Reflections on Rotary

Reflections on Rotary
by Joe Dorman

From our beginnings, Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.

Over 121 years, Rotary’s international reach and vision have extended to humanitarian service beyond networking. Our membership has a distinguished track record of addressing challenges in individual communities and around the world.

I have always admired our two official mottos for the organization: “Service Above Self” and “One Profits Most Who Serves Best.”  To be a full-fledged believer in our mission, members have an obligation to serve the community. The reward for a good life accrues to those who contribute to their community, especially through acts of service through Rotary.

We are Rotary International, a non-political, non-religious service organization of over 1.2 million members in more than 45,000 clubs. I take great pride in that we are not only the largest club in the United States, but more importantly the quality of our membership is unmatched.

Though many of us grew up at dinner tables where there were three taboo topics anytime visitors were invited, two of which are religion and politics, these days it seems different. Thanks to social media, the internet, and a growing reliance on 24-hour television, people seem less afraid to share their own personal opinions, especially when it comes from a “keyboard warrior.”

I am glad that thanks to Rotary, we have an oasis each week from this vitriol. A place where we can gather at a table and learn more about each other personally and professionally, much like Paul Harris had in mind.

Rotary is my “refuge” away from politics and work as they are interconnected for me, which may seem odd for a “recovering politician” to say. Our club is a place where I can forget for an hour about my job and connect with inspirational mentors and peers alike to see the good in the world. And, we as a club do not shy away from shedding light on issues facing our community while remaining respectful to other views, another strong appeal for me.

Rotary is not, should not, and hopefully never will be, an organization adhering to one set of beliefs, whether it is politics, religion, or any other form of differentiation in our society. If one of these topics ever comes into play, it is through a way that does not give preferential treatment, such as what one of the Stillwater Rotary Clubs did by having three candidates for an office appear in back-to-back-to-back weeks, to provide information to elevate community knowledge about their platforms.

I love the fact that we have members who have achieved upper echelons of public elected service, and who choose to dedicate their time after holding office to give back. What I love even more is the fact that some of our members who, though partisan in their beliefs about how policy should be decided, strive to work together and truly are friends in real life. A perfect example is with our former state governors appearing together at functions and events to support causes they each believe in.

Of course, having someone who already holds a title and is present to share about policy as a program is always appreciated, as we saw with Senator Lankford recently. It also never hurts to ask tough questions, if those do not cross the boundaries of our Rotary civility.

For Rotary, I am grateful we keep our personal preferences regarding religion and politics separated from our membership in our club. That is certainly one of the best ways to build goodwill and better friendships. I hope you can visit your polling site before lunch on Tuesday, August 25, but there is no need to discuss for whom either of us chose on the ballot. I will just be happy you voted and that you are a Rotarian.