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10 RI PRESIDENT JOHN KENNY
________________________________________________________

ON VOCATIONAL SERVICE


My fellow Rotarians:

There are many service organizations in the world today, but none
so old or so successful as Rotary. There are many reasons for that,
and Vocational Service is one of them. This year, I wish you to
place a special emphasis on Vocational Service, which is sometimes
the forgotten Avenue of Service in Rotary.

High ethical standards in business and personal life are still as
important today as they were in 1905. Indeed, many of the
problems our world is facing today have been caused by the failure
to observe such standards in business affairs.

Vocational Service, in Rotary, means that we are committed to
honest business and unassailable ethics, and that we are equally
committed to using our vocational skills and advantages to help
others. The idea is simple enough – but it is unique to Rotary.

Many service organizations are open to anyone who wishes to join.
That has never been the case in Rotary. Rotarians only seek out
as members those who are qualified – those who have the
character, the ability, and the resolve to make a real contribution
to their club.

I have long believed that the bedrock of Rotary is our commitment
to ethical behavior. It has been putting what’s right above what’s
convenient – and Service Above Self – that has made Rotary
different from the rest. That is why we must always remember that
whatever we do, we are each the public face of Rotary. We are
each the standard-bearers of our organization. What one member
does, for good or for ill, reflects on all of us.

So much of what we’ve achieved as an organization has come
about because of the trust the world has in Rotary and in Rotarians.
That trust has been a major part of our success in polio
eradication – the fact that we are known in every community,
and known to be people of goodwill and good hearts.

If we wish to see our organization grow and prosper, we must
keep Vocational Service front and center in our minds and
actions. We must seek out skilled and determined men and
women of character. We must do what is right, even when it
is inconvenient. And we must always, always, put
Service Above Self.

John Kenny
President, Rotary International
Monthly Message Oct 2009
 
 

Author: Dr Dipak Sarbadhikari
Contact: 
click to send mail
URL
www.rotacal.org/rotary/vocational.htm 
Updated:
18 Oct 2009

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