Dear Fellow Rotarians,
Leslie Pidgeon, the RI President stated in 1917 that “The primary object of Rotary is to relate the individual properly in his daily work. That is the first duty Rotary has to perform. The Rotary Club must educate the members to embody the idea of service in their own daily work.” So from the very beginning Rotary membership is based on classification which is determined by ones profession, vocation or business.
Past RI Presiden (1945-46) Rtn. T.A. Warren said, “The only unique feature of Rotary is vocational service, everything else we do is repeated by some other organization. If we are unique, we have a special message or mission in the world that is unique to ourselves; it lies only in the realm of vocational service”.
Vocational Service, the Second Avenue of Service of Rotary is articulated in the Object of Rotary as under:
“High ethical standards in business and profession, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society.”
This, of course, is the corollary of Classification system followed in Rotary while proposing a new member e.g., a person must have a worthy profession or vocation which he or she is supposed to represent in the club.
“For almost a century, Rotarians have advocated fair business practices and high ethical standards. Founder Paul Harris established a classification system to achieve a diverse, balanced membership and discourage members from pursuing unethical or unfair business interests. This unique emphasis on professionalism distinguishes Rotary from all other service organizations.” said Past President of Rotary International Bhichai Rattakul.
“In whatever way Rotarians carry out their business, what is uppermost in their minds is not so much the business transaction itself, but making sure the needs and circumstances of all involved are fairly considered. I urge all Rotarians to contribute to society through their business and profession.” said the Immediate Past R.I. President Jonathan Majiyagbe.
Vocational service focuses on:
Adherence to, and promotion of, the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors and the public.
The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just your own or those that are pursued by Rotarians.
The contribution of your vocational talents to the problems and needs of society.
The values expressed in The 4-Way Test and the Declaration for Rotarians in Business and Professions, which promote high ethical standards in the workplace, a central theme of Rotary throughout its history.
Even the Invocations which we lead in our club meetings practically revolves round only one theme-our vocation. And it is quite natural, since we have been invited to join Rotary and, a classification lent, because of our vocation/profession and we are expected to dignify that vocation by rendering service through that vocation.
Rotary International has also adopted a Declaration of Rotarians in Business, and Professions to make Rotary's policy even clearer.
Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions
As Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected to:
- Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to service;
- Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation;
- Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards on my chosen vocation;
- Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public, and all those with whom I have a business or professional relationship;
- Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society;
- Offer my vocational talents to provide opportunities for young people to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community;
- Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning my business or profession;
- Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship.
In 1943 Rotary adopted a 24 word statement -originally written by Rtn Herbert J. Taylor of Chicago (he became RI President in 1954-55) known as "4-way test"
THE FOUR-WAY TEST
In 1943 Rotary adopted a 24 word statement – originally written by Rtn Herbert J. Taylor of Chicago (he became RI President in 1954-55) known as “4-way test”.
Of the things we think, say and do:
Is it Truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendship?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
This 4-way test is a simple and practical guide to all human relationships-a self examination of one's dealing with others.
For the skeptics Past R.I. President Bhichai Rattakul said, "Many Rotarians have questioned the relevancy of 4¬Way Test in today's challenging business and climate. Yet these simple questions have withstood the test of time in serving as a moral compass for Rotarians throughout the decades." And I believe in this too.
I am writing this article because now a days in almost all the clubs-activities of Vocational Service Avenue is limited to programs like recognizing some people by Vocational Awards in October-putting Four-Way Test hoarding/ placards in some location or at best providing vocational training to the needy or arranging seminar/workshop on Employer-Employers relations etc. These are perfectly all right and are as per Rotary International's policy. These are very useful in creating awareness about the importance of maintaining high ethical standards in business and professions among the public. But it is also our responsibility to restore the ethics in business and profession in our society.
Over years Vocational Service emerged into a variety of activities. I will particularly urge upon the clubs to take up projects to assist young people in exploring and selecting their future career, sponsor vocational training and experience, vocational assistance to young men and women for self-employment, set up a career information desk in universities and initiate special program for training disabled persons so that they can take up useful occupation. For the first 80-plus years of Rotary's history, the second Avenue of Service - vocational service - was an area that focused on personal contributions that Rotarians could make within their own workplaces. Increasingly, however. clubs began to expand the definition of vocational service by organizing events such as career seminars and vocational training workshops.
So, in 1987, the RI Vocational Service Committee was called together - for the first time in 40 years - to redefine the second Avenue of Service. The committee created, and the RI Board adopted, new committee structures and determined that vocational service was now the responsibility of individual Rotarians and clubs within the workplace and the community.
In 1989, the Council on Legislation adopted the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions. This declaration spelled out the high ethical standards referred to in the Object of Rotary, and it gave Rotarians another tool for gauging their own professional ethics as well as the ethical standards they hoped to encourage through vocational service projects.
Vocational service evolved further in the 1990s with two new opportunities for Rotarians to share their professional skills. In 1992, the Rotary Volunteers program was brought under the umbrella of vocational service. And in 1993, the International Vocational Contact Groups program was merged with World Fellowship Activities to form a new program called Rotary Fellowships which is now under a new umbrella organization called Global Networking Group which consists of this Fellowship as also Rotarian Action Groups.
I would end the article with an episode quoted in an old Rotary publication.
"The Spanish philosopher, Unamuno, tells of the aqueduct in Segovia. Built by the Romans 1,800 years ago, it carried cool waters from the mountains to the thirsty city. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from it. Then came another generation which said This aqueduct is so great a marvel, it should be preserved for our children's children. We will relieve it of its centuries-old labors.
To give it well-earned rest, they introduced a modern water supply. Then it began to fall apart. Built as it had been from rough-hewn granite blocks without lime or cement, the sediment of centuries had formed a natural mortar. Now the dry sun made it crumble. What centuries could not destroy, idleness disintegrated.
And so it is with vocational service in Rotary. Respected, but unused and set apart from the active business life of
Rotarians, it becomes misty and impractical. It tends to fall apart. Tried and tested in daily combat with the tough problems of business or professional practice, vocational service grows with fresh vitality and meaning. Like the ripples from a stone flung into a pool, the influence of Rotary can stir the stagnant waters of commerce. The lines run out in countless directions when the individual Rotarian uses vocational service in his business or profession. Today it can begin. It's your move now"
Rafiq Ahmed Siddique
