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2007 Archives |
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Paul Harris Said," "Frank
Talk Gems," "Our Foundation
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What Paul Harris Said
December 30, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
In The Rotarian
magazine, February 1940
What
Paul Harris Said
December 30 2007
"This is a critical year. It is not easy to be
optimists while storm clouds obscure the sky. Rotarians are
especially sensitive to international disturbances because ties of
friendship bind us together, ties which cannot be dissolved by
governmental fiat".
Paul P Harris, “We Must Plan For Peace” The Rotarian, Feb 1940
See the full article at
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/rotarian/1940peace.htm
At this time of year we think back to days long gone and look ahead
to the future. Decades ago during the Second World War Paul Harris
told us to Plan for Peace. Thankfully, Rotary heard those
words and acted upon them through our Rotary Foundation. The
Foundation’s Peace Programs can - and must - make a difference in
this violent and divisive world.
Do we still need to plan for peace? Just consider what we have
witnessed this week in Pakistan. As Paul Harris says, “It is not
easy to be optimists while storm clouds obscure the sky”.
Scientists discovered many years ago that all human beings are
genetically 99.9% the same. I do believe that Paul Harris discovered
that fact many, many years ago. Why not make a New Year's Resolution
now to further support the Rotary Foundation's programs that develop
and promote World Peace and Understanding?
A very Happy and Peaceful New Year to you all.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
Rotary Club of Longniddry & District
District 1020
Scotland
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What Paul Harris Said
December 16, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
In The Rotarian
magazine in 1946
What
Paul Harris Said
December 16 2007
"We must help all nations in distress and raise the
standards of living of the lowly. If we steadfastly pursue this
course, prosperity such as we have never enjoyed before will be
ours, the wheels of industry will be kept turning, and all nations
will be friends.
What a blessing it would be to live in a friendly
world, where all nations are good neighbors! ".
"Fear and Hate Must Go" by Paul P Harris July 1946
Read the full article at
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/rotarian/1946fear.htm
At this time of year, many Rotarians think about the Christmas
message of Peace on Earth and goodwill to all humanity.
There is a story that hails from the Ukraine about a family who were
so poor they went to bed on Christmas Eve with their tree completely
bare. The spiders who lived in the house felt so sorry for the
family that overnight they spun intricate and beautiful webs to
decorate the tree. As the sun’s ray fell on the tree on Christmas
morning the spiders’ webs miraculously turned to silver and gold and
the family’s troubles were no more.
Paul Harris’s hopes for the future in 1946 can best be achieved
through The Rotary Foundation. The Foundation allows all of us to
work towards changing the world. We can create our own miracles by
remembering to contribute to the Foundation at this time of year
whatever our own religious and cultural beliefs.
The Foundation creates its own miraculous webs through world peace
and understanding every time we embark on a project that alleviates
poverty, advances education and improves health. And soon we will
have a world completely rid of Polio.
As Paul Harris would testify if he were alive today – Miracles can
happen!
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
Rotary Club of Longniddry & District
District 1020
Scotland
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What
Paul Harris Said
December 2, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
In The Rotarian
magazine, November 1911
What Paul
Harris Said
December 2
2007
" Rotary has differed from other organizations in that it has
not inherited a system of cut and dried policies rendered sacred by
tradition or history. …With so many capable, devoted friends feeling
responsibility for the future of Rotary, we may reasonably expect to turn
out a twentieth century mechanism which will constitute an agreeable
surprise to ourselves and the rest of the world".
Paul P
Harris, “Message
from the President” in The Rotarian Nov 1911
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/rotarian/1911messages.htm
In 1911, Paul
Harris was writing about a newly formed organization called Rotary. His
concern was not of procedure and policy but what are our values and
philosophy.
Recently, the
Rotary Foundation’s Future Vision committee announced new proposals for the
future direction of The Rotary Foundation. Under Chairman Bob’s leadership,
the Foundation has attempted to give new focus to our mission and create a
more simple and straightforward system that every Rotarian can understand.
Our vision is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill
and peace. Our mission is to improve health, support education and alleviate
poverty.
