MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT GORDON
Posted by Susan Hazlett
This is the time of the year when the need and hurt that exists on this planet are most obvious. We in Canada can only be very thankful we live in this wonderful country. It is also perhaps a time when we as Rotarians should reaffirm in our minds why we are Rotarians.
Presumably we joined because we recognised the needs of those less fortunate and we wanted to be part of the solution, trying to make the lives of those in distress somewhat easier.
Rotary is an organization with a long history of Service to others. Many Rotarians have actually died, particularly in the Second World War, because of their adherence to Rotary principles. We follow in a great tradition.
When we join Rotary we commit to "Service above Self" and a set of ethical guidelines that we have come to know as the "Four Way Test". Just to refresh our memories the tests is
"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
These ethical guidelines were developed in 1932, when Herbert J Taylor set about the task of rescuing a bankrupt and corrupt Aluminum Company in Chicago. By applying the ethical principles in the workplace and to all his managers he turned the Company around and it became a success story. In 1943 the "Four Way Test" was officially adopted by Rotary International as its standard for ethical behaviour. Since that time the Test has been printed on umbrellas in Japan, on roadside monuments in India, and used as the theme for parks around the world. Buzz Aldrin placed a pin on the Moon with the Test engraved.
Service to others, and Service above self remains the cornerstone of Rotary and we as Rotarians commit ourselves to that philosophy.
The strength of Rotary lies in its Clubs, but the power of those clubs depends on the membership. The membership brings together the skills, knowledge and professionalism of a wide variety of individuals, and without this diversity working together as a team, little would be accomplished. In a word Rotary would be ineffective. We must remember, and accept the fact that there is no I in team. Sometimes this is a difficult concept but this is how we achieve goals is by working together and putting our differences down for the common good.
Recently there have been times when individuals from our Club have made a decision or taken a course of action that would affect the future of the Richmond Hill Club without any reference to the Board or less importantly the President. When you make a commitment that involves the whole membership, that membership should be asked, either through the Board or in some cases the whole membership, before being announced to the world. This practice of going ahead as an individual must stop. That is why we have a Board. We must go forward together or we cease to go forward at all.
Thank you for your attention.
Rotary is an organization with a long history of Service to others. Many Rotarians have actually died, particularly in the Second World War, because of their adherence to Rotary principles. We follow in a great tradition.
When we join Rotary we commit to "Service above Self" and a set of ethical guidelines that we have come to know as the "Four Way Test". Just to refresh our memories the tests is
"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
These ethical guidelines were developed in 1932, when Herbert J Taylor set about the task of rescuing a bankrupt and corrupt Aluminum Company in Chicago. By applying the ethical principles in the workplace and to all his managers he turned the Company around and it became a success story. In 1943 the "Four Way Test" was officially adopted by Rotary International as its standard for ethical behaviour. Since that time the Test has been printed on umbrellas in Japan, on roadside monuments in India, and used as the theme for parks around the world. Buzz Aldrin placed a pin on the Moon with the Test engraved.
Service to others, and Service above self remains the cornerstone of Rotary and we as Rotarians commit ourselves to that philosophy.
The strength of Rotary lies in its Clubs, but the power of those clubs depends on the membership. The membership brings together the skills, knowledge and professionalism of a wide variety of individuals, and without this diversity working together as a team, little would be accomplished. In a word Rotary would be ineffective. We must remember, and accept the fact that there is no I in team. Sometimes this is a difficult concept but this is how we achieve goals is by working together and putting our differences down for the common good.
Recently there have been times when individuals from our Club have made a decision or taken a course of action that would affect the future of the Richmond Hill Club without any reference to the Board or less importantly the President. When you make a commitment that involves the whole membership, that membership should be asked, either through the Board or in some cases the whole membership, before being announced to the world. This practice of going ahead as an individual must stop. That is why we have a Board. We must go forward together or we cease to go forward at all.
Thank you for your attention.
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