During this month of so many religious holidays and observances, it is natural that we turn our thoughts to the elusive "peace and good will in the world". Why do we need wars to settle international disputes, even intranational disputes? Why does violence seem to exist in so many places in our world? What can mere citizens do to further peace? It seems clear enough that peace is simply friendships among peoples of the world. As USA’s Lt. Colonel Steve Kiser told us at several Rotary conferences, "terrorism will not be eradicated by military action alone, but by the good will of people forming friendships around the world." (Paraphrased)

As we look at RLI with its 214 member districts that cover 101 countries and territories of the world, it is an amazing example how Rotarians can work so well together despite the frictions or even wars of their governments. We see examples of this every day in all parts of Rotary. If Rotarians can work peacefully for worthy goals, why cannot all peoples? As Paul Harris told us many years ago, the key ingredient often lacking in the world is "tolerance". Let us continue in Rotary, in all our projects and programs, to work hard to continue to form those friendships that help to lead to peace. Season’s greetings and the blessings of peace to all!!

Romania and Moldova in District 2241 have become the 100th and 101st countries (and territories) covered by the member districts of RLI. This is another milestone for RLI growth around the world. A special presentation will be made at the Annual RLI Breakfast at the Montreal Convention.

Long time RLI leader and trainer, PRIVP Mike McGovern accepted an assignment to conduct a new faculty orientation program in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for District 5370, northern Alberta on November 12. District 5370 recently joined the RLI Prairie Division. After a very successful orientation session the prior day and anticipating a routine flight home to Maine, Mike arrived at the Edmonton Airport for the 6:30 a.m. scheduled departure. His report speaks for itself:

"I got home at 4:30 a.m. this morning from Edmonton. The flight was four hours late taking off from Edmonton airport yesterday morning as planes take off only when the temperature is at least minus 40 degrees. The temperature yesterday morning at 5 a.m. when I arrived at the airport was minus 51 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of minus 71 degrees. The Edmonton newspaper reported that the temperatures in Edmonton that night were the coldest in Canada.

"Peter Spiker, meteorologist for the federal agency said a record cold had been registered at the Edmontonairport: -46 degrees Celsius. With the wind-chill, the temperature was -59. He added that the previous mark was -33 in 1968."

We hereby award Mike McGovern the RLI BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AWARD.

RLI is pleased to welcome District 5610 as a member of the Rocky Mountain Division, USA. That district covers South Dakota and parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. Leading the district is Governor Roger L. Kozak and the Division Chair is PDG Greg Podd. Greg is also a Regional Vice-Chair for the America West region.

We also extend a warm welcome to District 2241, Romania and Moldova, which district is joining the French Division. The Agreement was signed by District Governor Daniel Condurache with the strong support of DGE Corneliu Dinca and PDG Eric Bloch. We thank PRIVP Serge Gouteyron, RLI Intl. Regional Vice-Chair and French Division Chair, PDG Jacques di Costanzo for their efforts in working with that district.

RLI is greatly honored to welcome Past R.I. President Jonathan B. Majiyagbe of Nigeria as a member of the Senior Leaders Advisory Board. PRIP Jonathan was kind enough to present the certificates of completion at the faculty orientation sessions conducted in December by RLI Trainers Knut Johnsen and Tam Mustapha at Abuja, Nigeria.

We are also honored to welcome Rotary International Director Lars-Olaf Fredriksson of Finland to the Advisory Board. Director Lars-Olaf is the 12th current director to join the Board. He is working on expansion of RLI in Scandinavia.

We are proud to welcome two R.I. Directors-Nominee from India to the Advisory Board-Shekhar Mehta of Zone 6 and Yash Pal Das of Zone 4. They will serve as directors during 2011-13. Both have outstanding Rotary records of service.

On the RLI website Home Page (www.rotaryleadershipinstitute.org )is the flyer for the Montreal RLI Breakfast together with a page describing alternate payment methods, including PAYPAL. Early registration would be appreciated. The breakfast price is 32 US dollars per person. If anyone has questions about this event, please contact RLI Executive Director, PDG Michael Rabasca, m.rabasca@comcast.net.