The future
vision allows districts to take more direct responsibility for the
stewardship of Foundation funds by implementing a block grant structure
based on the district simplified grants system; It creates a more
straightforward gateway for us to work with co-operating organizations on
larger grant projects in the poorest areas of the world; And it places a
greater emphasis on the humanitarian aspects of all Foundation programs with
more support for educational programs with strong humanitarian emphases.
More
information is available
here.
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/071105_news_futurevision1.aspx
This is a
‘twenty-first century mechanism’ for ‘doing good in the world’.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
Rotary Club of Longniddry & District
District 1020
Scotland |
What
Paul Harris Said
November 18, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
In The
Rotarian magazine, April 1929
What
Paul Harris
(and
other Rotary leaders)
Said
November 18 2007
"The purpose of The Rotary Foundation is to assure us
of Rotary in perpetuity, by providing for contingencies and
unforeseen emergencies, that we may continue to serve all humanity
in the interests of permanent world peace, and for all those fine
contributions to art, health, science, character etc., and to such a
degree as to make Rotary's contribution an important factor in this
present-day civilization".
Arch C Klumph - "The Rotary Foundation" The Rotarian
magazine April 1929
November is Rotary Foundation Month
Often I wonder when Arch Klumph rose to address the eighth annual
Convention of the International Association of Rotary Clubs in
Atlanta on 18th June 1917, did he realise that he would
change the world forever?
In proposing the establishment of "an endowment fund for the
purposes of doing good in the world", he transformed Rotary from an
inward looking, self help body of businessmen to an organisation
that is one of the most highly respected humanitarian voluntary
bodies in the world:
·
A body that would be represented at the birth of the United Nations;
·
A body that would launch an educational programme that, in the days
that following the end of the Second World War, had the primary aim
of creating World Peace & Understanding;
·
A body that would launch the amazingly ambitious goal of eradicating
Polio from the world;
·
A body that would touch the lives of millions in so many ways that
nobody knows or have even heard of.
So, what were your motives when you joined Rotary all those years
ago? Did you have a vague idea that it would benefit your career, or
your business and that was sufficient reason to put up with the old
fogies that each had his own seat and woe betide anyone that sat in
his seat?
Perhaps slowly at first, you began to realise that you were enjoying
the craic with these men and when they went carol singing at
Christmas, or delivered parcels of food to children whose father
wasn't working, you began to realise that this was the real benefit
of your membership of Rotary – not furthering your career or
business but in the realisation that by sharing a little of what you
have can mean so much to those that have even less than what you can
give. – You had become a Rotarian
That's what Arch Klumph did to us – his "Endowment Fund" became The
Rotary Foundation. He made us realise that it costs so little to put
a smile on a child's face, or crush a crutch that would have been
used to aid a child that caught Polio.
Colum McLoughlin
RIBI Rotary Foundation Committee
Annual Programs Fund Strategic
Advisor – Zone 17
Rotary Club of Newtonabbey,
District 1160
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What Paul Harris Said
November 4, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
What Paul Harris Said
In My Road to Rotary,
chapter 42, 1947
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/library/myroad/MyRoadToRotary/MRTRChapter_42.htm
“At our fireside scores of
friends from all corners of the
globe have delighted us by their
presence. They have come as the
result of my planting a sapling
in 1905. The first Rotary Club
was that sapling. It has grown
into a mighty tree* in whose
shade it is delightful to
dwell.”
November is Rotary Foundation
month. The Rotary Foundation
allows every one of us to join
together from all corners of the
world. If Rotary is a mighty
tree as Paul Harris suggests it
is because of the support of
thousands of friends all working
towards the same goals.
This year we continue to focus
on the eradication of polio;
re-connecting with our
Foundation Alumni; and fully
committing to the belief that
Peace is Possible through
our Rotary World Peace Centers.
As friends who come together,
working on these tasks, we also
need to realize that we can only
achieve our goals through
supporting The Rotary Foundation
– Every Rotarian Every
Year.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman/President 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland.
*Also see
http://www.friendshiptrees.org
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What Paul Harris Said
October 21, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
in his address to the RI Convention in
Nice, France 1937
" But behold these
are greater wonders: a
transformation little short of
miraculous has taken place in that
supposedly sterile soil, the flower
of friendship has taken root. What
about the many points of difference
between the members of such clubs,
have they been removed? No, none of
them have been removed. The
Mohammedan is still a Mohammedan.
