporting ninth-grade students at risk of dropping out during their high school years.

Saltzman visited classroom sessions and heard brief presentations from Open Meadow School Director Andrew Mason, Madison program director Sierra Hill and Pearl Rotary Club’s Don Barney. A past president of Pearl Rotary, Barney told Saltzman about the club’s partnership with StepUp that includes underwriting scholarships for students to attend a summer camp to prepare them for beginning their critical ninth-grade year. The club also provides volunteer tutors who attend the after-school sessions during the school year, working with students in need of assistance with homework and other academic assignments.

Barney shared his tutoring experiences assisting individual students, saying “all in all, it’s a very satisfying volunteer activity for myself and fellow Pearl Rotarians as we help these students take advantage of the opportunity that Step Up offers them to improve their grades and eventually graduate.” Other Pearl Rotarians participating in Step Up and Open Meadow programs this fall include Stan Swan, Marc Hillman, Anne O’Neill, Roger Meyer, Dave Clingan, Doug MacGregor Larry Berman and Katja Gluhr.

Mason, the director, expressed appreciation for the wide range of participation:

“The folks who showed up…were a great reflection of what we’re doing: focusing on kids with what they need in a way that delivers academic and social results. The commissioner walked away with a much better sense of the program and with a real flavor of the lives that the Children’s Levy is impacting. This is a big deal at a time of constricting budgets and increasing need for our families. Don (Barney) brought some great history with Dan (Saltzman) that translated into exciting action today on the part of the ever-welcome Portland Pearl Rotary.”

The Oct. 22 event included gambling (blackjack, roulette, craps), food and drinks, live music by the Fenix Project, and a silent auction that garnered over $20,000 in value of the contributions.

“This was the biggest and best year for our silent auction thanks largely to the broad participation and generous donations of Pearl District and Northwest Portland businesses and organizations,” said past Pearl Rotary President Don Barney, chair of that event.. “We’re very fortunate to have so many local partners join us and help replenish our charitable fund for another year of Pearl Rotary service to the community.”

An estimated $10,000 from the event will be directed to the club’s non-profit, the Pearl Fund. Monies raised from the annual fundraiser are used to fund a wide array of club projects–including computers for a girls school in Costa Rica, support of Open Meadow non-traditional school, student of the month and other efforts with Lincoln High School, and new partnerships in the Pearl area with the Zimmerman Community Center and the Bud Clark Commons.

President Lou Radja summarized the evening:

“What a great turn out for Bet on the Pearl!–a night of fun while making a difference. Thanks to the support of civic, business and individual leaders in our community, our Pearl Rotary Club is able to make a real difference through our local and international service projects. In Africa we say: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.’ Well, together, we went far that night!”

Other Rotarians who joined Barney and Radja in leadership roles were Greg Mottau, fundraising chair; Duane Cook, tickets; Tracy Vicario and Roger Devine, silent auction. Another partner in the event was the Columbia County Rotary Club; members came to the train station to deal the games. In a reciprocal gesture, Pearl Rotarians will do the same in march for its fundraiser in St. Helens.

Pearl Rotary also announced a follow-up online auction. You can bid on items, while advancing Pearl Rotary’s causes, at the Portland Pearl Rotary Online Auction.

Portland Pearl Rotary President Lou Radja, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will open the conference at 9 a.m., speaking on “The Importance of Schools Today Internationally.”

Also, please see the brochure on the Peace Symposium here.

Rotarians’ efforts at building peace were supported Nov. 2 when the City of Portland passed a resolution, citing Rotary International’s “Respect for cultural diversity and the life and dignity of every person, without discrimination of prejudice; Resolution of conflict within local and global communities; and Reconciliation of differences in pursuit of harmony.”

Also, read Mayor Sam Adams, “the Rotary Peace Committee of Portland and the City of Portland join together to promote peace, understanding and goodwill between our residents in in communities around the world.”

Sharing Rotary’s peace-building seminar with Adams and the city council was Pearl Rotarian Roger Meyer. He was joined in the council chambers by fellow Rotarians Radja and Anne O’Neill (Pearl club) and Al Jubitz, Portland Rotary.

The symposium is open to the public. Student admission is $10 and all others $25, which includes the luncheon, the symposium and the conference syllabus containing resources and speaker summaries. Surrounding the PSU peace-building meeting will be resource tables from the World Affairs Council, Rotaract, Rotary Foundation and Mercy Corps as well as other inspiring groups.

Advance registration may be mailed to Peace Education Symposium, 1220 N.E. 17th Avenue, Suite 11E, Portland, OR 97232. Make checks payable to Pearl Rotary Club. Online registration will open the first week of January.

This gathering of interested professionals and students was inspired by the work of dedicated Portland leaders whose work continues to help prepare students for a peaceful, productive life. Also included are stories from the field of community foundations, microcredit, peace actions and global action illustrated by 21 speakers and two panels. The luncheon keynote speaker is Julie Mancini, director of Mercy Corps Action Center local and global involvement.

Portland Pearl Rotary President Lou Radja, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will open the conference at 9 a.m., speaking on “The Importance of Schools Today Internationally.”

Surrounding the meeting will be resource tables from the World Affairs Council, Rotaract, Rotary Foundation and Mercy Corps as well as other inspiring groups.

The symposium is open to the public. Student admission is $10 and all others $25, which includes the luncheon, the symposium and the conference syllabus containing resources and speaker summaries.

Advance registration may be mailed to Peace Education Symposium, 1220 N.E. 17th Avenue, Suite 11E, Portland, OR 97232. Make checks payable to Pearl Rotary Peace Symposium. Online registration will open the first week of January.

The conference also has the support of the City of Portland; Mayor Sam Adams in scheduled to unveil a proclamation Wednesday morning (Nov. 2) at city hall.

Wednesday after school, inbound student Elisabeth Gruner (here from Germany) and YEO David Bangsund headed out to shop for the ingredients to cook dinner for the men living at Clark Center in SE Portland.

At the center they were joined by Rebound students Lauren Hall (Finland) and Savannah Webber (Peru) who are back after a successful exchange last year, and Rotarians Lori Beight and Don Smith. After an hour and a half of choing, dicing, stirring and baking, they served a hearty meal of minestrone soup and freshly made cornbread to 75 hungry men at the shelter.

Between cooking and serving, Lauren and Savannah (now seniors at Lincoln H.S.) took the opportunity to tell Elisabeth, attending Grant, about their exchanges and give her a few pointers.