JANUARY IS ROTARY VOCATIONAL SERVICE MONTH
Let me welcome you all to the year 2019 and wish you a refreshingly rewarding and fulfilled year.
Apart from being the Vocational Service month, January also marks the beginning of the second half of the Rotary year.
It is therefore time for us to consolidate on the gains of the first six (6) months while putting in more efforts towards the attainment of our various set goals.
Our resolve to grow our Membership and Giving to The Rotary Foundation require greater push.
We need more volunteers in the service of humanity in our organisation and we need to give more to our Foundation in order to continue to do good in our communities and in our world.
Vocational Service, is one of the Five Avenues of Service in Rotary.
Other Avenues of Service are Club Service, Community Service, International Service and Youth Service.
The Avenues of Service are the philosophical framework for the work of Rotary.
Vocational Service focuses on:
- Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public.
- The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians.
- The contribution of vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.
Therefore, during this month of January, Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service
Rotarians and Rotary Clubs are encouraged to be involved in discussion on vocational service that can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities.
At the District level, our young leaders in schools and communities are being encouraged to imbibe the principles of the 4-Way Test through counselling & essay competition while an ethics in business seminar will also be held for the larger society.
All clubs are expected to also be involved in other activities such as:
- Giving a "mini-classifications talk" series in which each member gives a five-minute talk on his or her vocation.
- Present a vocational award to someone in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement while maintaining very high ethical standards.
- Invite experts to give a presentation on the vocational needs of the community and develop a project in response to those needs.
- Encourage club members to put their vocational skills to work as a Rotary Volunteer.
Overall, we must all exemplify good ethical behaviour in our daily activities.
Whether you are a Rotarian or Non-Rotarian, it is important to remember the 4-Way Test and our Core Values.
Truthfulness & fairness, building goodwill and better friendships, and engaging in activities that are beneficial and for the good of all, are all key to living a good life and neighbourliness.
This invariably promotes peace and better understanding in our communities.
May we all be continually strengthened and endowed with all it takes to serve humanity, even as we
BE THE INSPIRATION to our world.
Kola Sodipo
District Governor
2018-19