Rotary Peace Centers – Innovation, growth & funding
The Rotary Peace Centers Program annually grants academic fellowships to up to 100 peace fellows from around the world. This is Rotary’s most significant peacebuilding program. Within Rotary’s area of focus of Peace, Rotary clubs invest in projects that address the causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
This webinar will focus on proposed changes and growth of the Rotary Peace Centers and the role of clubs and districts in nominating candidates. Opportunities and strategies for Rotarians, clubs, and districts to support Peace Centers and the Peace area of focus with directed and endowed gifts will be reviewed. The new Legacy Society will be discussed.
Who should participate?
- Members of district and club Foundation committees
- District Rotary Peace Fellowship Committee members
- All Rotarians interested in the future of the Rotary Peace Centers
- District and club leaders
- Rotarians interested in estate planning opportunities to support Rotary’s peace initiatives
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) – 7:00 PM (Eastern Time)
PRESENTERS
Bryn Styles
Bryn has been a Rotarian since 1986 when he joined the Rotary Club of Barrie Huronia, Ontario, Canada. In 2000, he was fortunate to be selected as the GSE Team Leader to Australia. Bryn was District Governor in 2004‐05. He was the District Foundation Chair from 2007‐2010.
Beyond his district he was the RI Membership Zone Coordinator for Zone 24 East from 2006‐07 and was the Rotary Regional Foundation Coordinator for Zone 24 2010-12.
He served as a director of Rotary International 2012-14 and as a trustee of The Rotary Foundation 2015-17. He has served on many Rotary International and Rotary Foundation committees.
He is currently chair of the Rotary Peace Centers Committee. The committee has oversight of the six Rotary Peace Centers and is responsible for selecting the 100 Rotary peace fellows each year.
Bryn graduated in pharmacy from the University of Toronto. He operated two pharmacies in the Barrie area. Besides Rotary, Bryn has been involved in the YMCA serving on the Y Canada Board of Directors for three years.
Bryn is a Rotary Foundation Bequest Society member and member of the Arch Klumph Society. He is the recipient of the District Foundation Service Award, the 4 Avenues of Service Citation, the Citation for Meritorious Service from the Rotary Foundation and the Service Above Self Award.
Carolyn Ferguson
Carolyn is a Senior Major Gifts Officer for The Rotary Foundation. She works in Zone 24.
Carolyn works fulltime as one of a staff team of 12 Major Gifts Officers in North America, of which 9 are based in their Zones, and 3 are based at World Headquarters in Evanston, IL. She is based in Ontario.
As a Senior Major Gift Officer, Carolyn works primarily one on one with Rotarians to invite their support of our Foundation mission through a Major Gift, Bequest or planned gift.
Carolyn is also a second-generation Rotarian. Carolyn joined Rotary in 2004 and is Past President of the Rotary Club of Ancaster A.M, a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and Bequest Society member with our Foundation. She and her family have enjoyed hosting 10 Youth Exchange students in her home.
She is a current member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and prior to her employment with the Rotary Foundation, Carolyn worked in fund development with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. She is a graduate of McMaster University and is currently enrolled in distance learning at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC.
Chris Offer
Chris is the chair of the Rotary Peace Major Gift Initiative Committee. The committee raises funds to support the Rotary Peace Centers and the peace area of focus. He also serves on the Major Gifts Initiative Oversight Team.
Chris has been a moderator and panel member for breakout sessions at several RI conventions. He was twice a training leader at the International Assembly. Chris served as Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator and vice chair of the Los Angeles RI convention promotion committee. In 2006-07 he chaired the RI membership committee. Chris was District 5040 Governor in BC, Canada in 1999-2000.
Chris served The Rotary Foundation as an Endowment Major Gift Advisor. He was a lead trainer for the E/MGA training Institute in Evanston in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In January 2017, he chaired a Million Dollar Dinner committee that raised US$3.3 million for The Rotary Foundation.
Chris has been a Rotary volunteer in Philippines, Russia, China, Laos and India. He has worked as a Rotary representative on a team including WHO, CDC and Gates Foundation evaluating the polio surveillance initiative in South Sudan, Sudan and Nigeria.
Chris retired from the Vancouver Police after 31 years of police service. He served in a variety of senior operational and administrative position retiring as a District Commander. He has a degree in Criminology and a MA in Public Administration.
He is the recipient of the Regional Service Award for a Polio Free World, Meritorious and Distinguished Service Awards from The Rotary Foundation and the Rotary International Service Above Self Award.
Chris is an accomplished photographer. His photos have been published in local and national newspapers, books and calendars. He enjoys street and nature photography.
Chris and his wife Penny are members of The Rotary Foundation Arch Klumph Society.
For further information please contact Chris Offer at chrisoffer@live.ca
