“We looked at Rotary from the inside out, upside-down and sideways. It was easy to have candid conversations with everyone because the goal was understood and our desire to make it happen was evident.”
Article from RI Zones 33 34 Newsletter Dec 2014
By Paula Matthews Rotary Coordinator – Zone 33
Adam Barth, a member of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, NC District 7730, attended the Young Professionals Summit in Chicago, September 2014. He was one of only thirty participants between the ages of 25 - 40 selected from all over the nation.
Adam says: “We looked at Rotary from the inside out, upside-down and sideways. It was easy to have candid conversations with everyone because the goal was understood and our desire to make it happen was evident.”
Here are the five general points Adam shared from the summit:
Listen (don’t wait to talk) – Many young professionals have great ideas and a different way of looking at things. Listening to them is more than waiting for them to be quiet so they can be told how it should “really” be done. There is always room for improvement and if Rotary is to remain a worldwide leader in service to others, we must be attuned to new ideas and adaptations that will only make our organization stronger.
Rotary is a verb, not a noun – Service is what our organization is all about. The heart of our motto is “above self”. It’s one thing to serve, but to serve above self is something our society does not see enough of. We must be intentional and inspirational in our excitement and desire to improve the lives of those around us. It was overwhelming to hear all the unique ideas everyone brought to the table. Rotary shouldn’t describe who we are, but what we do!
Stop competing with each other – We are all part of a much larger organization. The desire to change the world is amongst all clubs, districts and zones. If you find someone interested in Rotary, but your club may not meet their needs; find a club to meet their needs. If there isn’t a club to meet their needs inspire them to find people who share their passion and start another.
Clubs need to quit competing with each other. The growth of Rotary will only increase if we find a fit for potential Rotarians instead of forcing them to fit.