A DIAMOND CELEBRATION
From the Presidents'
When a 75th
anniversary occurs, it is a big event.
Stores celebrating their 75th usually have a blow-out
sale. The Southeastern Athletic
Conference (SEC) is observing its 75th by plastering their logo all
over the football fields and on jerseys of the players. Couples celebrating their 75th
wedding anniversary are feted royally.
In fact, JoAnn and Dave are looking forward to their 75th
anniversary (in 63 years)!!!
For Rotary, there is a
significant anniversary, too. The
Four-Way Test was conceived and written in 1932 by Herbert J. Taylor, a Chicago
executive and past RI president. An
article about the 4-way test appears in the September, 2007 Rotarian
beginning on p. 27. The article makes
pretty fascinating reading. You will
find how the Rotarian's mantra has been incorporated into the life-blood of
companies such as Walgreen's Drug Stores when the son of Walgreen's founder,
Charles R. Walgreen, when president of the drug store chain, gave a copy of the
4-way test to each of his store managers in 1955. Mr. Walgreen hailed the 4-way test as "a
prescription for living" - an interesting statement for the president of a
chain whose role it was to fill prescriptions.
This simple 4-point way to
deal with questions and life's challenges has been translated into more than
100 languages. When we visited the
Rotary Club of Wahiawa on Oahu, Hawaii, the club recited the 4-way test - in
Hawaiian!! And we can't memorize it in
English?
We plan to keep the 4-way test
banner flying in our meeting room and will recite the test in our meetings
until the words become as familiar to us as the pledge to the U. S. Flag or as
familiar as some popular song lyrics.
You are in Rotary because you
were perceived to live your life and conduct your professional business in a
manner consistent with the 4-way test.
So, whether you can recite the words on demand, your life reflects that
the essence of the 4-way test has already made its way into your everyday
living.
Here it is again. Please read it over slowly and
thoughtfully. Familiarize yourself with
the meaning as well as the words.
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build good will and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
After all, something that has
been around and in use for 75 years has met the sterner test of time. Congratulations and happy birthday, Four-Way
Test!
Our best to each of you,
JoAnn and Dave