The Buddhist still a Buddhist; the
Christian still a Christian, but
what does that matter? They are
friends, all friends. Heretofore
they have always thought ill of each
other, that is over now. Friendship
has spread a mantle of charity and
tolerance over all these extreme
differences. In common sense and
good conscience it no more matters
what my friend's religion is than
what the color of his hair or eyes."
Read the whole article here
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/library/conventions/1937nice.htm
On October 20th, RGHF
secretary Ray MacFarlane’s club –
Thiensville-Mequon, Wisconsin, USA
celebrated its 70th
anniversary. Thiensville-Mequon is
a typical Rotary club with a proud
history of service and major
challenges to face and overcome in
the future.
70 years ago Paul Harris illustrated
the great ‘miracle’ of Rotary – how
a local community and a whole world
full of rich diversity can come
together in friendship and love.
Whether your club is one year or one
hundred years old, the flower of
friendship has bloomed for the exact
reasons that the founder of Rotary
talked about 70 years ago.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
R/C Longniddry and District
District 1020, Scotland
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What Paul Harris Said
October 7, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
RGHF’S 7TH
ANNIVERSARY
Dear
RGHF Subscribers,
This next
Thursday, 11 October, will be the seventh anniversary of RGHF. It
began with one web page, listing the first 50 clubs of Rotary. This
was included on the website of Rotary Club of Pueblo #43. Today, in
observation of RGHF’s 7th anniversary, we extend an invitation to
all of our readers to join us as we continue to be the largest
effort for internet preservation of Rotary’s history.
www.joinrghf.org
When we started
“What Paul Harris Said” in the winter of 2001, it was an idea from
past Rotary International Director Lynn Hammond. In a conversation
with RGHF Founder Jack Selway, Director Hammond suggested “Let Paul
Harris do the talking” when it came to Rotary values. Selway started
the feature with this first mailing, shown below, to a list of about
100 individuals. That list has grown to nearly 8,000. The
“invitation” is to all our readers, particularly historians and
webmasters to join this large and expanding project to preserve the
history of Rotary.
Here is that first
issue of WPHS
What Paul Harris Said
30 December 2001
"Since the
beginning of civilization, there has been a surplus of sayers of
things. If there is any one particular in which I would have Rotary
distinguished from other organizations, it is in the quality of
character which results in the doing of things." Paul
Harris, Message to the 1921 RI Convention in Edinburgh, Scotland.
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/rotarian/1921message.htm
This was the first in a weekly series of "What Paul Harris Said,"
from what became Rotary Global History Fellowship.
Certainly Paul Harris would have pride and admiration
for what Rotarians have done to eliminate Polio, through PolioPlus,
just these past two decades or so. But, as kind and loving, toward
Rotary, as Paul always was, he would also ask if each of us had
truly done a part of this. And that's a Rotary minute from Rotary
Global History Fellowship.
Jack Selway - Founder, Rotary Global History Fellowship.
Member - Rotary eClub
of the Southwest, USA
Pueblo,
Colorado, USA
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What Paul Harris Said
September 23, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
What
Paul Harris Said
in his radio address from the
Boston Convention in 1933
“If you have the
love of your fellow men in your heart, my friends, you are a
potential Rotarian”.
Visit
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/library/1933.htm for the full
recording.
Rotary clubs strive each and every
year to find those community spirited men and women who we can truly
describe as Rotarians and invite them to join our movement.
I met a young couple last month who
told me a remarkable story about how they had planned to go to Sri
Lanka in December 2004 to get married. Two days before they set out,
the Tsunami hit that country and their dream wedding and honeymoon
plans were cancelled. A month or two later, they thought it would be
appropriate to travel to Sri Lanka anyway if only to support the
badly hit tourist industry. On arriving and witnessing the
devastation, they vowed to stay on in that far off land and do what
they could to rebuild the community. Both young people had their own
businesses but simply felt the greater urge to help. They spent a
year in Sri Lanka working on building schools and providing
educational opportunities for the children.
