ESSENTIALS OF ROTARY KNOWLEDGE

Paul drifted to Florida, and got a job as a night clerk in a Jacksonville hotel.  Next job was a traveling salesman for George W. Clark, a marble and granite dealer who interestingly become the charter president of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville.

Paul went to Washington D.C. for the inauguration of President Grover Cleveland.  He then sold marble in the “Old South” to Philadelphia where he signed on as a cattleman on a boat to Liverpool.  When he returned to Philadelphia he took a train to Chicago’s World Fair, then to New Orleans picking fruit and dredging for oysters in the bayous.

Continuing his education of many jobs, meeting and working with many people he covered the southern states, Cuba and the Bahamas for Clark’s marble business.  Paul did so well, George Clark sent him to Britain, and continental Europe, and as usual he made many friends.

On February 27, 1896, Paul arrived in Chicago where he rented and equipped an office for his start as a lawyer.  Chicago was growing at a fast pace which created a fair amount of social and financial volatility providing a good business for lawyers.

He delighted in getting to the outer areas of Chicago to experience the simple friendships of home which he lacked in the big city.  One summer evening in 1900, he dined with a friend in the Chicago Rogers Park neighborhood, afterward they strolled around where Paul met many business persons.  Paul begun to think of a great idea where a group of businessmen could meet in a social setting.

He had many business persons as clients by this time, and in particular was four special clients who he discussed his idea to find that they were very much in agreement.  Thus, on February 23, 1905, Paul and his friends Silvester Schiele, a coal dealer, Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer, and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor met in Gus’s office in the Unity Building, downtown Chicago.  Paul had also talked to Harry Ruggles, a printer with a music background, but could not attend the first meeting. 

Gus Loehr’s office was number 711 in the Unity Building which many years later was reproduced at RI headquarters in Evanston, a suburb of Chicago.

Harry Ruggles, joined his friends for their second meeting, introduced singing to Rotary which to this day is important to many clubs world over.

The first president of the Rotary Club of Chicago was Silvestor Schiele.  Paul Harris was the  third president for the years 1907-1908.

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As these business people met at their different offices, more acquaintances were added to their club, and being they were meeting at member offices the name for their club was to be “Rotary”.

Paul soon realized the growing number of clubs in other cities was a rich seedbed for encouragement of religious and political tolerance, and of service.  Paul and others understood the benefits of meeting with business owners who shared the same desires, challenges and needs, yet more was needed.  It was during Paul’s presidency his club decided on a community project by installing comfort stations in Chicago.

All of Paul’s energy was not spent on Rotary as he managed his law practice, and belonged to many civic organizations including becoming a charter member of a hiking group, the Prairie Club.  It was here he met a young woman named Jean Thomson on a Saturday afternoon when he found himself walking with a strikingly attractive lady and her sister.  When Paul tore his fine Harris Tweed jacket climbing through a barbed wire fence, Jean offered to mend it.  On July 2, 1910, she become Paul’s bride.  They purchased a home at the top of the hill where they had met.  Jean named their home Comely Bank, after her home street in Edinburgh, Scotland.  In their 37 years of marriage they never had children, nevertheless they played a major role in the development of their “adopted family” as they witnessed Rotary’s growth.

In 1910, representatives of 14 of the 16 Rotary clubs attended the first convention in Chicago.  Paul Harris was elected President serving 1910-12, as an adjustment was made in the Rotary year.  Rotary “principles” were adopted in the form of five objectives.  In 1915 a sixth object was added, and at the 1935 Mexico Convention, action was taken to adopt 4 objects.  A single object as we know today was adopted at the 1951 convention.  These four parts developed in the “four avenues of service”.

The early clubs are number 2 San Francisco in 1908, Oakland in 1909 followed by Seattle, Los Angeles, then east to New York, Boston, and to central America, number 8 St. Louis.  The main Portland club was number 14, May 25, 1910.

In 1910 Winnipeg, Canada joined Rotary making Rotary an international club.  Winnipeg was the 17^th club, but their official charter was number 35.

1911 was an even greater year with London and Dublin becoming the first overseas clubs.  The 1911 Convention was held in Portland where two mottos which we know today as “Service Above Self”, and “Those Profit Most Who Serve Best” were formulated.

Tokyo, Japan, one of the largest clubs in our Rotary world was formed in 1920.  The last information I have is every member is a Paul Harris Fellow.

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After the Chicago club held a few meetings, the members talked about an emblem that would symbolize the meaning of Rotary.  One member submitted a design of a locomotive drive wheel with a counterweight and the word “Rotary Club” on the connecting rod.  Another presented a buggy wheel which was adopted having dust before and after the wheel making it appear to be rolling on the clouds.  Many other designs were presented with most using a wheel in different

ways.  During the 1912 Convention the gear wheel was adopted as the basic design.

