RI President Sakuji Tanaka
It’s a great honor to serve as your 2012-13 RI president and represent you in Rotary. Since joining this organization in 1975, it has changed my life and given me more than I ever anticipated. I look forward to sharing some of that with you.
Through Rotary, I learned the purpose of my life wasn’t to earn more, but to help others. Through our service, we learn that the problems that may seem large to us are really very small.
I also learned that through Rotary, we could build peace. As part of the first generation to grow up in Japan after World War II, I understand the importance of peace and its connection to our well-being.
Peace can mean many things for many people, but however we understand peace, Rotary can help us achieve it. Rotary helps us meet the basic needs of health care, sanitation, food, and education. These can bring peace. In addition, we need peace as well for vaccinators to go into countries such as Afghanistan to prevent children from getting polio. It is through our work as Rotarians that we help to build the foundation for a more peaceful world.
Through service, we can bring peace. This is why our 2012-12 Rotary theme is Peace Through Service.
During my year as your president, I look forward to hearing from you on LinkedIn and when I post on the blog. I also hope to see you at one of my three Rotary Global Peace Forums.
Read more about RI President Tanaka and watch a profile.
奉仕を通じて、平和をもたらすことができます
この度、2012-13年度国際ロータリー会長を拝命し、皆さまの代表を務めさせていただくことを、大変光栄に感じています。1975年にロータリーに入会して以来、ロータリーは私の人生を変え、想像をはるかに超える大きなものを与えてくれました。これから先、皆さまに私のロータリー体験をお伝えしていきたいと思います。
ロータリーを通じ、私は、人生の目的とはお金儲けではなく、他者を助けることにあると知りました。私たちロータリアンは、どんなに大きく見える問題でも、奉仕活動を通じてそれらの問題に取り組んでいます。
私はまた、ロータリーを通じ、平和構築は可能であると学びました。第二次世界大戦後の混乱の中にあった日本で成長した私は、人々が健康に生きていくためには、平和が重要であるということをよく理解しています。
平和という言葉が意味するところは、人それぞれだと思いますが、ロータリーは、それぞれの平和を達成する手助けができると思います。ロータリーを通じて保健、衛生、食糧、教育といった基本的なニーズを満たすことができ、これらの基本的なニーズが平和をもたらすことにつながるのです。さらに、アフガニスタンのような国々に出向いて、ポリオのワクチンを子どもたちに与える活動においても、平和な状態が必要です。私たちロータリアンは、日々の活動を通じて、平和な世界の礎を築いているのです。
奉仕を行うことによって、平和がもたらされます。その考えから、2012-13年度のテーマを「奉仕を通じて平和を」といたしました。
会長年度、さまざまな活動を実施して参りますが、ぜひリンクトインや私のブログに、皆さまのコメントをお寄せください。また、3つのロータリー世界平和フォーラムで皆さまにお会いできることを、心より楽しみにしております。
Dear president tanaka; it is great theme ‘ PEACE THROUGH SERVICE ‘ for the present situation in this world. Being Rotarian we got inspired from your theme thought and we assure our best services to the community from rotary. i can see at mid of the year, it is really working out and message is reaching the non Rotarian too. I also wish all the Rotarian friends and their family happy and prosperous new year 2013.
thanks for the inspiring leadership.
yours peace team
Rtn.M.S.JAYACHANDRA ARADHYA
Director – Vocational Services
ROTARY BANGALORE SOUTH, INDIA
RI DIST 3190.
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Dear RI President Tanaka,
The United Nations’ “International Day of Peace” is comming, September 21st, 2012. Like many, I am sure, I see many paralells between the UN’s “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future” goals and our Rotary “Future Vision” goals. All this continues to be very inspiring during my year as eClub President. My work is just but a drop in the ocean, but with everyone’s help we will achieve global peace one day, I know. May God continue to bless all hard-working peace-makers. Thank you for being our leader and inspiration.🙂
Yours in Peace Through Service,
Lizette Guadalupe Ödfalk
2012-13 eClub President
Rotary eClub of District 3170
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Dear President Tanaka
Your visit to South Africa was inspiring and your message was inspiring
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Thank you President Sakuji Tanaka, l associate with your theme. Your theme is most relevant for the time, and it is clear from your very life that you are an example of working for peace.
We all need peace : Within ourselves, in our familiies, clubs, work places, communities and countries.
Our club : RC Kasangati is looking forward to being the badly needed catalyst of peace in our community – we are aspiring to implement service projects, to reach out to the underprivileged as we advocate for peace.
Looking forward to having you in Uganda tomorrow.
God bless your year, your aspirations and the Rotary family.
Florence Kanyike [PHF]
RC Kasangati, Uganda.
District 9200
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DEAR PRESIDENT SAKUJI,
TODAY PIECE IS IN P-I-E-C-E-S.THROUGH YOUR BRILLIANT AND INSPIRING MESSAGE ON PEACE TO MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION ROTARIANS IN ALL THE CORNERS OF THE WORLD YOU HAVE PLANTED SEED OF PEACE.I AM SURE THAT INSPITE OF RAVAGES OF TIME,INSPITE OF CYCLONES AND STORMS,INSPITE OF MAN’S INHUMANITY AGAINST MAN, INSPITE OF MISGIDED TERRORISM THIS SEED ONE DAY WILL GROW INTO A MIGHTY TREE UNDER WHOSE LARGE SHADOW PEACE AND EVERLASTING PEACE WITH ROTARY IDEALS WILL USHER IN THIS WORLD.
