Happy birthday, Rotary

If you didn’t know what you’ll read in today’s column, you’re fined a dollar. If you didn’t know and you’re a Rotarian, make that two. (Now everybody clap, whoop, and holler.)

That’s the spirit of Rotary International, one of the world’s premier service organizations. If you’re going to raise millions, why not have fun with it? If you’re going to help others with that money, start with learning.

Happy 111th birthday, Rotary International. Kudos to current president K. R. Ravindran in Sri Lanka, 34,282 local clubs, and all 1.22 million of you Rotarians worldwide.

And here’s something good to be said about lawyers: One of us started it. On Feb. 23, 1905, attorney Paul Harris met three other businessmen for lunch in Evanston, Ill., to share his vision of community and fellowship and to organize the world’s first known (humanitarian and secular) service club.

Ever since then, Rotarians break bread weekly at what Harris called “a family table” in an upbeat spirit of goodwill, with presentations designed to inform. The nonprofit is open to people of all professions: from CEOs to schoolteachers, cops, and mayors; from novelists to U.S. presidents, athletes, and sales managers. The more personally and professionally diverse, the better to address society’s complex needs. Leave personal politics and religions at the door, please. Unite in compassion and shared ethics, starting with building better friendships.

Rotary’s motto is “service above self.” Selflessness is just one of the ethical components of Rotary. One profits most who serves best.

“It is the duty of all Rotarians,” states the manual, “to be active as individuals in as many... organizations as possible to promote, not only in words but through exemplary dedication, awareness of the dignity of all people and the respect of the consequent human rights of the individual.”

Rotarians open meetings with a pledge — more of an ethical philosophy — called the “Four-Way Test” of all things thought, said, and done:

1. Is it the truth?

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Imagine if all people applied the Four-Way test to every thought, utterance, and action...

Projects vary locally, but Rotary International focuses on six primary areas: Promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies. Rotary Clubs don’t compete with other nonprofits; they work with them. Sometimes Rotary dollars support other groups’ projects; sometimes they create their own. Service above self — that applies to the club, too.

“Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.” — Paul Harris.

Clubs in North Idaho include Coeur d’Alene (3), Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, Kellogg, Wallace, St. Maries, Sandpoint (2) and Bonners Ferry. Guests are generally welcomed, but new member applications must be referred by current members. For more information, see Rotary.org.

P.S. Why “Rotary?” Because of the early practice of rotating locations. Another fine, Rotarians?

Sholeh Patrick, J.D., is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.