The month of February is very special in the Rotary calendar because it includes the anniversary of the first meeting of Rotary held on February 23, 1905. This year we celebrated 118th Birthday with a Karaoke night out that saw RC Karen and many other clubs join in the celebration. Rotary celebrates our commitment to build peace and mitigate conflict under the theme Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month. As a humanitarian organization, peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe when people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global effect. Unfortunately for RCK, we haven’t enjoyed much peace in the recent past. Rotary creates environments where peace can happen. We cannot create, foster or encourage peace in our communities without starting with ourselves as a club. Allow me in the spirit of Peace, Conflict and Resolution month to take us to the very basics of why we are Rotarians, and what is expected of us, and I will encourage us to read about the Avenues of Service in Rotary. These principles have been developed over the years to provide Rotarians with a strong, common purpose and direction. They serve as a foundation for our relationships with each other, and the action we take in the world. Let’s apply these and we will enjoy the fruits of being Rotarians. It is meant to be fun, and all about giving back to our communities.
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise, and in particular, to encourage and foster: –
- FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service,
- SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society,
- THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life,
- FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business, and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
The Four-Way Test
The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan, and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal, and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings:
Of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?