Minor changes were made until 1922, when authority was given to “create, adopt and preserve” an emblem.  Accordingly, the present gear wheel with 24 cogs, 6 spokes, and a keyway was adopted in 1923 as a result of a group of engineers contributing the keyway idea to give the wheel a rolling/turning capability.

No official meaning attaches to the design.  It simply is a device worn to proclaim the wearer’s identity with Rotary.  However, in a deeper sense, the wheel carries significance in that gear wheels are a driving force, transmitting power of work.  The choice of such a wheel by early Rotarians was significant in that is symbolized the aspirations they held for their budding organization.

While more clubs were being formed  refinements of ideas to make Rotary a place where business men could develop life long friendships, possibly benefit in business by their membership, and develop significant programs to further expand service to local, national and soon international communities.  One such program was the beginning of the Rotary Foundation from a proposal by Arch Klumph, president in 1917,  then known as the International Association of Rotary Clubs.

President Klumph said there was a need for an endowment in order for Rotary to “measure up to  its full opportunities for service during the years to come”.  Even though the idea took root, the Foundation was not formally adopted until the 1938 Convention where a plan was approved to raise two million dollars for its programs.  World War II interrupted the fund-raising, but further emphasized the need. 

Kansas City, Missouri was the first club to donate funds with a sum $26.50 in 1918 to the Rotary Foundation. 

1947 was the year a real boost occurred to the Foundation via donations of more than one million dollars when on January 27, Paul Harris suddenly passed on.  Those donations were made in his honor.  From this resurgence, contributions have made possible programs to benefit millions of people the world over to provide fresh water, better sanitation, scholarships for school age, and young business persons, book programs and dozens more including dental and medical programs involving the eradication of polio world wide, a program started in 1985.

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During the years immediately following her husband’s death, Jean Thomson Harris worked tirelessly for a Chicago charity serving drug addicts and the underprivileged.  In 1955, she returned to Scotland to be near the surviving members of her family.  In time she settled into an apartment in Edinburgh.  Rotarians there welcomed her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and kept in touch with her for the rest of her life.  She passed away on November 9, 1963, at 82 years of age.

James Walsh in his book, “The First Rotarian”, wrote that “Jean shares with her husband the glory that is Rotary for she did far more for the movement than is generally realized.

Chesley R. Perry, the first general secretary of RI stated, “All through the years she was his constant, faithful companion, and we pay grateful tribute to her for her gracious and immeasurable contribution to the Rotary career of our distinguished leader”.

Two policies, in my opinion, which have made an unquestionable, major difference in the excitement to further Rotary’s work around the world are the “Object of Rotary”, and “The Four Way Test”,  with the former developed with the “Four Avenues of Service”.  When one studies each and every word to its full meaning, and adopts what they mean, that Rotarian’s life will be far richer with a wonderful peace of mind in knowing they served others in an unselfish manner of “Service Above Self”.

The first is the Object of Rotary which I wrote of in the early history of this document.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

 1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

 2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all             useful occupations, and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to        serve society;

 3. The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and              community life;

 4. The advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world                   fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service.

New acquaintances involve joining with other business and professional leaders to work side by side in local projects often developing life long friendships.

The second part of the “Object” says regardless of job, profession, or business that is honest and proper each is respected in which all Rotarians are on equal footing.  All members can work together to even higher levels of “service” as a result.  I worked one on one with almost 16,000 first time patients in my 43 years of practice, and often heard I am “just a”--- whatever job, and I would respond by saying your job is honest, and helping others benefit to have a more enjoyable life by the results of your work.

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The fourth part is possibly the greatest opportunity for Rotarians to make a huge impact on the future of our planet, and its people through direct fellowship and generosity of serving to provide a better understanding of each other’s values and cultures.  We all have the same basic needs, and hopes in a peaceful setting no matter where we live.

We will always owe Paul Harris and other early policy makers a huge thanks for providing the

opportunity to be leaders in our club, local community, regional, national and world wide service.

Unselfish service gives the greatest of feelings.  We never want to forget the FREEDOMS we enjoy due to our countries forefathers writing the greatest constitution ever, and of course the courage, and determination of our military to keep these freedoms.  We are a very fortunate people with all the gifts provided including the most important, our very being from our Creator.

The second policy is a test we can use at home, committee meetings, at work, and anywhere a challenge occurs.  That test is “The Four-Way Test”which started back in 1932, when times were difficult in the great depression years in our country.

Herbert J. Taylor quit a secure job to take over a struggling cooking utensil firm with finances in a desperate situation.  A personal loan to Herbert Taylor was the only help he had to keep his business open.  He knew his company produced an excellent quality product, and after major thinking sessions, he decided management tools were needed to aid all personnel to make decisions on their own.  The final wording is what we are familiar with, and hopefully use as it was intended; “Of the things we think, say or do”

  1. Is it the TRUTH?

  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 

  3. Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

  4. WILL it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

“Is it Fair to all Concerned” requires understanding and respecting different views, yet making a decision of give and take to satisfy all sides on an issue.  It is possible if we grew up in the same circumstances as the other person(s) we would better understand their ideas in fairness to all.

