My vision for our year, which I summarise as “United in Service,” extends beyond simple tolerance.

It encompasses a proactive commitment to peace and conflict resolution, recognising the urgent need for dialogue and understanding in a world often fractured by discord.

It also celebrates and preserves our rich cultural heritage, understanding that respect for diverse traditions is fundamental to genuine peace.

This vision is our compass, guiding us to actively seek common ground, foster genuine human connection, and build sustainable peace through tangible actions.

In these challenging times, especially witnessing the ongoing complexities and human suffering in our beloved Middle East, the imperative to unite, to truly Unite for Good, has never been more urgent.

Tolerance, coupled with genuine empathy, is the bedrock upon which our Rotarian society is built. It is the crucial first step in fostering peace, one of our most vital Areas of Focus. As your District Governor this year, I promise to make unity in service, peacebuilding, and honouring our cultural heritage the beating heart of everything we do.

Through open dialogue, collaborative projects that address real needs, and a deep respect for our diverse perspectives and traditions, we can demonstrate Rotary’s unique ability to connect people and communities. We can offer tangible hope and practical solutions, bringing relief, fostering understanding, and promoting pathways to lasting peace in regions that desperately need it, creating a lasting positive impact.

Together, we will achieve something truly impactful. We will discover profound strength in our unity and diversity, in our unwavering commitment to service, and in our shared pursuit of peace. This year, let us not just discuss peace, but actively build it, one act of kindness, one collaborative project, one moment of understanding at a time.

Let us prove, through our actions, the transformative power that comes when we Unite for Good.

I am looking forward to an impactful year filled with purpose and positive change, alongside each and every one of you!

With warmest Rotary regards,

Peter Ashdjian
District Governor 2025-2026

Francesco Arezzo
President 2025-26
Rotary Club of Ragusa
ITALY

Francesco Arezzo is an orthodontist in private practice and owns an agricultural enterprise that produces extra virgin olive oil in Sicily.

Arezzo is a graduate of the University of Padua and a member of the Italian, European, and American orthodontics associations, as well as the Italian and European lingual orthodontics associations. He is a dentistry graduate of the University of Cagliari, where he also received a master’s in lingual orthodontics.

He has served as vice president of the National Association of Italian Dentists for the province of Ragusa and was the founder and head for seven years of the Ragusa delegation to the National Trust for Italy.

Arezzo is also the owner of an agricultural enterprise and producer of extra virgin olive oil in the Monti Iblei region of Sicily. He has been vice president of the administrative council of the consortium controlling and regulating quality production of oil in that region. He owns two boutique hotel settlements there. He enjoys modern art and opera.

A Rotary member for 36 years, Arezzo has served as vice chair of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee and as RI director, chair of the 2023 Melbourne Convention Committee, learning facilitator, and district conference presidential representative, among other roles.

He is married to Anna Maria Arezzo-Criscione, an entrepreneur in the tourism field. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. His daughter Raffaela spent a year in Florida as part of a Rotary Youth Exchange. Francesco and Anna Maria are Benefactors and Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation.

Read article here: https://my.rotary.org/en/who-we-are/office-of-the-president/president

Find out more about our leaders: https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/our-leaders