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The importance of Rotary’s vocational service month

The month of January has been assigned as the vocational service month for all Rotarians.

The month of January has been assigned as the vocational service month for all Rotarians.

According to Neil Berg from the Rotary Club of Red Deer East, vocational service is the very essence of Rotary.

"It is what sets Rotary apart from other service organizations," Berg said in a post about the occasion. "The concept of vocational service is rooted in the second point of the Object of Rotary, which calls on Rotarians to encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society."

Berg explained that Rotarians every day put these ideals into action by using their professional skills to serve their community, practising their profession with integrity and guiding others n their professional development.

Ross Helgeton, president of the Rotary Club of Stettler said, "My own understanding of vocational service month is as follows. Rotary is comprised of people from many locations and walks of life. Vocational service tends to focus on Rotarians promoting and personally adhering to a high ethical standard of his/her vocation/occupation."

According to Helgeton, this would be exhibited by kind and inequitable disposition towards all in the workplace, regardless of relationship, i.e., employee/employer and any other considerations.

"There is also an emphasis in recognition of the value and worthwhile nature of all occupations," Helgeton added. "Rotary being comprised of a cross-section of occupations, believes that this mosaic is capable of making a significant contribution to its community and the world."

Helgeton cited a quote from Paul Harris, Founder of Rotary, who said, "Of all the 101 ways in which men can make themselves useful to society, undoubtedly the most available and often the most effective are within the spheres of their own occupations."

Rotary was started in 1905 by Harris and his business associates as a vehicle for business and personal connections, what is now known as "networking."

"The sharing of vocations and skills was a basic tenet of Rotary's inception," Berg added. "And I would offer that it certainly still is and should be."