PDG DR J T VYAS,D3140, MUMBAI
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Dear President Tanaka,
I hope we will build a better world to live by serving to those who are underprivileged in our society under your stewardship and thus making a peaceful world.
RTN ANIL AGARWAL
R C KHURJA
Distt 3100
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Excelente posición frente a un mundo tan convulsionado, “luchemos en unión rotaria” por la PAZ , la Armonía y la Solidaridad en el mundo.
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Congratulations Sakuji on bringing Peace to the forefront of Rotary, which most Rotarians have ignored by just talking and without an act or projects that breaks the barriers and makes Peace visible and accessible.
The Rotarians must not use Rotary to nurture their personal agenda which is selfish and far from Rotary’s. There is enough of “Rat-Smelling” on account of garbage and distortions, that is grossly coming in the way of peace to be visible. While there is good and great enough work being done, yet the pace is nowhere to be seen. The reasons are clear, Rotarians who feel they matter, must change their routes, attitude and outlook and approach from their own convenient agenda to that for Rotary and its lone target of peace. Difficult but not impossible.
Sakuji, you have only one year, and having touched the right point now, let it be mere one – point agenda, you must make it sustainable, not just getting stopped at the end of your year. This you can think of doing by making Peace a Corporate Program of Rotary forever, till achieved, before the successors of yours and Board takes otherwise, in the name of change. Each club and each Rotarian – 100 percent mus be doing that alone that leads to peace, through him or her or direct in the community around and touching the world level some way or the other.
To reach peace, you need to take up a “Rotarian Transformation Project First” simultaneously on the behavioural or mindset part of Rotarians so that you can get right output from them on the lines of achieving peace. Today the output from many a Rotarian is working against Rotary’s values, going astray.
I personally believe in Rotary as an institution but not all the Rotarians who like indulgence, politics, self – service and further strongly feel, educating Rotarians is close to impossibility! You can, with your vision and tact Let’s make Rotary truly peaceful first, above all!! And find the route that takes all of to the World Peace and Understanding!
God Bless!
PDG Subhash Saraf, Pune India, 3131
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Many thanks for u r inspiring words – sir
we will create a better world to live .
sathish
Rotary coimbatore downtown.
RI 3201
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Dear President Sakuji Tanaka,
Rotarians around the world are inspired by your theme of “Peace Through Service”. We look forward to working with you in making this a reality through our many and varied acts of service in our local communities and around the world – especially in the developing world.
Peter Warren
President, Rotary Club of Armadale, Western Australia.
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Presidente Tanaka:
Gracias por señalar el camino hacia la paz, en Bolivia y particularmente en mi club Rotary Santa Cruz de la Sierra, organizaremos un foro sobre La Paz a través del servicio en coordinación con las instituciones que protagonizan el accionar de nuestro pueblo.
Gracias por su mensaje y felicidades.
Miguel Montero Vaca
Presidente RC Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Bolivia.
Distrito 4690
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Dear President Sakuji,
We all agree with you. Your theme is simple and very very true. We will all serve to bring about peace in our communities, country and world.
Durgesh R. Haritay
District Secretary TRF
RID 3170, India.
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Presidente Takata you will be Outstanding RI President and We hope world will feal peace………
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Gracias Presidente Sakuji, por sus motivadoras palabras. Sin duda cada uno de nosotros, especialmente los rotarios y rotarias, tenemos la responsabilidad de construir la paz en el mundo, a través de lo que sabemos hacer: servir a nuestras comunidadaes.
AnaMaria Badilla
RC ANGOL ESPERANZA
CHILE- Distrito 4355
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President Sakuji Peace is an appropriate and adaptable theme.D-9920 clubs will be working together pushing boundaries to unleash our potential building Peace Through Service. We will also be working on our relationships with each other.
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thanks rtn sakuji.we will live in peace.
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President Tanaka, I hope that Rotarians can change the world…..giving Peace to everyone !!!
Alessandro Tortorella
President RC Roma Campidoglio
District 2080 Italy
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greetings, fully agreed with ur views. hope for the best year.” lets build the world without strangers”.
president moga royal 77630.
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Thank Presiente Tanaka we now the peace is the way for make one word more better, have an very good year, best regards Jorge Vega D. GDE D-432’0
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President Tanaka: Thank you for your Rotary leadership. In response to your vision, The Rotary Clubs in Manhattan, Kansas, USA, are planning a Rotary Peace Forum for February 23, 2013, for District 5710. Our district has been fortunate to have three of our nominees chosen as Rotary Peace Fellows in the last five years, and we have had several valuable international projects, but we are aware that there is much more that we can be doing to further peace, conflict resolution, and global development. We welcome any suggestions you might have for our Peace Forum.
William L. Richter, District 5710 Chair, Rotary Peace Fellows Subcommittee
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Presidente Takata you will a great year.
Marcos Franco – PDG 2010-11 D 4420 – São Paulo – Brazil
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La Paz es el camino que debemos construir día a día, a través del amor a la vida, al prójimo, a través del servicio. Comencemos por nuestra casa, nuestro pueblo y sucesivamente la instalaremos en todo el mundo.
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Thank you very much President Tanaka. I am much impressed with your words. Let’s build the Earth in peace, fill it with love and honour it with service.
Manikandan,
President 2012-13,
RC of Karaikudi Heritage, 3212
India
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Thanks dear Presidente Sakuji, we must work for get Peace in all the worl serving our communities.
Ronald Keith
DGE 4355
Chile
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