Monthly Breakfast Meeting - Jan 15Our Jan 15 International Breakfast Meeting featured the Hon. Ambassador Robert L. Shafer, Deputy Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations. Amb. Shafer was kind enough to speak in place of Amb. Beresford-Hill who became ill at the last minute.
Read a report and share pictures of the meeting inside.
RCNY International Breakfast at the UN
Report by Andreas Runggatscher
RCNY's January 15th International Breakfast Meeting featured speaker Robert L. Shafer, the Deputy Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations with 30 years of service at Pfizer. Paul Shafer became involved with the Knights of Malta in social justice projects and has served more than 11 years with the Sovereign Order’s Mission to the United Nations. He spoke on the history & humanitarian work of the Sovereign Order of Malta, highlighting the support the organization has provided to the poor and sick in 120 countries around the world.
Robert went into the history of the Sovereign Order of Malta and how it was founded in the middle of the 11th century when the Order established a Hospital in Jerusalem. The Pope approved the foundation of the Hospital in 1113, granting the organization the right to freely elect its superiors as a lay-religious order. The Sovereign Order moved to Malta in 1530 and then to Rome in 1798 after Napoleon’s conquest of the island.
Robert emphasized that the mission of the Sovereign Order is to open the eyes of those who are far removed from misery to perceive that misery; and to organize the help of good Samaritans. The Sovereign Order operates with minimal bureaucracy to support significant humanitarian efforts. In 1994, the Sovereign Order of Malta was granted a Permanent Observer Status at the United Nations. For the first time in the United Nations, the Sovereign Order of Malta was invited to speak on the issue of citizens in armed conflict.
He ended his presentation by speaking to the collaboration between Rotary and the Sovereign Order of Malta in Italy and commending Rotarians for their service around the world.
Photos from the Meeting
Ambassador Robert Shafer receiving Honorary Membership
Ambassador Robert Shafer with President Larry Cohen and Breakfast Chair Jasmin Cowin
Ambassador Robert Shafer receiving Honorary Membership
Ambassador Robert Shafer with President Larry Cohen and Breakfast Chair Jasmin Cowin