ROTARY SERVICE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20176, 20 February 1940, Page 4

ROTARY SERVICE

DIFFICULT IDEAL DEFEATING SELFISHNESS PURPOSE OF MOVEMENT GISBORNE CLUB REVIEW Rotary observation week, which marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of Rotary, was opened by the Gisborne Rotary Club at its weekly luncheon yesterday, when the speaker, RotariunF. R. Ball, expressed some thoughts on the development of the movement.

Mr. Ball referred to the foundation of Rotary 35 years ago by Mr. Paul Harris as a means of fellowship with others, the development and extension of the movement in the nature of service and then for an effort of peace and understanding in national affairs, following in the suppression of Rotary in dictatorship countries.

The Gisborne club was founded in 1925 with a membership of 25, of whom 13 were still members. The membership now was 65. Considering the population of the town, the Gisborne club was a fairly strong one, and a high degree of fellowship prevailed.

Rotary was different from most other organisations, in that whereas membership of others was more_ or less uniform in regard to profession, the Rotary membership was diversified, representation coming from each trade and profession forming a real cross-section of the community.

Inspiration For Members

The club was generally individualistic, giving inspiration to members rather than organising any movement within the club for the benefit of the community. Members met in fellowship and inspiration for the purpose of living up to the Rotary motto of “Service Before Self.”

The motto was the hardest possible one to live up to that could be adopted by any association of men or of individuals, comparable with that which Christ told the multitude in regard to loving their neighbours as themselves. Service was only done by force of will-power and determina-' tion. Rotary aimed to provide the inspiration to members to render greater service as . they went through life and to conquer that selfishness that was inherent in the human being.

At the conclusion of the talk, a hearty vote of thanks was tendered the speaker, on the motion of Rotarian F. W. Nolan, who referred to the freshness and originality contained in a most thoughtful address. Rotarian G. B. Edwards was in the chair.