We are publir of our New Zealand and Pacific Islands Division:

"The second RLI breakfast for the Division was held on 21 November 2009 at the award-winning Waikokopu Café in the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It was well attended by RIPE Ray Klinginsmith, RID John Lawrence, RIDE Stuart and Adrienne Heal, PDG Bob Aitken, plus senior Rotarians and partners from all six NZ and Pacific Islands Districts.

"When welcoming the 40 attendees, RID John Lawrence, Convener of the Institute, pointed out that you can’t retain someone who doesn’t have knowledge about the organisation, and it’s only through formalised training like RLI that we can turn them into true Rotarians.

"Guest speaker RIDE Stuart Heal shared his Rotary journey about how his GSE Team experience in Nigeria led him into Rotary. Stuart explained that during his first two years in Rotary, he wasn’t asked to do anything, so he almost resigned, and it was only ry’s big basket of goodies, and what he has to offer Rotary. He related this to RLI by emphasising that through RLI Rotarians learn more about Rotary and the great things that Rotary does, while learning new skills and getting involved.

"The interactive panel discussion led by PDGs Rob Crabtree and Beryl Robinson (District 9920), DG Colin Olesen (9930) and IPDG Lindsay McIntyre (9980) gave an update about how RLI started in their districts, courses held to date, including what worked and opportunities for improvement, plus courses scheduled in the future. There was consensus that the start up process had been generally smooth sailing because RLI addresses club members’ desire for increased Rotary knowledge and leadership development, and the interactive, facilitated learning style is not t only fun but the most effective.

"Feedback from RLI course participants has been consistently positive. One of District 9920’s first graduates enthused "RLI is great - how can I go out to the clubs and tell them about RLI?" Another was glad that he had done RLI and wondered how he would have handled being President without the Rotary knowledge gained. All left the breakfast on a high, very pleased at the progress that RLI has made in only 18 months and firmly in support of RLI as a significant training resource within NZ and Pacific Island districts."

Here’s a summary of visits in Europe by RLI Executive Director Michael Rabasca and RLI Vice-Chair for Training Frank Wargo. Their first stop on November 1 was to conduct a new faculty orientation session for the new RLI The Netherlands Division. Prior to the orientation, they attended a meeting with Dutch leaders answering questions about the RLI program. ference Center, located deep in a forest where nature was in full bloom. PRID Stan Tempelaars, the Division Chair, did a great job in putting the training together." RIDN Paul Knyff of The Netherlands also attended the sessions and showed his support for RLI in his country.

The second visit was in Bulgaria. Among other events, Mike and Frank attended meetings of the Rotary Club of Sofia International and the Rotary Club of Sofia Vitosha. Driving from Sofia to Smolyan, Bulgaria they then attended the meeting of the Rotary Club of Smolyan and met the District 2482 Governor, Plamen Minev. The faculty orientation session was conducted on November 7 and was followed by the celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Smolyan Club. Before leaving Bulgaria, the team attended a meeting of the Rotary Club of Plovidv-Philipopol. As most RLI Training Teams try to do during visits for faculty orientations, this team created good will for Rotary in general by visiting clubs and meeting many Rotarians. We thank Regional Vice-Chair Kalcho Hinov and leaders of the Bulgaria Division for organizing the itinerary and program for the training team visit.

The last visit for RLI was to Prague, Czech Republic, to discuss the program with the leaders of the newly formed Czech and Slovak Division led by PDG Petr Pajas of Prague. Also attending the meeting was DGE Piotr Wygnanczuk of District 2230, Poland, Belarus and Ukraine to discuss possibly joining RLI.

A faculty orientation for the new Bolivia Division took place on November 14 and 15 at Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. International RLI Training Team member, PDG Juan Pedro Torroba conducted the session. Chair of the Division is PDG William Torrico and the District Governor is Jaime Guevara. A photo of the group at the orientation is being posted on the website under Resources-Photo Gallery.

Reports on the Training Team visits to Cleveland, USA, Nigeria, Jordan, Santa Catarina, Brazil and Korea will appear in future eBulletins. The calendar of training events appears on the RLI Website’s third major section, RLI Organizational Information under RLI Calendars.

“Having leadership skills does not alone assure good Rotary leadership. An effective Rotary leader must ALSO have Rotary knowledge, perspective about where Rotary has been, where it is now going and a vision of what Rotary can be.”