ROTARY CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 73

ROTARY CLUB.

THE FUNCTIONS OF ‘-ROTARY.” The annual meeting of the Rotary Club of Dunedin was held in the Savoy Lounge on Thursday evening. The president (Rotarian James Brown) occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of members. The President, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance, sheet, spoke of the functions of a Rotary Club. The bed-rock aim of Rotary was, he said, to create friendship and goodwill between men and men in the first instance, and in a larger sense between community and community, and still larger between country and country, all with the object of breaking down the barriers of prejudice and ill-feeling which arose from misunderstanding. Under the covering mantle of this great objective every club followed more or less uniform procedure as regarded its internal working, but in respect of its outside activities the programme varied in accordance with influencing or attending conditions. One element was essential in the club, and that was the proper atmosphere. Rotary, to begin with, was an individual matter. A member must become imbued with the Rotary spirit so as to inculcate in him the inclination to serve. The most effective means of producing this spirit was the weekly luncheon. It was there that friendships were ‘'armed, sympathies were broadened, and misunderstanding removed. The weekly luncheon was the backbone of Rotary, and every club must make it a first care in order to ensure that these weekly meetings were interesting, instructive, and entertaining. Unless they were conducted in such a way as to attract the members and compel their attendance, the whole edifice of Rotary fell to the around as far as the main objective was concerned. Regarding a club's activities, given that a right atmosphere had been created, and members been hilly charged with the Rotary spirit, some avenue ot usefulness was certain to be sought out and followed. It should be realised, however, that there was a limit to the direct* undertakings of a club. Its constitution, differed from that of any other known organisation, mainly in respect ot its restricted membership. The classification svstem, which is rightly regarded as one of the bulwarks of Rotary, prevented a club from ever becoming a strong body, numerically. It was also true that on the financial side it could not accumulate

funds to carry out extensive operations in public interests. It seemed, therefore, quite clear that the mission of Rotary, could not lie in the undertaking ot big movements «is a club. But where com* niunity effort was needed to improve or reform faultv existing conditions Rotary, could do a great deal by way of influencing and even initiating a campaign for public betterment. This outlet for Rotary activity could be determined only by the existing conditions in the particular communitv in which they lived. It was not intended that a Rotary Club should taka a prominent part, as a club, in organised I movements lor social uplift, or that it | should undertake large projects ot community service for the doing ot which organisations already existed or might be formed. It was unnecessary to reter to local activities which were regularly undertaken by every club, such as "boys work,” and all that fell within that scope. Help bv a Rotary Club could not be better directed than in assisting the Boy Scouts, and in taking real interest in all movements relating to the proper training and welfare of the rising generation. There were also many outlets for a club s activities in aiding charitable institutions and dispensing Christmas cheer to those in need. All community service of a beneficial nature that could be rendered ' by a club should be undertaken, but at the same time it must be realised that the rating of a Rotary Club should be determined, not so much by what had been done in outside activities, as by what had been done in developing men for ready and willing service. The function of the club was to educate the individual so that he, as a citizen, would’ take his part in such projects as were designed to better the general conditions of the community. Rotarian W. E. C. Reid seconded the motion for the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, and this was carried. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Rotarian J. B. Waters; vice-president, Rotarian G.E. Thompson; directors —Rotarians M, W. Johnson, A. Barnett, E Rosevcar, and W. J. Crawford; lion, treasurer. Rotarian Peter Barr; secretary, Mr W. R. Brown.

On the motion of Rotarian Sir George Fenwick, a resolution of appreciation of the services of Rotarian Magnus JohnSonkin the capacity of first secretary of the club, was passed by acclamation, and the thanks of the club were expressed also to the retiring directors and conveners of committees, and to the ser-geant-at-arms.