register |  login
› NORTHGLENN
Loading Ad
Visit Other Hubs:
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Tower
RECENT STORIES

Rotary's Timeless Principles

Contributed by: DR. SEAN REIF D.C. on 7/1/2008

If you had to use just 1 word to describe Rotary International what word would you choose? For me there is no hesitation. My word is "HOPE." Because, I believe that Rotary International is all HOPE. Hope for a new world filled with new ideas. Hope for a world where disease is defeated; a world where we find mutual respect between people of all races and all faiths; a world where there is dignity and peace of mind. Hope for a world where conflicts are settled with words and humanitarian actions. Whatever path you choose it will be a journey of discovery, but when things become difficult HOPE will sustain you. "In the kingdom of Hope, there is no winter."

You are among those of us who thrill with pride at belonging to a great force for good. But, at the same time, this pride should not blind us. We need to think and to discuss before we decide how we best serve in our own community, because we are guardians of the Rotary ideal. And it is this ideal which motivates us to reach new heights of achievement.

Rotary is a people-to-people organization, a movement of ideals in action, and we are the leaders. We are the opinion formers. We are the ones who have to take the lead in re-affirming those timeless principles of dignity, decency, humanity, and restraint. As Rotarian leaders, we cannot ignore this responsibility.

As the NEW Denver North Metro Rotary Club, you will already have made many plans and dreamed many dreams in preparation for your year of achievement, and you will refine your plans along with the vision revealed by the Rotary International President. Share your dreams with every Rotarian in your club. Always remember you are serving with fellow volunteers, particularly the Assistant Governors, the other District Officers, and committee leaders. You must take them into your confidence. They need to have joint ownership of the ideas and values you are putting forward. Your dreams must become their dreams, your plans their plans, and then the timeless principles of humanity and the timeless principles of Rotary will become your joint possessions. Yes, because Rotary's timeless values are all about the effective management of our Clubs.

Rotary is conducting a massive membership drive. There is no doubt that due to the loyalty and commitment of the club members, this drive will succeed. Our membership numbers at the end of the current Rotary year will show a leap forward.

But let us examine of just WHY modern executives, both men and women, would be reluctant about joining Rotary. Sociologist experts look back to the Golden Years when we were all united in associations and clubs. There were societies, PTA, sports clubs, Lions clubs, Elks, American Legion, VFW, Knights of Columbus, Masons, and so on. The trend today seems to be going alone to the gym, watching television, not knowing our neighbors. It's to easy to stay indoors and watch TV rather than to attend a meeting in a church hall. And so today, we see large numbers of people thinking about individuality. These trends have affected Rotary. It is essential to discover how we can emphasize the worth of Rotary membership to all our Rotarians, and the worth of Rotary itself to all our communities. One thing I do know is that "No organization has the right to take people's time unless it also uplifts their lives."

We have to let people know that we Rotarians exemplify that UNITY in the world, seeks to bring about world understanding. Indeed, we meet here regardless of race, creed, and national boundaries. In some cases our Rotary Districts even encompass areas of mutual conflict.

Our task is to give our fellow Rotarians, our NEW Rotarians, a firm belief, even FAITH, in Rotary itself. All Rotarians must embrace a credo that proclaims their membership to Rotary is different from their membership of the golf club. And the way we do this is through returning to basic principles and emphasizing those timeless values that have kept our clubs strong in fellowship and service over the last 100 years.

In 1940, the Rotary International Convention held in Havana, CUBA, and there they published a resolution. That resolution is as relevant today as it ever was, and I am certain it contains some of the most telling words ever written about Rotary's basic philosophy.

"Rotary is founded on the IDEAL OF SERVICE. Where FREEDOM, truth, JUSTICE, sanctity of the pledged word, and the respect for human rights do not exist, then Rotary cannot live, nor its ideal prevail."