These potential Rotarians ought to
be Rotarians. Paul Harris’ simple observation is a relevant and true
today as it was in 1933. Rotary is their natural home.
They also sent me a poem written by
a local woman from Sri Lanka who lost her family in the tsunami
which I will share with you.
TRUE GIVING IS THE MOST WONDERFUL OF THINGS
To give cleanly without debt
To give without having taken first
To give to their not your need
To give something you value without recourse
To give without creating bitterness in another
To give without offending cultures
To give without leaving conditions
To give silently and not take fame in giving
To give without taking the dignity of the benefactor
THIS IS THE WAY OF TRUE GIVING
To not give truly is not to give
To give with a plaque is to indebt
To give publicly is an exchange of value
To give without empathy is to take dignity
To give with conditions is to employ
To give having taken is to trade
To give unfairly is to divide
To give hope that cannot be sustained is to disappoint
To give without value is to dispose
To give to your need is to profit
To give a debt is to enslave
ONLY THE WISEST HAVE ACHIEVED TRUE GIVING
HAVE LEARNT TO GIVE WITH TRUST
AND LEAVE THE GREATEST GIFT OF DIGNITY...
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman/President 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland.
|
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
What
Paul Harris Said
9 September 2007
In 1935 Paul Harris wrote his second major work, "This Rotarian
Age," which can be read, in its entirety on our website.
In the book, he writes
"The first sixty-seven years of the writer’s life
have been high times. He wouldn’t have missed them for anything."
However, he then proceeds to tell the world that for the previous
four years he has been unable to practice law, due to a nervous
breakdown. This is described in very few words on page 200 of his
book.
Many years ago, I managed to acquire a copy of that book inscribed
to a friend of Harris’. That amazing inscription and the story of
Harris’ health is found at
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/signature/rotarianage/index.htm
It appears that Harris wrote the book, “This Rotarian Age” while he
was recovering from this break down, and while staying at the home
of a friend in Michigan. It makes for a fascinating read. The entire
book is found at
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/library/rotarianage/rotarianage.htm
all 257 pages with illustrations.
Yours in Rotary History
Jack Selway,
Founder of RGHF
Pueblo, CO
Rotary eClub of The Southwest USA
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What Paul Harris Said
August 26, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
What
Paul Harris Said
in his
address to the RI convention in
Havana, Cuba 1940
“I have
no hesitation in saying that world peace could be achieved and made
permanent if reared on Rotary’s firm foundation of friendliness,
tolerance and usefulness.”
Rotarians of today
are leaving a legacy to the children of the world when we, Rotary,
join our world partners in the celebration of the certification of
the eradication of polio from the world. More importantly, and I do
mean more importantly, is the fact that the Rotarians of today and
tomorrow have the opportunity to leave their own legacy of "doing
good in the world" for future educational and humanitarian service
programs.
Do we dare dream
that Rotarians of today not only make it a habit of making an annual
contribution each and every year, but leave a percentage of their
estate or a one time significant gift to
The Rotary Foundation's Permanent Fund?
This should be the
dream, goal and reality of all Rotarians. They need just look and
see and feel and touch the wonderful programs and projects we are
continually completing that help the world know a more humane
society and a more peaceful world.
Thank you.
Louis Piconi,
Trustee, The Rotary Foundation 2007-11
RI Vice President 2000-01
Member, Rotary Club of Bethel-St. Clair, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, D7300
Member RGHF
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What Paul Harris Said
August 12, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
What Paul
Harris Said
In The
Rotarian magazine, June 1912
"If the money in this world which is doing
its possessors more harm than good could be diverted to charitable
purposes, charity would have no financial problems; and it would be
unnecessary to intercept the course of any decent, honest dollar going
on about its business without homicidal intention…
My work in Rotary is nearly done."
Read the full article at
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/rotarian/1912junemessages.htm
Paul Harris’ words of 95
years ago reflect back on to ourselves as we begin to work towards
fulfilling The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Programs Fund target for
2007/08.
Paul Harris, like Arch
Klumph after him, believed in voluntary giving from Rotarians without
any financial obligations being placed upon Rotary members. This remains
true today. Harris, like so many others, could see that when we use our
voluntary donations for charitable purposes, the world will see what we
can do with every ‘decent, honest dollar’.
