February welcomed an opportunity for Executive Director Tammy Haas and Board Chair Linda Ziglar to attend the Rotary International President’s Peace Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. The conference included 1100 attendees from around the Rotary and non-Rotary world. To be in a united setting of peacebuilders was inspiring, humbling and motivating.
Tammy and Linda made important contacts to enhance and further CFP’s mission. Some contacts will be useful in evaluating opportunities for expansion in the Middle East/North Africa region. Others will be useful in expanding our impact in Cyprus and Israel/Palestine. Contacts with US Rotary Clubs will hopefully lead to additional hosting areas and funding to support our strategic plan. In general, CFP’s greater exposure was met with enthusiasm, interest and credibility, especially given our all-volunteer and non-governmental funding structure.
Tammy was selected last fall from a large pool of applications to be trained, alongside 36 others, as a Rotary Positive Peace Activator covering the Middle East and Northern Africa region. This training was for 3 days prior to the start of the International Peace Conference in Istanbul. She was the only one selected from the United States due to our work in Cyprus and Israel. Her fellow Activators represented 17 countries and 5 Rotary Districts. This is a two year volunteer role that will benefit Tammy in her role as our Executive Director in garnering a further understanding of the regions we serve along with the potential for our expansion in other areas.