The day’s highlight was the unveiling of a Peace Pole, symbolizing Rotary’s unwavering commitment to global peace and understanding. Built and coordinated by DG Gordon Owens, the Peace Pole serves as a poignant reminder of our mission to foster peace locally and globally. DG Gordon shared his heartfelt thoughts, saying, “As Rotarians, we are out in our communities creating peace…. Think about the people that are coming here for healing.”
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The Okra Brothers Right Back Where We StartedBy Gordon Owens During my official visits to the Columbus area, I was impressed by how the local clubs are working together to serve those in need. Food insecurity, proper medical care and working to reduce violence are just a few challenges Rotarians are tackling in their neighborhood. AG Cedric Hill and I were nicknamed the Okra Brothers because we saved a couple cases of okra from the compost pile at the Merci Med garden, but that's only half the story. While it may have been a bit past its prime size to sell, we were convinced it could be put to good use. Cedric made a call to a friend at another non-profit at a local school that teaches students how to grow their own food and how to build a business selling that produce. The director of that program said, "I was just asked if I had okra to use to teach families how to prepare fresh, seasonal produce." After dropping the okra off on the other side of town, it turns out, it will be used for a cooking demonstration in a neighborhood just a couple blocks from where it was harvested. As simple as a couple case of okra may seem to us, by these clubs working together to leverage every available resource, those in need in Columbus are experiencing the Magic of Rotary. |