Will the decision be beneficial to all sides requires all three of the other questions to be palatable  which includes a true unselfish attitude by all.  I have found this great test to work well as a foundation in leading meetings as well as routine practice in whatever we do in life.  We do not always have to agree, yet need to work toward the big picture which “The Four-Way Test” is the vehicle for such success.

The “Four Avenues of Service” is entwined with both the “Object” and “The Four-Way Test”.

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Taylor’s company employees learned his test, and used it to improve production, and harmony among employees to develop a very successful company.  When Taylor become RI president in 1954-55, he presented the copyright to Rotary International on behalf of his company.  The test is used all over the world in many different languages.

Studying, understanding in depth, and using these principles provides great opportunities for each and every Rotarian to provide the ideal of service his/her community, in business and personal life.  How GREAT is this to keep our Rotary wheel moving in “Service” to others?

Club Service is where new, current, and members of many years, as well as shy members like I was, an opportunity to start at home plate to learn the basics to get your foot on first base.  Once comfortable at that level, the member can take on a more challenging activity, and in time hit the home run to take on greater challenges of Community service, Vocational Service, and perhaps the most far reaching is International Service for the grand slam.

Attendance at your weekly meetings, district assembly and conferences, and the big international conferences are not only enjoyable, but a great learning experience sometimes developing life long friendships.  Attendance rules require attending at least 30 percent of a meeting, and to attend at least 60 percent of the meetings in a 6 month period to be given credit.  When a member knows they will be missing a meeting(s), they can attend another club’s meeting to make up that loss within a month’s time. 

When I first started in Rotary we had only a week, then two weeks, and now a month which allows for many opportunities to make up.  Some clubs will give credit for missed meetings by attending a board meeting of their club officers.  Basically there is no excuse to miss a meeting including major health/accident problems where hospital stay is required.  I lost two years of my attendance due to a month in the hospital from an auto accident and a major surgery at a later date.  Those are the rules, and when you have several decades of perfect attendance even more appreciation is there for the effort.

When attending other clubs one can learn about their fund raisers, how to handle community concerns, student programs, and other opportunities.  Then bring that information home, and add the good points to your local club’s service to others. 

I have had many enjoyable experiences visiting other clubs including one member of a Minneapolis club showing my wife and me some of the highlights as he drove us to our next destination for that day.  I will never forget the gunshot immediately behind me once giving thanks and the flag salute was finished.  Being I was a long distance visitor the Wyoming club gave me the .45 casing which I have to this day.  I try to have a little humor by looking surprised, and commenting, “I have to go to the bathroom”.   Most visits have been a fun time with many  beneficial ideas to take home from the 75 clubs I have so far attended; some several times.

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When going on a vacation, plan to attend Rotary with your spouse as part of your trip.  If for some reason you present yourself at a club that changed their meeting time/place for that day, you are given credit for the effort.  Attending Rotary, or any meetings, it is like your business in that the more you are at work, usually the more you will realize from that time.

Most often I hear/read there is about a 10 percent turnover in membership which means if your club is 50 members you will need to bring in 5 new members to remain even.  The “By-Laws” will explain all the details on how to, yet I will give a few points, and my own experience.

When learning of a new business, or a new manager position person make a real effort to learn a little about the business and/or manager, then meet the person, and if you have a feeling they could make a good Rotarian, invite them to your meeting.  However, experience suggests do not ask them about membership as yet.  On occasion I have found the first time meeting will give a good idea if this person they would be a credit to Rotary which I will then ask if they were ever a Rotarian, or would be interested in attending our meeting next week.  Pick this person up, and explain some of the highlights on the way to the meeting.  I suggest not giving them the whole “load” at first.

You also need to be aware of the classification system, and if the prospective member would fit into the system.  When you find a person who you believe is interested, and would do Rotary proud, a classification can be found/made for that person. 

Future activity of RI, and its clubs is to complete the Polio program while monitoring for any new cases to immediately take the measures to eliminate, and to either expand on Foundation activity, or develop new programs to meet contemporary needs around the world.  On a local level we can continue to learn and provide service as well as bring in new members to share the opportunities and enjoyment of “Service”.

In the meantime we have celebrated the 100^th anniversary of Rotary, a movement of one man’s dream that has multiplied beyond any original imagination or design in developing fellowship, providing opportunities for most any business person to find what they can contribute to the ideal of service in their community, personal life and in business.  As a member of 47 years, I thank all members, especially new members as the path Rotary provides can lead to greater enjoyment of life with its many speed bumps and detours.  Lets plan to meet for the next 100 anniversary.  Well, at least try.        

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