From our ambitious Rotary
Centers in Peace and Conflict Resolution to our continued drive towards
the elimination of polio, our freely given contributions to our Rotary
Foundation will continue to fund the charitable purposes Paul Harris
dreamed of almost a century ago.
Sadly, Harris gets it wrong
when he concluded with the words that his work is ‘nearly done’ - Paul
Harris would continue working for the Rotary movement for another 35
years. This truism is consistent to every member of a Rotary club - our
work is never done - nor, is our commitment to The Rotary Foundation.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman/President 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland.
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29 July 2007
What Paul Harris Said
In The Rotarian, 1945
“I
like to think that the pioneering days of Rotary have just begun.
What’s 40 years in the life of a great Movement? There are just as
many new things to be done as ever there were. Kaleidoscopic changes
are taking place, many of them without our will. Even to hang to the
fringe of this fast-changing world is about all most of us can do.
Rotary must simply continue to pioneer or be left in the rear of
progress.”
Paul P. Harris, The Rotarian 1945
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/rotarian/1945bestisyet.htm
Even now, over 60
years later, Paul Harris’ words still have meaning as today there
are still so many new things to be done and some promises that have
to be kept. By keeping up with the fast changing world, Rotary will
remain the progressive force it always has been.
Whatever new
challenges we set ourselves, we must never forget our unfulfilled
promises such as the complete eradication of polio. If every
district allocates 10% of its available DDF for this year to the
PolioPlus Partners Program, we can reach the $5 million goal needed
to fund National Immunization Days in India, Pakistan and Nigeria
and fulfill our commitment. That's one of our 2007/08 Rotary
Foundation pledges we CAN achieve.
Remember what Paul
Harris said -we must all strive to be PIONEERS on the long road to
peace.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman/President 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland.
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What
Paul Harris Said
July 15, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
In The Rotarian magazine
(February 1923)
What Paul Harris
Said
July 15 2007
“
Rotary is not an organization for retrospection .It is rather one
whose worth and purpose lie in future activity rather than past
performance.”
Rotary's future in the 21st
century looks bright thanks to the support of Rotarian donors all
over the world. We have a Foundation that is well respected and
admired by other global organizations, charities and Governments.
The Rotary Foundation carries out our educational and humanitarian
programmes with great efficiency and changes people's lives in every
corner of the earth.
Isn't it a shame that our future
activity is limited by the thousands upon thousands of dollars that
are still locked up in District Designated Funds? There are
Foundation programs that are crying out for help at this time - such
as the Polio Partners Program, Our Peace Centers and the Scholarship
Pool for Low Income Countries. Our district designated funds are
applicable to the ANNUAL Programs Fund. It is vital that we keep on,
year upon year, spending our contributions and doing good in the
world.
Our Rotarian donors expect it, our
vulnerable and scarcely-resourced World demand it.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Vice-President
R/C Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland.
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What
Paul Harris Said
June 30, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
What Paul Harris
Said
June 30 2007
“When it was thus
made known to the world that Rotary was an ethical movement, the
true significance of the classification system was realized as it
had not been before. We had a piece of machinery of which at first,
we had not foreseen what would be the ultimate use. Now we saw it –
that the classified (person) of Rotary should be he interpreter of
the ideal of service above self, in business and the professions. We
sought, thereupon, to widen our area in every direction, not only to
get the largest number of members in each Club…but to get as many
Clubs in the country as we could organize. We went ahead with Rotary
organization, because we knew it was capable of doing something
really for the good of the community.”
-extract from the
minutes of ‘History of Chicago Rotary Committee’ (April 16 1931)
quoted in PRIVP Frank Lamb in “The Meaning of Rotary”
As we begin a new Rotary year on
July 1st, it seems obvious to me that our new President,
Wilf Wilkinson, sees the Rotary movement in much the same terms as
his predecessor did, decades before. Wilf emphasised that our Rotary
movement is an ETHICAL movement during his address to the RI
Convention last week. Business, Professional and Community leaders
will be attracted to our movement because of our ethical values. Our
classification system can and does allow Rotarians to become better
leaders in business, the professions and community through our Four
Way test, community service and through our ethical code.
