Recently I became a member of Rotary International in Spruce Grove.  I am not usually a joiner, but this organization’s philosophy and good works appeal to me.  The information below comes from two of Rotary International’s publications, This is Rotary and The ABCs of Rotary.

What is Rotary? 

Rotary defines itself as “an organization of business and professional persons united world wide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.”

Rotary, I’ve come to learn, really is a service club in the truest meaning of that phrase.  In fact, Rotary’s principal motto is “Service Above Self”.  Rotary’s main objective is “to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise”.  This concept of service is applied at every level:  Club, Vocation, Community, International.

Rotary also originated one of the most widely quoted statements of business ethics in the world, the Four-Way Test, one which closely aligns with my personal business philosophy:  “Of all the things we think, say or do:  1. Is it the TRUTH?  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?  3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

Rotary’s many worldwide projects are legendary and include the following:

• PolioPlus is Rotary’s massive effort to eradicate polio.  To date, Rotarians have contributed nearly $650 million and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to this project that has resulted in an astounding decrease in polio cases world-wide of 99% since 1988.
• Rotary Youth Exchange:  “one of the most popular programs to promote international understanding and develop lifelong friendships”.  At present more than 9,000 high-school-age young people from around the world participate annually in “opportunities to learn about the customs, languages, traditions, and family life in another country”.
• Youth Service Projects:  Rotary’s slogan “Every Rotarian an Example to Youth” takes many different forms, depending on community needs.  “Rotarians sponsor Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, athletic teams, centers for disabled children, school safety patrols, summer camps, recreation areas, safe driving clinics, county fairs, child care centers and children’s hospitals.”  In addition, vocational counseling and youth employment programs, drug or alcohol abuse prevention and HIV/AIDS awareness are supported.
• World Community Service:  “the Rotary program by which a club or district in one country provides humanitarian assistance to a project of a club in another country”.  This usually entails giving aid to a developing community to raise the standard of living and quality of life.  But it also involves stepping in wherever crises occur in the world; New Zealand Rotarians are already hard at work in the earthquake zone in Christchurch.
• Literacy Projects around the world where needed.
• Rotary Friendship Exchange encourages Rotarians and their families, usually along with several other families traveling as a group, to visit Rotarian families in other parts of the world in a reciprocal exchange that results in an unusual vacation and interesting experiences.
• Group Study Exchange pairs Rotary districts to send and receive study teams whose goal is to learn about the host district while interpreting their home district, nation and culture to their hosts.
• Many opportunities for people of all ages to perform service as international volunteers of every type, receive leadership training, learn about responsible citizenship and the fostering of world fellowship and international understanding.
• Rotary sponsors numerous awards and scholarships such as Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Ambassadorial Scholarships, Rotary World Peace Fellowships, and more.
• Rotary also gives out numerous grants of which some of the most important are the Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants.  Since 1978 $74 million USD have been spent on 290 projects in 75 countries for the purpose of improving health, alleviating hunger, and enhancing human, cultural and social development around the world.  The first 3-H project was the immunization of 6 million children in the Philippines against polio – the beginning of PolioPlus.

For more information about Rotary International please visit the website http://www.rotary.org/

I always welcome your questions and comments!  Email me at barry@barryt.ca, phone me at 780-910-9669, or contact me here.

Tags: community service