PROPOSED ENACTMENT
To establish “Service Above Self” as Rotary International’s only and permanent annual theme.
Proposed by the Rotary Club of Tumwater, WA USA
Endorsed by District 5020 through email balloting.
IT IS ENACTED by Rotary International that the CONSTITUTION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL be and herby IS amended as follows:
In Article 2. Name and Description (page 167 of the 2010 MOP),
A new subsection is added:
- The annual Theme of Rotary is “Service Above Self”.
IT IS FURTHER ENACTED by Rotary International that the BY LAWS OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL be and herby are amended as follows:
In Article 18. Name and Emblem (page 236 of the 2010 MOP),
A new section is added:
18.030 The annual Theme of Rotary is “Service Above Self”.
IT IS FURTHER ENACTED by Rotary International that the Rotary International Board of Directors change the Rotary Code of Polices to specify that the annual theme is “Service Above Self” as follows:
27.050. Annual Theme and Program Emphasis
Rotarians are encouraged to present and emphasize only the annual theme, “Service Above Self”, at district conferences, at other district meetings, in printed materials, and during “official visits” by RI officers. The annual theme is the only theme which should be utilized, and the use of other themes should be discouraged.
PURPOSE AND EFFECT STATEMENT
Nearly every major corporation in the world has a theme, tagline, or advertising “hook” that is part of their marketing efforts and establishes their identity. That theme sets them apart from other companies.
IBM is “Big Blue”, Fosters is “Australian for Beer”, Coca-Cola is “The Real Thing”, and Nike is “Just Do It”. When a company cannot decide on a theme, or changes it without proper market research, consumers become confused and even migrate to a competitor. (Look what happened to Coca Cola when it changed marketing. It lost market share and had to bring back “Classic Coke”.)
Rotary changes its’ theme every year at the discretion of the President. While the President of Rotary International can and should emphasize an area of Service that is most meaningful to that person: Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Disease prevention and treatment, Water and sanitation, Maternal and child health, Basic education and literacy, Economic and community development, and Polio Eradication the annual theme should be constant.
From a cost perspective, changing pins, ties, and banners every year is wasteful. The money spent on such accessories would do far more good if spent in one of the areas of emphasis.
From a branding perspective the Rotary wheel should be synonymous with service. See the pin, think Service.
I agree with this proposal
ReplyDeleteWe should have a permanent motto we live by it
ReplyDeleteI always thought that "Service above Self" was the permanent theme/motto. And I like it as a permanent theme/motto and is one I live by. However, I think it is important for the RI president to have a focus for the year. Doing so reminds us of specific aspects of Rotary that may have slipped by the way. In a way the yearly theme helps me in living the motto Service above Self.
ReplyDeleteWhen the name of a new Rotary International President is announced, many Rotarians look forward to discovering what direction he (or she!) wishes to lead Rotary in during their year in office. The new theme is often the first sign Rotarians have of what that might be. "Service above Self" is a permanent theme guiding all Rotarians, but the annual theme reveals a more specific focus for the year to come. Recent themes, such as "Rotary Shares", "Lead the Way", "Make Dreams Real", The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands", "Building Communities, Bridging Continents", "Sow the Seeds of Love" "Lend a Hand" etc. add another dimension to "Service Above Self" to say nothing of adding a little pizzazz with those colourful pins. The most dynamic, and the one that says "Rotary" most clearly for me is the first one (President S. Kendrick Guernsey, 1947-48): "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve". Each theme may inspire individual Rotarians in different ways. For that reason, I say keep the status quo. You can see all of the Rotary themes at this RI page: http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/presidents/themes/
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tricia's comment. I know that I look forward to the new theme each year and I see it as an extension or another aspect to the overarching theme of "Service above Self"
ReplyDelete