Wilf notes that:
"Our commitment to vocational
service has always been an important part of Rotary too. And,
through my presidential year in 2007-08, it will become even more
important. Rotary connects people who share these special values."
And if this teaches us anything, it
teaches us that Rotarians care because Rotary Shares.
*********
Finally, a big thank you to all of
those who visited us at our booth in Salt Lake City. It was
wonderful to meet you all. May I encourage our subscribers to follow
the example of Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson and
consider taking the next step and
join Rotary Global
History Fellowship in order to keep our services
available to all Rotarians running well into the future.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman/President 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland.
|
Rotary
Global History Fellowship
Authorized by Rotary International
www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org
What Paul Harris Said
June
17,
2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
What
Paul Harris Said
June 17, 1919
Note:
Below is the annual message from the Founder of Rotary to the
International Convention. It was read by Secretary Chesley R. Perry at
Salt Lake City,, Utah, Tuesday morning, 17th June, 1919.
“If it could ever have been truly said that
Rotary was insular in its viewpoint, that time is past. Rotarians now
understand that the best rule to apply in cases of doubt is the broadest
and most generous which the circumstances will permit. Rotary is not
tied to tradition. All of the field of human usefulness is open. It has
no occasion for lavish expenditure. Its ways are simple; may they ever
be so, to the end that Rotary may remain pure. If these things may be,
Rotary will not seek smooth paths for men strong as they stumble
onward.” Paul P. Harris, 1919 read at the Salt Lake City
Convention:
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/rotarian/1919convention.htm
As we
meet here at this convention held in the same city of 88 years ago, just
consider how far we have come. At our last Salt Lake City convention, we
had $60 in our endowment fund (now known as The Rotary Foundation) –
look how far we have travelled.
I’m
not talking, of course, about the miles we have clocked up in our cars
and on trains and aeroplanes, but about our cherished Rotary movement.
Paul
Harris again hits the nail upon the head when he tells us that Rotary’s
ways are simple. Our aims remain straightforward and succinct; Our all
encompassing aim is to continue to strive towards world peace and
understanding and to doing good in our world. These aims remain ‘pure’.
Paul Harris’s message was to a convention of hope that looked towards a
new bright future – a future that sadly did not materialize.
Let us
hope that in 2007, a peaceful world is within our sight. Look outwards
Paul Harris tells us, look outwards.
Calum
Thomson
RGHF
Chairman/President 2006/07
R/C
Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland.
|
What Paul Harris
Said
June 3, 2007
www.whatpaulharrissaid.org
In his message to the
1946 RI Convention at Atlantic City, New Jersey,
"What
should Rotarians do to back up the United Nations? Just what they
are doing. Rotarians were chairmen of seven national delegations at
the San Francisco Conference, and in all, as delegates or
consultants at the San Francisco Conference, there were fifty
Rotarians. Thus the spirit of Rotary was very definitely in evidence
in San Francisco during the writing of the United Nations Charter."
Was it
not significant that retiring UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
specifically mentioned Rotary International by name in his
retirement speech a few months ago? Not only has Rotary
International worked with the UN, other Governments and NGOs in the
fight to eradicate polio, our organization helped formulate the
United Nations Charter as Paul Harris points out.
Sadly,
Harris would not be around to see how this new, idealistic creation
would develop. I suppose there are many critics of the United
Nations today as it struggles to cope with global conflicts and
tensions all over the world. Yet, the United Nations, surely, offers
the best way forward towards a peaceful future. Rotary also
continues to work for peace with the same enthusiasm and commitment
of 50 years ago.
Today, we
have developed our own Peace Fellow Program to honor Paul Harris'
memory. See http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/foundation/programs/peace.htm
for more details. There will also be a World Peace Symposium at the
Salt Lake City Convention, June 14-16 (more details here) http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/foundation/070112_peacesymposium.html
Thus, with a cadre of professional mediators
and peace specialists working for and working in conjunction with
the UN, the "Spirit of Rotary" as Paul Harris said, will live on.
This is what we are doing to "back up the United Nations".
