Rotary International Peace Summit-April 24-27, 2008

April 24-27, 2008
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Ann Marie Williams and Jim Dugan of The World Peace Prayer Society took part in the 4-day World Peace Summit to present The Peace Pole Project™ to District Governor Rotarians, Delegates and citizens. It was a perfect venue to show case the “One of a Kind” recycled Peace Poles in the Chrysler Building and the St. Clair’s Center for the Arts, where Rotarians and community members gathered over the weekend for International Cuisine and to attend the very informative Plenary Sessions.

District Governor Rotarians, such as District Governor and Host, Jennifer Jones along with Honorary Speakers, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Prince Zeid Ra’ad (Al-Hussein) of Jordan were gifted 4-sided Desktop Peace Poles, hand-crafted at The World Peace Sanctuary, inscribed with the message, May Peace Prevail On Earth (on two sides), May Peace be in Our Heart and Mind (on 1 side) and May Peace be in Homes and Communities (on opposite side).

Rotary Clubs to Twin School Peace Initiative:
For the past three years, Rotarian Anna Jurak, Peace Committee Chair of the Rotary Club of Windsor Roseland has hosted a “Peace School” designation program in partnership with local school boards in Essex County.

The Program:
To designate schools annually as Peace Schools. Schools that achieve an 80% designation on the self-assessment questionnair are designated as Peace Schools. The top 4 schools in the are receive a “Peace Pole to erect in their school yard and a ceremony to celebrate their achievement.

The Peace Schools receive: an all inclusive peace party, Peace Pole Ceremony at the school and jelly bracelets for every student with the inscription, May Peace Prevail On Earth.

The 4-sided Peace Pole is inscribed with the words “May Peace Prevail On Earth” in English, French and two languages of choice by the schools that reflect their multicultural make-up of the school population.

Rotary Peace Communities:
Plans are underway to plant a Peace Pole acquired through The Peace Pole Project at The World Peace Sanctuary, by facilitator, Anna Jurak and the Windsor Rotary District 6400 of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

The Peace Pole will be planted in the Peace Garden on Peche Island, a Canadian island located in the Detroit River (between Michigan USA and Ontario CANADA). The island was chosen because of its international location and history. The island was acquired by the City of Windsor in 1999 and is maintained as a naturalized park.

Report and Photographs submitted by:
Ann Marie Williams
The Peace Pole Project
at The World Peace Sanctuary