FEB 11, 2014 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Dr. Maureen Reed
Club 10 members learned that the Nobel Peace Prize Forum exists for just one reason: to inspire peacemaking by celebrating the work of Nobel Peace Prize winners.
The meeting began quietly: greeters – Todd Nicholson and Donovan Schwichtenberg; a quiet America the Beautiful “in F” with David Laird and Bill Given; our soup lunch, and a resulting $1,000 contributed to Nicaragua. Carol Bufton gave the invocation and Kathleen Riley collected happy dollars. Planning has begun for Camp RYLA. Chair Steve Gerber encouraged members to become involved. Immediate Past President Dan McKeown reminded members that we do not have a meeting next Tuesday (February 18). Instead we have a joint meeting with Minneapolis Rotary on Friday, February 21 to celebrate our joint anniversaries.
Jim Hart introduced Dr. Maureen K. Reed, who introduced Nelson Mandela, and FW de Klerke and the imminent arrival of his holiness the Dalai Lama and LeMay Gbwoee through a PowerPoint presentation.
This was the quiet path forged from Club 10 to winners of the Nobel Peace Prize – to people - super-humans in many ways – who solve difficult problems by marching towards conflict to create better worlds: this in a time when examples of thoughtful decision-making and two sides walking towards each other are in short supply.
Big concepts and big words? Anecdotally, the keynotes were described: his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (“big presence,” “ultimate serenity”) and Lemay Gbowee, (Nobel Laureate 2011, “very big presence” and very “NOT serene”). They bookend the Forum. Their radically different routines share significantly similar goals…..Ian Bremer….(New Republic and Eurasia Society), somehow will walk towards Michael Posner (NYU Business School where he champions Human Rights in business supply chains)….Doctors Without Borders will describe the real world while Dr William Foege will talk about the successful routines that allowed for the global eradication of smallpox.
Ultimately five days of conversation and debate about Faith, Business and Law, Science and Health, will feature world class speakers, and artists, and professionals and promises 7,000 live attendees and a global live view audience of 100+ thousands.
Results?
2011 live attendance 4000
2012 live attendance 4,500
2013 live attendance 6,500 + 70,000
Wow.
Results?
97% of attendees say they were inspired to make peacemaking part of their personal missions.
92% said their lives or thinking had changed.
Dr. Maureen K. Reed (former doctor of internal medicine, former UMN Regent and Chair, former congressional candidate, now Adjunct to the School of Public Health and Medicine and Executive Director of the Noble Forum), ultimately left her medical practice for a mission that would ultimately change more lives than her medical career. She and Jim Hart have put the Forum and the spiritual center of their lives and been dedicated audience participants since the 1990s. Now that’s impact!
When, Where and How Much? Full Day Events -- A bit less than $50 apiece.
His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama/Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Men Walking) – Faith and Peace, March 1; Ian Bremer/Michael Posner Law and Business, March 7; Doctors Without Borders/William Foege, Science ad Health Day, March 8; Leymah Gbowee/Norklinger and Lundestad, Global Day March 9.
Some programs are sold out, but $50 an event gets you more meaning than the average show or game at the Excel Center or Target Center....a few lessons on how to “Cross Borders to Create Common Grounds” is a bit of inspired schooling that I look forward to….skills that I need. See you there?
ttp://nobelpeaceprizeforum.org/about/
http://nobelpeaceprizeforum.org/forum-archive/
http://nobelpeaceprizeforum.org/2014-2/
So to summarize:
The Tuesday Event put Goodwill at its core.
Our soup meal was of immediate benefit to others.
the Nobel Forum seeks Truth and Fairness....and asks us to stop by.
And well friends, that counts for a very, very good day.
Other business:
Find more members, Find more friends...
Amy Klochobar addresses us alongside our friends at the top of the IDS building next week. Registration required.
The Rotary Office has moved.
"Stay well and warm" until we meet again.