Rotary Membership: Orientation & Retention
Our Founder, Paul Harris
In 1905 37-year old attorney Paul Harris changed the world
“This is a changing world; we must be prepared to change with it.”1
From the years 1891-1896, Paul Harris was raised by his New England Grandparents with values of tolerance toward all. He gained his law degree in 1891 and had a wide variety of jobs before settling down in Chicago to practice law.
1896-1905 In 1896, he did go to Chicago to practice law. One evening, in 1900, Paul went with a professional friend to his suburban home. After dinner, as they strolled through the neighborhood, Paul’s friend introduced him to tradesmen in their stores. This reminded Paul of his Grandparents home in New England. "Why not have a fellowship composed of businessmen from different occupations, without restrictions of politics or religion?" he thought.
1905-1908 On February 23, 1905, Paul Harris had dinner with his closest friend, Chicago coal dealer Sylvester Schiele. Afterwards they walked over the river to Room 711 of the Unity Building where they met their host, Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and another friend, Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor. Harris proposed that they form a club. No name was chosen for the group. The second meeting was March 9th.
Paul was very interested in starting Rotary in other cities. The second Rotary club was founded by Homer Wood in San Francisco in 1908hem. Rotary Harry Ruggles was a printer, and created the "name badge" version of the Rotary "wheel" and also started singing in Rotary.
Paul Harris had a vision of "Around the World Rotary" which was opposed by many of his fellow Rotarians. It was not until he won the loyalty of the man who was to be Rotary secretary from 1910-1942 that Rotary became organized and international. That man was Chesley Perry, whom Paul called the "Builder of Rotary.”
1910-1911 By August 1910 there were sixteen clubs and the National Association of Rotary Clubs was organized and held its first convention that year, in Chicago. At the 1911 Portland Convention, "Service, Not Self" was introduced by Frank Collins of Minneapolis. It later became "Service Above Self." The slogan "He profits most who serves best," was also read there.
In 1917, Arch C. Klumph, Rotary’s sixth president, proposed to the R.I. Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the creation of an "endowment fund for Rotary . . .for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational, and other avenues of service. A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri.
1912-23 When clubs were formed in Canada and Great Britain in 1912, the name was changed to the International Association of Rotary Clubs. Paul Harris served two terms, was named President Emeritus, and served until his death January 27, 1947.
1989-2005 Rotary came close to removing polio from the face of the earth and, in 2005, returned again to Chicago to celebrate the first 100 years.
Rotary: Orientation and Retention
Introduction: Orientation and Retention sound like two separate issues, but they are linked together in keeping Rotary a viable and active Worldwide Organization. How can Rotary hope to grow as envisioned by RI President Gary (Wang) if we don’t Orient New Rotarians on how Rotary works and retain those and current members ?
As Past RI President Frank Devlyn, 2000-2001, said “have you considered that if persons coming into Rotary stayed in Rotary, we would solve all of our membership problems and be ever-growing.”
Learning The Object of Rotary will provide the roadmap for a successful Rotary career, and is the “key” to successfully orienting new members. As each club independently operates its ‘own way, within the framework of Rotary, this overview is designed to broadly outline the Object of Rotary and to support the learning process within each club.
The birthday of Rotary, February 23rd, is celebrated throughout the length and breadth of the movement.
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:
- The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
- High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarians occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
- The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarians personal, business and community life.
- The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Let’s look at each of these Objectives
1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
Paul Harris, the Founder of Rotary, and his 3 friends didn’t get together to talk only business. They met as friends to establish a relationship for to discuss service opportunities to the community in Chicago.
The first service project was in Chicago. It consisted of initiating and promulgating the establishment of public comfort stations in Chicago. The greater significance however, was the fact that it was the precursor of thousands of similar services rendered by Rotarians throughout the world.
2. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarians occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
When a person inducted into Rotary, they are assigned a Classification based on their work being performed. Ethical standards for every job are critical. There is a Standard that Rotarians live by each day…. not only in our business lives but also in our private lives. This “Standard” is known as The Four Way Test and it is repeated during every club meeting.
The Four Way Test
- Is it the Truth…………………………………………..
- Is it FAIR to all concerned…………………………….
- Will it build Goodwill and better Friendships………...
- Will it be Beneficial to all concerned…………………..
This standard sets the bar high for Rotarians and it validates the worthiness of each and every job of Rotarians. With high ethical standards, the services Rotarians perform in our communities are recognized quickly.
3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarians personal, business and community life.
“If Rotary says we’ll do it, it will get done.”
Sharing fellowship while doing community service projects builds the bond of friendship. The ideal of service to the community in our personal, business and Community life is the heart of Rotary.
“Giving back” is what makes Rotary one of the most significant organizations in the world. Rotary Clubs do an enormous amount of good locally and around the world. Rotary projects have been prioritized within six areas that receive additional focus.
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professionals united in the ideal of service.
Worldwide service through fellowship in all clubs is the key to advancing international understanding, goodwill and peace. Rotary demonstrates Fellowship not only at club meetings but through Fellowship Groups worldwide.
The Council on Legislation is an important part of Rotary’s governance process. The Council comprises more than 500 representatives from every part of the Rotary world. Voting members include one elected representative of the clubs of each Rotary district. While the Board of Directors sets policies for Rotary International, the Council is where Rotary clubs have their say in the governance of the association.
Every three years, each district sends a representative to the Council, which reviews proposed legislation. The introduction of women into Rotary and the flagship program of Rotary, Polio Plus occurred with approval from the Council on Legislation.
A Rotarian doesn’t necessarily have to get into a Worldwide Group to join in the activity, do it at your club level. I had a Rotarian friend from the San Antonio Downtown Club who was a member of a group who bowled every Thursday morning. The number of fellowships is numerous. By becoming active in a Fellowship Group, one can develop friendships from all over the world. Fellowship is the key to enhance retention.
Rotary’s program of promoting better understanding between different racial groups and between devotees to different religious faiths, so simply and yet so auspiciously begun in the year 1905. It has been the way of Rotary that has met with greater success thus far than the negotiations of diplomats….focus thought upon matters in which members are in agreement, rather than upon matters in which they are in disagreement.
Members may make selection of their activities according to their special tastes and aptitudes. An all-round Rotarian is interested in Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service. Get to know the activities within your club and volunteer to help out. There are few Rotarians who do all of the recognized activities initially, but grow into greater responsibilities as their Rotary experiences develop.
Rotary funds local and international projects through its Foundation. Although a voluntary contribution, the Foundation suggests that every Rotarian donate $100 to the EREY program. It is also suggested that you share the concept of Rotary with friends, family, business and church leaders. Remember, each Rotary Club must approve every application for membership so the best approach is simply to invite your friend to a club meal/meeting to meet your club members and so they may have an opportunity to get to know your friend.
Note: With gratitude and acknowledgement, much of the material content of this article was provided in the Rotary Global History Fellowship (RGHF). Tony Touchan from the Rotary Club of Bouerne, Texas helped compile this article and the Rotary e-Club of Houston, Texas is grateful for his contributions. Go to www.rghf.org and also to www.rotary.org to expand your knowledge about Rotary.