Please consider visiting the RGHF booth at our
97th Annual Convention - #936. The booth shall also contain a Peace
Journey Exhibition conceived and prepared by RGHF President-elect
Joe Kagle.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
D 1020,
|
What Paul Harris
(and other Rotary
leaders)
Said
May
20 2007
PRIP Herb J Taylor
In his address to the 1955 Rotary
Convention in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
“The
finest slogans are useless without action”
Herb Taylor’s observation at the 50th
anniversary Convention is one of the simplest truisms. Over fifty years
later, Rotary has created a new slogan for a new age; a slogan that is
designed to tell the world what Rotary is – its ideals and its aims.
That slogan is HUMANITY IN MOTION.
In order to create the ‘motion’,
Rotarians must provide the fuel to allow Rotary Clubs to move forward
with their local and international service projects. Contributing to the
Annual Programs Fund of the Rotary Foundation is an obvious way to
provide HUMANITY IN MOTION. It’s not too late to contribute to
2006/07 APF and of course the more we can provide, the more action we
can undertake. Without providing the energy, we are powerless. We cannot
tackle the huge problems of lack of water, disease, inadequate education
and hunger.
To release the potential power of
Rotary, give generously to your Rotary Foundation and help sustain
humanity in motion.
|
6 April 2007
Rotary
Global History Fellowship
Authorized by Rotary International
www.RotaryHistoryFellowship.org
What Paul Harris Said
In a letter to Rtn Will Moffat, April 1930
"The tendency towards slavish adherence to precedent only stands in the
way... Needless and purposeless limitation is immoral. Will you not be
the Moses to lead us out of this wilderness?"
click on the link below for the full article written by RGHF historian
Basil Lewis entitled "Why Only One?"
http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/clubs/clubs/whyone.htm
Paul Harris’ comments were addressed specifically to those Rotary clubs
in the large cities who were opposed to the expansion of new clubs
within the city limits. Yet, we can use Harris’ quote here and
generalize on so many other issues that concern Rotary clubs today, 77
years later. We can see how the founder of Rotary was never willing to
be tied and bound by old rules and decisions from the past – Rotary was
and is an evolutionary force.
Last week’s Council on Legislation is a clear example of Rotary’s
determination to embrace change for the better. What better example
could we give than to highlight enactment 07-329 that allows clubs to
invite community leaders who have shown a commitment and involvement in
community affairs into their Rotary clubs.
to all our subscribers
JOIN US FOR OUR CONVENTION BREAKFAST
MEETING
RGHF is hosting a breakfast at 07.30 on Sunday, 17 June at the Salt
Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.Tickets are priced at $30. As
a subscriber to our weekly features, please come along and join us.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District, D 1020
Scotland
|
What Paul Harris Said
April 22 2007
In The Rotarian
magazine, March 1918
“I do not believe capital can
afford to permit hunger, squalor or disease. Let us banish the city
miserable before we build our city beautiful. Slums are political
malaria breeders, and we must not have them in our midst...
We can dispense with ignorance,
degradation and filth; we must have education, enlightenment,
morality, and cleanliness, and more and more of it, if our
civilization is to be made secure.”
Paul P Harris,
The True Spirit of Service Can Redeem (the) World
In an unusually political essay,
Paul Harris reminded a world re-emerging from years of global
conflict what really matters to the ordinary citizens of the world.
Many Rotary clubs have embarked on projects in the city slums this
year and have worked tirelessly on water, literacy and health &
hunger projects where it really matters.
Yet, in today’s world, nearly 90
years later, Paul Harris’ vision of a clean world without ‘filth’
takes on new meanings. Thanks to Rotarians around the world and
through their visionary projects, Rotary is beginning to realize the
environmental challenges of the 21st century. It is
inevitable that Rotary will take a position of leadership in
'preserving planet earth' in the coming years.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
D 1020 Scotland
|
What Paul Harris Said
April 8 2007
 http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/presidents/1993barth/index.htm
Past RI President Bob Barth to the 1993 Rotary International convention
in Melbourne, Australia:
“I’d like to share what I believe is
symbolized when I wear the Rotary wheel emblem:
You can rely on me. I am dependable. I am available. I give more than I
take. I add value. I serve ”
It was with great sadness that we read about PRIP Bob Barth’s death last
week.
http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/presidents/1993barth/obit.htm
Perhaps this excerpt is Bob’s most famous quote and one that’s worth
restating.
