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VOCATIONAL SERVICE - Rotary's First Concept

Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.

The constitution of the Chicago Rotary Club, written in January of 1906, stated two objects of Rotary. The first was "The promotion of the business interests of its members." The second object was the concept of friendship. This idea of business as an object of Rotary was retained in 1912, when the International Association of Rotary Clubs adopted a statement with 5 Objects of Rotary.

Although the business concept had evolved to a broader statement, it was still listed as number one - "To promote the recognition of the worthiness of all legitimate occupations, and to dignify each member's occupation as affording him an opportunity to serve society; to encourage high standards in business and professions; and to increase the efficiency of each member by the exchange of ideas and business methods."

From the very beginning, Rotary membership was based on classifications, and classifications were based solely on one's business, profession of vocation.

The second direction which the early Rotarians took was to promote higher ethical standards in business and professional practices. It was said that in the early meetings of Rotary, the members frequently discussed techniques to improve the business practices and offered wise and friendly counsel to each other. If a Rotarians' advertising seemed misleading, if members heard negative comments about the quality of another member's products, or if there were steps a member could take to greet his customers in an improved manner -- those, and many other business topics might be fair discussion at a weekly club meeting.

Soon, the members and their friends began to feel that when you do business with a Rotarian, you were always going to be treated properly, that their word could be counted upon, and that there was an ethical element in all transactions. Thus, the word "Rotarian" was considered a mark of distinction in the business world -- equivalent to the mark of "sterling" found stamped on a piece of high quality silverware.

The Chicago Rotary Club, and others which followed, created a "Committee on Business Methods" which concentrated attention on the business and ethical practices and public confidence of each enterprise in their community. Rotary Clubs were regarded as leaders in fighting corruption and unfair business practices. It was as early as 1910, that Rotarian Arthur Sheldon, spoke at Rotary's first Convention in Chicago, saying: "As man comes into the light of wisdom, he comes to see that right conduct toward others pays; that business is the science of human service, and that he profits most who serves his fellows best. Thus, one of Rotary's first mottoes came into being -- a basic principle of business ethics.

• THURSDAYS
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Club #1322

Chartered 1924

Mailing address:

PO Box 2465, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2465