Over a greater part of Rotary's lifetime the 4 Avenues of Service have helped clubs to render significant support to their members with worthwhile management, whilst involving every person in meaningful activity.

Club Service is the Avenue which we show our members the UNITY OF STRENGTH through a UNITED FELLOWSHIP.

Let us not forget DIGNITY in our Rotary meeting, especially when we induct a new member. Let us make a NEW MEMBER feel very SPECIAL when they are inducted into Rotary.

Rotary International has looked at attendance rules and made it EASIER for Rotarians to make up their attendance . Be assured, attendance is MOST IMPORTANT. "The Club that meets together - serves together." Fellowship begins at the regular Club meeting. Don't you agree?

Rotary is demonstration. "Service Is My Business."
Vocational Service is Rotary's 2 nd Avenue of Service. We believe in high ethical standards in business and professions. High ethical standards is as RELEVANT today, as it ever was.

Say the 4- Way Test:
#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?

The tragic events of our world have brought us to the realization that the world is indeed our neighbor. We cannot escape the effects of any happening in any part of the world, no matter how small, no matter how remote. "No man is an island, entire of itself. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind."

And this is where YOUR leadership in INTERNATIONAL SERVICE and World Community Service programs can be linked together with The Rotary Foundation. The popularity of all our world programs is seen clearly in the massive requests for humanitarian grants, MATCHING GRANTS. (Dental Unit Philipines)

At home, we have the Community Assistance Program, which allows part of the Rotary Foundation funds to be used in the local community via District Simplified Grants. (Sensory water feature - E.B. Raines). I encourage your club to seek our community leaders to discover what the community really NEEDS, rather than what the club wishes to provide. "I believe the real future to Rotary service lies in the smaller communities of the world - places where neighbors meet and act in concern as established friends."

If you BELIEVE that we ROTARIANS are all member of the World's premier service organization, and that our basic tenets are those which will shape the FUTURE OF THE WORLD, then your club will rise to your vision. Your reward will be great. You will discover a Rotary which will increase in service as you become more WELCOMING and more meaningful to the YOUNG PEOPLE of TOMORROW. You will discover the magnitude of a Rotary Service which will become VIABLE and VISIBLE in you community, right here in the Denver Metro North Suburbs.

Another timeless, and basic, Rotary principle lies in the power of FRIENDSHIP. "They knew no single blessedness; they shared each others joys and sorrows." "Of life's charms what is comparable with friendship? One may possess the wealth of Croesus and yet, if friendless, how empty it all is." The foundation upon which Rotary has been built is friendship; on no less firm foundation could it have stood. Perhaps when future generations think of Rotary and of the power of friendship, they will give a passing thought to the friends they have in Rotary.

These, then, are the basics we look back to embrace. Today, even after nearly a century of service, we have only just begun. Today we stand at the edge of a destiny, which is limited only by our OWN VISION. We Rotarians have begun to create a climate where people are respected instead of being oppressed, where people have HOPE not despair. Wherever the need exists, Rotary will be there, bringing DIGNITY and the chance of a better life to people everywhere. I wish you JOY in your Rotary journey.


SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story



Current Rating
Based on 2 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the story

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: DR. SEAN REIF D.C.
posted on 7/2/2008 @ 10:23:59 AM
Rated Story
Rotary is one of our World’s greatest assets. When all men are responding to our country’s thrilling call, we cannot remain silent.
[Report as objectionable]
Showing 1 of 1 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

DR. SEAN REIF D.C.

THORNTON , CO

DR. SEAN REIF D.C. has posted 1068 stories and 1239 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. DR. SEAN REIF D.C. 's average story rating is 3.03.
SAVE AND SHARE THIS STORY
STORY RSS FEEDS
WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?
Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is register, then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyone what events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

Loading Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

This YourHub.com community is produced by The Denver Newspaper Agency
Web Development and Channel Analytics provided by Indigio

terms of use //  privacy policy
the staff //  advertise //  help & faq
buy photos