March 26 - Saginaw County

Board of Commissioners March 26, 2013
Peace Through Service
Plan for Peace Day – March 29, 2013
Proclamation
“Through service, we become more tolerant of our differences and more grateful for the
people in our lives. Our sense of gratitude drives us to understand others better and to see the
good in everyone. Through better understanding, we learn to respect others. With mutual
respect, we live with others in peace.” ~ Sakuji Tanaka
The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and
advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business,
professional, and community leaders. Each year, the Rotary International President selects a
theme which becomes the central focus of clubs throughout the world. For 2012-2013, Rotary
International President Sakuji Tanaka selected the theme Peace through Service and has
encouraged every Rotary Club to promote peace within their service activities for the year. As
President Tanaka stated, “Peace is not something that can only be achieved through treaties, by
governments, or through heroic struggles, but it is something that we can find and that we can
achieve, every day and in many simple ways”; and,
The Rotary service fosters peace in many ways. In its clubs and districts, they work to bring
health, safety, and human dignity to communities around the world. As individuals, they are
inspired to value cooperation over competition, and the common good over personal gain.
Through self-reflection, they recognize that none of us is perfect and that each of us has
something to learn from others. The motto that is unique to Rotary, Service Above Self,
describes the highest form of service. It is a path that anyone can walk — a path that Rotarians
have built, and that the whole world can follow. It is a path that leads to greater kindness and
contentment, tolerance and understanding. When we embrace Peace Through Service, we
strive for a greater peace for ourselves and for our world; and,
The Birch Run Rotary Club seeks to foster Peace through Service in our local community by
promoting “Plan for Peace Day” on Friday, March 29, 2013. “Plan for Peace Day” is a local
campaign to create awareness of how everyone can promote peace and conflict prevention in
our homes, in our schools, and in our community. Opportunities for peace are present every
day; how we interact with our family, our efforts to eliminate conflicts and bullying in our
schools and the posting of harmful communications on social media are but a few examples.
The actions we take to establish peace in our lives today will have a positive impact on the days
and years to come; and,
Now, Therefore, I, Michael J. Hanley, Chairman of the Saginaw County Board of
Commissioners, hereby proclaim the day and year of March 29, 2013 as
Plan for Peace Day
In Witness Whereof, The seal of the County of Saginaw will be affixed and the proclamation
adopted by the Board of Commissioners on the 26th day of March in the year of our Lord two
thousand thirteen.
- 16 -