VOCATIONAL SERVICE
"Second Avenue of Service."

PHILIP BUCK - DISTRICT CHAIR
detslsofc@worldnet.att.net

The essence of Vocational Service is the importance of high ethical standards in all professions, the importance of all vocations and the opportunity to contribute oneÕs vocational talents to address the problems and needs of society. Vocational Service encouragfes Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practive high ethical standards.

Vocational Service is the Second Avenue of Service. Rotarians perform Vocational Service by:

* Adherence to, and promotion of, the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employees, associates, competitors, and the public.

* The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just their own or those that are pursued by other Rotarians.

* The contribution of their vocational talents to the problems and needs of society.

This report contains the text of the keynote presentations and the findings of group discussion sessions from the Presidential Celebration held in Vancouver, July 19, 2003. We were honoured when Rotary International President Jonathan Majiyagbe selected Vancouver as the site for his first Presidential Celebration and asked a committee of local Rotarians to organize the Celebration with a focus on Vocational Service.

Vocational Service is the Second Avenue of Service. No aspect of Rotary is more closely related to each member than a personal responsibility to our vocation and to our commitment to high ethical standards in our businesses and professions. It is clear that our communities need Rotary to demonstrate commitment to the 4-Way Test. Vocational Service is the banner by which Rotarians Òrecognize the worthiness of all useful occupationsÓ and demonstrate a commitment to Òhigh ethical standards in all businesses and professions.Ó

* Vocational Awareness: Giving classification talks and conducting tours of members' businesses.

* Vocational Awards: Recognizing vocational excellence and high ethical standards.

* Career Development: Using members' professional experience to advance employment; developing and supporting apprenticeship programs; organizing career-planning programs in schools; and retraining adults for new vocations.

* Vocations at Work: Generating new jobs within the community; working with retirees; addressing drug, alcohol and literacy problems in the workplace; creating vocational opportunities for the disabled; developing and implementing HIV/AIDS education and policy; and promoting high ethical standards.

* Ethics: Leading conferences and panel discussions for community members on ethical issues facing the community; holding group discussions for students where they apply the 4-Way Test to case studies.

The Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions is a statement of recent origin. It was adopted by the Rotary International Council on Legislation in 1989 to provide more specific guidelines for the high ethical standards called for in the Object of Rotary. This statement can be downloaded for framing and displaying.

Here is the text: As a Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected to:
1. Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve;
2. Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws of my country, and to the moral standards of my community;
3. Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in my chosen vocation;
4. Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public and all those with whom I have a business or professional relationship;
5. Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society;
6. Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community;
7. Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning my business or profession;
8. Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship.

Some examples of the Vocational Service's functions:

* Sponsored a program entitled Write On whereby high school juniors and seniors could learn about resume writing, job and college application writing

* Partnered with the high school service club in their mentoring program.

* Worked with a High School in their Career Day activities.

* Provided a speaker for the Career Day Activities at the a local High School.

* Funded and provided Camperships for deserving middle-school children.

* Recognized local residents through the Citizens Who Care program. Pictures and biographies of the citizens were hung in the Library and local banks

http://rotarynj.org/vocationalguide.pdf

http://www.rotary7450.org/ExtonFrazer/ServiceVocaEXF.htm

PLEASE SHARE YOUR VOCATIONAL GOALS AND PROJECTS. Send them to the webmaster or to Philip Buck

CHECK OUT INFORMATION ABOUT 4-WAY-TEST, OBJECT OF ROTARY, ROTARY FELLOWSIHPS AND ROTARY VOLUNTEERS.