The Object of Rotary Transcends Social Action

   Rotary's history tells us that the Object of Rotary advances a timeless, generic category of thought.

   

    And there is good reason for this: Advancing the Object of Rotary has been, and still is, relevant in and to any social fabric any time and any place.  The Object of Rotary is not a call for social engineering or action.  Rotarians who embrace its category of thought convert it into family, professional, and social action.  Many, individually and collectively, apply its ideal of service locally and internationally, which is why Rotarians make the world better . . . one community at the time. 

   Has the Object of Rotary's true meaning transcended Rotary's leaders' understanding?  If so, Rotary's future is in danger.  The Organization Cemetery is filled with those that have allowed the hierarchies, attributes, projects, programs, and traditions created to advance their original thought exceed the importance of their original thought.  

     Until recent decades, advancing the Object of Rotary - beginning with the first - was the root of Rotary's growth.  Have inconsistent corporate practices, messaging, and goals displaced the importance of creating Rotarians who will advance the Object of Rotary?

Unabashed Promotional Note
This Rotatorial, slightly edited, first appeared in the May, 2015 Rotary Global History Fellowship's (FGHF) monthly newsletter.

Personal note:  

I'll be enjoying Guinness, Irish whiskey, and wonderful fellowship in the Emerald Isle for a few weeks.
Let's prioritize creating Rotarians so many more who have our psychographic and behavioral characteristics can enjoy the value of being a Rotarian; 
those who make the world a better place - 
one community at the time!

Rotary's Differentiating Value Proposition

What is IT?

  Past District 6950 Governor Carl Treleaven, at D-6960's 2015 Assembly gave an eye-opening, mind-stretching keynote presentation worthy of a TED Ideas Worth Spreading talk on Rotary's Differentiating Value Proposition.  In the following days, several present, past, and future district and club leaders had an interesting and, to some, enlightening email discussion.  It became quite clear that many Rotarians did not, and do not, know what Rotary's Differentiating Value Proposition is.  Someone mentioned that very few clubs display IT.  So I suggested that the questions should be, "Why aren't clubs displaying IT?  Why don't Rotarians know IT?"  Is it because Rotary leaders do not promote IT?  Is it possible they do not know IT?  

  Some discussion participants mentioned that IT is too wordy; that IT is difficult to read and understand so there was no need to display IT.  Admittedly, IT could not be expressed in a tweet, but PDG Carl proved them wrong about understanding IT in his twenty-five minute presentation.  When he finished, the over one hundred assembly attendees understood IT.  So, in my opinion, the reason that IT is not displayed on banners in clubs and/or understood by Rotarians is that nobody talks about IT.  Most Rotarians demonstrate IT by living IT.  Rotary Public Information communicates the results of IT, but not why IT attracts, retains, and benefits Rotarians.  The reason - IT is an ageless process of thought.

What is IT?

PDG Carl is available for club, district, or Zone presentations.  Contact him via email by clicking here.

Rotary is at the Razor's Edge

. . . . . because it cannot decide what it wants to be!

      Does it want to be an international organization dedicated to assisting local clubs in fulfilling the Object of Rotary  - - -   Or does it want to be an international organization dedicated to improving lives through educational and humanitarian programs funded by The Rotary Foundation?

    Rotary History tells us that from its beginning, Rotary's purpose was to create Rotarians.  That expanded into creating clubs and supporting them in creating Rotarians and fulfilling the Object of Rotary, which is a process of thought (not a call for social engineering or action.) For almost ninety years, centered on this purpose, Rotary grew.  Then Rotary's purpose gradually evolved into improving lives through educational and humanitarian programs.  This evolution changed Rotary's culture from being a member-centered (customer-centered) organization into being beneficiary-centered.  That was a major, and potentially fatal, mistake.  Beneficiaries don't pay dues or make donations.

      But Rotary is waking up to reality.  Its Board of Directors has recognized that membership is Rotary's top internal priority.   However, this implies that Rotary has an external priority.  Two priorities cancel each other out.  By definition, Rotary still does not have a priority, and its only customers - its member clubs - the ones who pay dues - are confused. Who serves who?  That is why Rotary continues to teeter at the Razor's edge.

      Polio eradication is probably the external priority and could very well have given birth to Rotary's change of purpose and culture.  Polio eradication is a worldwide humanitarian social action unlike any other ever undertaken.  But it is only a service project, a product of Rotarians fulfilling the Object of Rotary.  Like any service project, it must be completed.  But for Rotary, that's a goal.  Rotary could continue to treat it as a priority, but that will only perpetuate confusion and is Rotary's business brain allowing its emotional heart to lead the way.

      President-Elect Ravi is encouraging clubs to improve membership retention by one percent.  This alone could begin to change Rotary's culture back to creating Rotarians.  Yet some incoming club leaders have been led to believe that their district's priority is to be their Zone's top foundation contributor.  More confusion, and think about this: North America continually leads the world in foundation contributions.  In the last 12 years Rotary in North America has lost over 63,000 Rotarians - and potential Foundation donors.  If this trend continues, what's going to happen to Rotary?  To the foundation? 

      But let's clarify this confusion.  According to Rotary's Code of Policies, districts exist solely to help the individual clubs advance the Object of Rotary and should not tend to diminish services provided by clubs and individual Rotarians on the local level.  The Code of Policies also encourages all districts with fewer than 75 clubs and 2,700 Rotarians to strive to reach those numbers.  The Siegel+Gale research clearly shows that people join and stay in Rotary to make friends and contacts: to make local impacts; to have people recognize and value their profession, and to work with leaders.  That pretty much lines up with the Object of Rotary's process of thought.

Rotary International, the international association of local Rotary clubs, will return to a steady growth rate only when all of us, from the newest member to the President of Rotary International, prioritize creating Rotarians.

Update - The Board of Directors in 2015 made membership Rotary's top operational priority.  The eradication of polio remains its top program priority. Both decisions are in keeping with the RI  Constitution and Bylaws.

Rotary's Future Vision - The Rotary Foundation wants to know your thoughts and opinions about it.

Past RI President John Kenny, Chair of The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees, in inviting Rotarians to tell about their experiences with the Areas of Focus and grants, both district and global. The Board is seeking your ideas for improvement that could make The Rotary Foundation more effective; the best possible.  He has put together a committee, chaired by PRIP Bill Boyd, to review all comments and suggestions.  For convenience, you can send your thoughts through email to this address:

futurevisionbillboyd@outlook.com

This is an example of Rotary opening leadership, so now is the time to utilize email and social media to spread the word so Hopeful Rotarians can make their views known.  I have, by email and through past Rotatorials.  Everyone interested in how The Rotary Foundation raises and utilizes funds should take this opportunity to express their thoughts.