FROM THE R.I.
SOUTH PACIFIC & PHILIPPINES
OFFICE
with Manager Harley TarrantExtracted from the Rotary Downunder Magazine June 2004
What will Rotary stand for in the 21st Century?
During its early decades Rotary developed a radical philosophy based on fair dealings in business, tolerance and understanding of other races, religions and cultures, and Service Above Self. These ideas made Rotary novel and unique and they were taken up by enthusiastic men who promoted them in their associations and in their communities and they influenced society and, eventually, government policy.
As I contended in my last column (click), Vocational Service no longer has the focus it once had in Rotary and many organisations now share many of the same or similar goals and principles as Rotary. Rotary is no longer novel or unique and it clings to many outdated practices and customs. More and more the focus of Rotary is shifting away from service to fundraising and in many cases the end is used to justify the means of fundraising (e.g. telemarketing).
Rotary is still doing wonderful things and its size and influence have enabled it to bring the eradication of polio to the brink of realisation. But the number of Rotarians in developed nations is shrinking and unless this trend is reversed we may not be able to undertake projects approaching that magnitude in future
Rotary needs to rekindle the fire of its early days. Rotarians need to feel that they belong to a special organisation; an organisation that is different from others; an organization with a special nature and purpose; an organisation that is capable of making the world a better place.
If Rotary is to survive for another 100 years it will need leaders who are capable of developing a compelling philosophy that will stir the hearts of young business and professional men and women and challenge them to become apostles of Rotary’s message. If Rotary is to survive for another 100 years it will need to stand for something that will inspire the generations that will lead the world in this century.
What will Rotary stand for in the 21st Century?
