Rotary Vocational Service

Rotary Vocational Service

 By PDG Rodolfo Balmater

One of the core values of Rotary organization is SERVICE.  And this service connotes delivery or performance of  one’s time, efforts or talents to community or a group of people. Hence, Rotarians are encouraged to perform the spirit of service for the upliftment on the conditions of the community.

For us to understand the meaning & value of vocational service, the following questions need to be answered:

(a)   What do we mean by vocation?

(b)   What is the philosophy of Rotary on vocational service?

(c)   How can Rotarians demonstrate the meaning of vocational service to the community?

 WHAT DO WE MEAN BY VOCATION?

Rotary defines “vocation” as one’s regular employment, calling, business, profession, or occupation. Rotary employs the word “service” to refer not only to the merchandise sold or work done in any business or professional transaction, but also giving the needs and continual thoughtfulness of the other people.

The key differentiating factor or unique characteristics of Rotary as compared to other service volunteer organizations (World Vision, Lions, Kiwanis, Habitat, etc) is Rotary’s CLASSIFICATION or VOCATION  for admitting in club membership.

A typical Rotary club will have a 20 minimum membership  with different classifications may include the following vocations: 3 medical doctors, 3 engineers, 3 accountants, 3 marketing/sales people, 3 businessmen/traders. 2 interior decorators, 1 oil specialist,  & 2

Radio operators.  Rotary will not allow a particular club of 20 active members  with similar vocations .

WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF ROTARY ON VOCATIONAL SERVICE?

Rotary’s expectations on vocational service is for each Rotarian is to respect his own profession. And to show respect to one’s vocation, each Rotarian is expected to continue to master or grow on his chosen profession. Meaning he has to continue to update himself by reading or attending seminars related to his vocation. In addition, Rotarian is expected to follow a high-ethical standards of his profession. If a Rotarian is a businessmen, he is expected to have a fair treatment of his employees in terms of salary & benefits.

Rotary recognizes the worthiness of one’s vocation to the society. This means Rotarian’s talents must contribute to the solution of the problems and needs of the community where the Rotarian lives in. This Rotarian, at the same time being a professional, must follow Rotary principles on fairness, creation of goodwill, truthfulness & beneficial to all concerned

Rotarian can also volunteer his service to community. Example, Past District Governor Ritjie Rihatinah , as a dentist, volunteered her services by going to amazon area in Brazil to treat dental problems in the community. Several Rotarians whose professions are medical doctors from Singapore went to Tangerang to perform free medical services to poor people. Similarly, Dentist & Rotarian Ibu Imam Mudjari from Ujung Pandang also went overseas to help perform dental services to poor  children.

HOW CAN  ROTARIANS IN THE CLUB PERFORM THEIR VOCATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY?

Many Rotarians today are helping young boys & girls prepare for their future career by giving them guidelines or training on leadership & management. These Rotarians commit themselves in crafting the future vocations of the young generations.

Some Rotarians are also involved in setting up a training schools to prepare the young people for employment. An example is Rotarian Till Fryer who instigated to buy a piece of land and built up a training school specializing on textile training. Rotarian Till solicited donations from Germany on some machines and also overseas  specialist to help train the young Indonesians in Bogor. Today, many textile companies in Bandung & in Central Java secured their young recruits from Bogor Textile Institute because they were already familiar with operating textile machines and also familiar with the set up of the production process.

CONCLUSION

Giving service to community or fellowmen is a wonderful gift  from God to all of us. Hence a Rotarian is given this unique value to serve less fortunate people without any expectations of financial rewards nor recognition. And as Rotarians, we are encouraged to contribute our talents, time and energy for the betterment of our community.

Rotary celebrates VOCATIONAL SERVICE  in the month of October throughout the world.