As we continue our monthly theme of Rotary Awareness we need to start to think about our planning for the coming year linked to how this fits with what membership of Rotary International means. If all goes well next week the Rotary District 1100 eClub will be an Interim Rotary Club and all our members will have become Rotarians, so perhaps it is best for us all to prepare for that next step in our eClub’s journey in becoming a full member of Rotary International.
The Object of Rotary
To encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise, and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
3. The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to their personal, business and community life.
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business , community and professional men and women united in the ideal of service.
The video below is from our current President of Rotary International as he describes what Rotary means to him and he believes we should develop our Service in our activities.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SES8jrTX2uI&w=640&h=480]So as we reach within to start our activities in Rotary, we need to consider how we put the Objects of Rotary into action within our lives, communities and within all we do. How as Rotarians in the new District 1100 eClub we can encourage and support each other?
We believe that Rotarians can lead the way in ensuring modern day business and community development is undertaken ethically, gauging all our actions and service using The Four Way Test.
The Four Way Test
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
In our modern day society we believe customer and community care is so much needed if people are going to support our businesses or projects. People want to feel valued, they want to trust and believe in what they are told, they need to feel that they are being listened too and their opinion is respected. The Rotary Four Way Test will encourage a reverting back to high ethical standards in how people are dealt with and a new confidence within the general public of how business is conducted.
Rotary District 1100 eClub Strategic Plans for ensuring we develop our club over the next 18 months.
- Club Membership
- ensure activities are run to build relationships
- ensure all new Rotarians get an effective induction into Rotary and mentoring support
- an ambition to grow our membership to 100 people
- to encourage Rotarians’ family and friends to be involved in our activities
- ensure where required members feel cared for and supported in difficult times
- ensure that good communications are maintained
- to ensure all Club Officers understand their Roles & Responsibilities
- maintain a Club Programme each week
- to build good relationships with the media throughout the District 1100
- to help all members to promote Rotary by using Social Networks and help raise public awareness of projects
- work closely with Club Membership group to help recruit new members
- listen and help develop ideas from all members of the eClub
- liaise with Clubs throughout the District 1100 to encourage cooperation and partnership working in Service Projects across the District
- help organise Service Projects that the eClub has chosen to undertake
- develop better understanding of what, how and where the Foundation works in Rotary International
- continue to raise funds for the eradication of Polio
- be practical partners in the Rotary Foundation programmes
The obligations of Rotary and the 4 Way Test can role glibly off the tongue if we’re not careful. We need to consider how they actually impact our lives. From a very simple point of view, I find that there is a lot of running people down in the workplace, talking behind their backs and criticising their standard of work. This isn’t fair to them, firstly it may not be true and secondly, if it is how will they learn if it’s said behind their backs? I make a conscious effort not to be caught up in gossip about others and share openly ways and methods of working (as that is how I’ve learnt from others and developed). What difference will being a Rotarian make to your lives?
Hi Janice
I totally agree with you. I believe in honesty and transparency.
I also think that in the workplace, people need to be told when they are doing a good job. More often than not people tend to focus on the negative and what’s not going well. If people focus on the positives more then it creates a positive working environment. On the wall in my classroom I have the words ‘Today will be a good day’ . I get my team to read it every morning. Not every day us a good day, however, we do see the lighter side and we do laugh as this then finishes the day on a good note and people don’t dwell on the negatives.
Every cloud has a silver lining as they say and its up to us to find it 🙂