From May 15 to 17, 2026, over 150 Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and community leaders journeyed to the stunning Yukon Territory for Unite in Whitehorse, the Rotary District 5370 Conference. Hosted at the welcoming Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on the banks of the Yukon River, the event brought the theme "Teamwork makes the dream work" to life.
Led by District Governor Ramesh Ferris and the organizing team, the three-day conference challenged attendees to rethink accessibility, deepen global and local partnerships, advance the global fight to eradicate polio, and embrace peace in practice.
Here are the powerful takeaways, inspiring stories, and moments of radical connection that defined our time under the midnight sun.
Sunday, May 17 | Orchestrating Peace & The Power of Connection
Sunday brought a beautiful, musical, and deeply reflective close to the weekend, weaving together powerful symbols and inspiring voices dedicated to global harmony.
A Visible Legacy: The Peace Pole Unveiling
The morning began with a moving Peace Pole unveiling led by Past District Governor Ingrid Neitsch. Standing as a visible legacy of our shared commitment, the Peace Pole bears the international message of hope. With 250,000 poles planted worldwide, peace has been an explicit part of the Rotary International mission since 1921. “Peace is more than the absence of conflict,” Ingrid reminded the room, emphasizing that it is an active, living pursuit. To solidify this commitment, the audience was invited to stand and collectively recite the Rotary Peace Pledge, uniting every voice in the room toward a shared vision of global harmony.
Orchestrating Peace: Diego Carneiro's Keynote
The energy in the room transformed through Diego Carneiro’s keynote address and musical performance. As a Rotary Peace Fellow and the founder of Orchestrating Peace, Carneiro utilized the universal language of music to demonstrate how harmony can bridge cultural divides and heal communities, moving attendees with both his words and his craft.
He beautifully broke down how any piece of music relies on four foundational components:
- melody, the main tune we hum along to
- harmony, the vertical stacking of pitches that supports the melody
- rhythm, the heartbeat and groove over time, and
- dynamics, the shifts in volume and intensity.
He stressed that while melody, harmony, and rhythm form the essential structure, it is the dynamics that truly breathe life into the notes—reminding the room that without dynamics, music wouldn't have a soul and wouldn’t be the bridge towards peace that it is.
Peace In Practice: Rotary, Partnerships and Lasting Impact
This artistic inspiration paved the way for a heavy-hitting Peace Panel featuring Marty Helman, Diego Carneiro, and Ingrid Neitsch, expertly moderated by S. Martin from Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI). The panellists explored the complexities of modern conflict resolution, reinforcing that building lasting harmony requires collaborative, systemic effort across all levels of society.
Pillars of Generosity: Four Moments of Foundation Gratitude
Throughout the conference, a series of four dedicated gratitude moments celebrated the profound generosity of District 5370 donors whose contributions shape the future of global service.
- Rotary Direct & PolioPlus Society: The first moment recognized the 227 Rotary Direct members whose recurring giving consistently powers projects worldwide, alongside the 165 PolioPlus Society members who each commit $100 USD annually.
- Paul Harris Society: Channeling Mother Teresa’s reminder that it is about "how much love we put into giving," the second moment honored the district's 111 Paul Harris Society members, who each commit to an annual donation of $1,000 USD.
- Major Donors & Arch Klumph Society: Embracing Winston Churchill's wisdom that "we make a life by what we give," the third moment celebrated the district's 191 Major Donors (cumulative lifetime giving of $10,000 USD or more) and gave special distinction to our 7 Arch Klumph Society members, whose extraordinary lifetime contributions exceed $250,000 USD.
- Bequest Society Legacy: The final tribute highlighted the 111 Bequest Society members who have designated estate gifts of $10,000 USD or more.
Peace Starts at Home: The Path Forward
Bringing these profound concepts down to the individual level, District Governor Ramesh Ferris beautifully closed the circle on the concept of peace. True positive peace doesn’t start on a global stage—it starts right at home, built on a foundation of kindness, understanding, and radical human connection.
It wasn't all work—the conference beautifully balanced inspiration with northern hospitality. From Friday's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" hosting nights to Saturday's unforgettable Rotary's Midnight Sun Social (hosted by the Whitehorse Rendezvous Club), the energy of Whitehorse was unmatched.
Thank you to DG Ramesh Ferris, the host clubs, the sponsors, and every attendee who made the journey to the Yukon. We return to our home clubs across District 5370 with our hearts full, our networks expanded, and our commitment to "Unite for Good" stronger than ever.
Teamwork truly does make the dream work!
Missed the earlier program?