PRINCIPLE OF SERVICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 251, 22 August 1950, Page 2

PRINCIPLE OF SERVICE

AIMS OF ROTARY MOVEMENT \ ADDRESS BY NATIONAL PRESIDENT “No organisation in the world has been so successful in maintaining voluntary membership with an easy exit privilege as has the Rotary movement,” said Mr Philip Lovejoy, general secretary of Rotary International, when outlining the broad function of the movement to delegates to the annual District Assembly of the 40th (New Zealand) Rotary District, which met in Timaru last evening.

Mr Lovejoy, who is on a short visit to New Zealand during the course of a world tour of countries where sthe Rotary movement is established, also addressed about 400 members of Rotary clubs from all parts of the 40th District later in the evening.

“When Rotary started, its founder, Paul Harris, did not think it would go round the world,” said Mr Lovejoy. Now it is in every part of the' world, with 7139 clubs in 82 countries, with 342,000 members. Rotary pre-dated the United Nations and has been as successful. We bring together each year 600 people from 60 countries, ea’ch one coming to give something and not to get something out of it. That is the big difference between Rotary and the United Nations. “With such a record of voluntary membership I have often asked myself what is the secret of the appeal of the movement. It was asked this question on two occasions, and I think the answer is summed up in the statement made by a dear .old lady friend of mine who said, when I asked her what she knew about Rotary: ‘When Rotary goes into a community it brings a finer and higher type of life to it.’ “There are things to be done for all communities to make them finer places to live in. Serving 7139 communities throughout the world, Rotary is one of the greatest forces for good in the world.” ,

Tribute to N.Z. Governors Paying a tribute to the work achieved tor the movement by the District Governors from New Zealand and Australia who attended the annual conventions of the movement, Mr Lovejoy said they had always created a great impression on the members at the conventions.

“With one Rotarian to every 560 head of population, New Zealand has the highest rate of membership. There is not one other spot in this world that can oompare with those figures, and this membership in Rotary is a true reflection of the high standard of life enjoyed in your country. I know about your educational standard and your culture, and I have wanted to .come to New Zealand as part of my education in finding out what is going on. in the world. That is part of my job in Rotarj.” In his address to the 400 general members of the 40th District later in the evening, Mr Lovejoy graphically illustrated the part to be played by individuals in the service of the community. “There is a difference in being a member of a Rotary Club and being a Rotarian,” said Mr Lovejoy. “The significance is in doing things that will help people to become the kind of people they are capable of being. Rotary has something to do with personal ’service. The application of service to our personal lives and the success of Rotary is the sum total of all these acts of service performed. If we have a job of service to the community to do, let us do it to-morrow. There is no finding of the ultimate point of benefit which will accrue from all the seemingly insignificant acts that can be performed.” Personal Service Giving an example of personal service, Mr Lovejoy said there was a letter carrier in his home city who made a point of seeing that all letters from men and women serving in the American Armed Forces reached their destinations on Saturdays instead of being held over a • week-end. “To do this he has to sort out the letters which are marked with the Army postmarks, put on a 15 cent stamp bought out of his own money and send them on their way. This is only a small example of what a small personal service can achieve in a community.” Tracing some of the outstanding incidents of good will between delegates from various countries at conventions, Mr Lovejoy said the ultimate purpose of the movement must follow its natural function in the creation of fellowship amongst all races. Votes of thanks to Mr Lovejoy for his address were moved after the first address by the Rev. Malcolm Wilson, of the Dunedin Rotary Club (Mr S. Cameron). Mr F. Hall-Joncs, a past District Governor, moved a vote of thanks to the Timaru Rotary Club for its hospitality. . Several Ashburton rotarians attended the function.