Greetings!

October is Vocational Service month. Vocational Service is probably the least understood of the Five Avenues of Service, and so it is worth reflecting on exactly what it is. In my own mind, I have always thought of Vocational Service as having two complimentary parts.
 
First, many of us recite the Four Way Test at our meetings every week. These four basic principles aren't just practices we should be following at our Rotary meetings or in our personal relationships. Rotary asks us to be ethical and fair in our business (or vocational) life as well. This means telling the truth, acting in a fair and beneficial manner and finding win-win solutions to problems with our employees, our customers, and our suppliers. Most of us who lead business or professional lives found out long ago that those who circumvent fair and beneficial practices towards others seldom last very long in their vocations. Nevertheless, as Rotarians, we have a special obligation to reflect on the tenets of the Four Way Test in our daily working world.
 
The second part of Vocational Service involves giving back to others. In this case, Rotary is asking for us to share the talent that has made us successful in our business and professional lives with others, both within our own clubs and outside them. Professionals of all kinds can do pro bono work, and business men and women can offer leadership, organizational talents, and energy to their clubs and to their communities in general. Sharing these talents is often harder than simply writing a check, but it is crucial to achieving the goals that we, as Rotarians, are pursuing. So resolve to use that very special talent with your club and your community. By doing so, you will go a long way down that very special avenue of Vocational Service.