Wherever Rotarians meet around the world, from the busy airport
departure lounge in a far off land to the local restaurant in the
neighboring town, the Rotary badge acts like a letter of introduction –
it says all these things that PRIP Bob says and so much more.
Wear your Rotary badge with pride and remember the fact that the wheel
has a keyway to symbolize movement –to make the point that Rotary can
never be a static organization -it is, in fact, humanity in motion.
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland
|
March 25 2007
What Paul Harris
Said
In The Rotarian
magazine in 1925
"Can
personal friendships grow into national friendships in such manner
as to promote the interests of peace?...
Yes, but it is a dream that we can make come true. Our confidence
must never falter. I believe that there is justification for our
faith, in the lives of great men such as these, who were faithful to
their trusts, who could be friendly, and who were "what they
seemed." Paul Harris, The Rotarian
magazine 1925
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/rotarian/192510sixthobject.htm
Paul Harris was writing about our fourth object of Rotary (then
known as the sixth object) in 1925 and spent some time discussing
some of the various friends he had met through the Rotary movement
from all parts of the world.
Today, it seems clear to me, that the best way to make friends from
all over the world is to get involved with our Global Networking
Groups – Vocational & Recreational Fellowships and Rotarian Action
Groups.
http://www.globalnetworkinggroups.org The work that these
organizations carry out is vast and varied and there is a group for
you!
Through our Global Networking Groups long-lasting and lifelong
friendships can be made. Our first object of Rotary states that
acquaintance is an opportunity for service. Any club member can see
the truth in that statement by considering her or his own club.
These “Fellowships” allows the Rotarian to take a step further and
make friends on an international basis.
For example, Rotary Global History Fellowship
www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org is a worldwide fellowship of
nearly 130 members based in more than 30 countries. It is a grouping
of like-minded individuals. RGHF has also opened doors for many
Rotarians around the world and directly led to successful matching
grant projects and Group Study Exchanges to name but two
developments.
Other fellowships can boast of similar successes.
Never underestimate
the power of global networking!
_________________
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
R/C Longniddry & District
District 1020, Scotland
|
Rotary
Global
History Fellowship
Authorized by Rotary International
www.RotaryHistoryFellowship.org
What Paul Harris Said
March 11 2007
“As my Lassie Jean and I
were strolling around the yard one summer afternoon, our minds reverted
to the blessings which were ours. We listed our home, perched on the
hill top midst friendly oaks and with evergreens in plenty to give
impression of warmth when cold winds blow; we also listed books and
household goods, sacred accumulations of years and representing many
sacrifices.
An impulse suggested
the question: Would life be worth living without these things? It did
not (take) long to answer, Yes, life is even more sacred.
Then came another: Is
there anything more valuable than life? We thought of (the) touch of
vanished hands and the sound of voices stilled and realized that there
are things without which life would be so sterile that it might well
end. If there were no such things as fellowship with friends and
communion with loved ones, life would be darker than starless night.
Friendship can hurdle national boundary lines, religious and political
differences; and with love all things is possible.”
Paul P
Harris’ Christmas Message 1930
This message was quoted, in full, by
2007 President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson in his speech to the RIBI Assembly
on March 4 2007.
Membership recruitment is vital to the
continued good work of Rotary clubs throughout the world. It is a
necessary ingredient to the long-term future of our clubs and of our
movement. The membership drive is not, however, simply about numbers and
statistics. RI President-elect Wilf, by quoting from the founder of
Rotary, is highlighting some of the essential benefits that membership
of Rotary bestows – namely friendship and fellowship.
New members are new friends and without
new friends we cannot achieve all that we hope and dream of. New members
are like the stars who help illuminate the night; New members means
there are more hands to join with as we link the world together and more
members offer more opportunities to create a peaceful world.
Help light up the night. Have you asked someone in your community to
join Rotary?
Calum Thomson
RGHF Chairman 2006/07
R/C
Longniddry & District
D
-1020 Scotland
|
What Paul Harris Said
February 25 2007
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