What is the relevance of Rotary in today’s world?
It is relevant only because it is an organisation that offers a helping hand without asking for anything in return. It is this selfless service that props up its existence and offers what others do not. Community Service, therefore, is the heartbeat of Rotary. A heartbeat is a device to pump vital nutrients to all the hungry areas of the body. Rotary pumps the vital assistance to all those areas that are hungry for aid. A pump that has power and capability controls a heartbeat. Rotary not only has capability and power but also a desire that makes spreading helpful acts a pleasure.
The needs of the community are often so gigantic that Rotary may be unable to rectify the problem or tackle the problem only partially. It is, therefore, essential for Rotary to measure its own strength and offer assistance that it is capable of.
When the community realises that Rotary can solve some of its problems but not all, it will understand our shortcomings and will cooperate with Rotary in managing a problem. This exercise of informing and educating the community about our limitation and our strengths will result in erasing any disappointments that may come as a result of our limited assistance. This step is vital for continued co-operation and mutual understanding which will build bridges of communication facilitating future coordination in the avenue of service to them.
Service to the needy community must be laced by personal participation of Rotarians and their families. The helping hand offered by Rotarians must be visible through our presence and participation. Rewarding service acts by Rotarians are paid for by the currency of personal participation. We not only need a healthy budget but also a bigger heart. When such a heart beats for the needy, the flow of help will be better appreciated, better utilised and better understood.
The community will appreciate our compassion, our love and determination to help and will always be at our side when we undertake other service activities for these communities.
Service is a habit with a Rotarian just as our hearts beat with regularity. This is one addiction that is excellent for health and satisfaction. It is one habit that needs to be cultivated with finesse.
Rotary will continue to be present for many generations. It will disappear only when the needs of all communities are met. Such a time, perhaps, will never come and so Rotary is entrenched in this world with many more years of service. Let our service be timely, productive, satisfying and compassionate. Rotary will, then, live forever in the hearts of all those that are touched by our love, Viva La Rotary.