Vocational Service Month promotes business integrity, professional development

Through the Avenue of Vocational Service, Rotarians contribute their professional expertise and skills to address societal problems and needs, promote high ethical standards in the workplace, support career planning and other vocational activities, and represent the dignity and value of their profession. Rotary Images/Alyce Henson

Carlos Früm, governor of District 6440 (Illinois, USA) and a member of the Rotary Club of Northbrook, teaches business principles and entrepreneurship to Maya high school students as part of his district’s ongoing service project in Guatemala.

"Vocational service gives Rotarians the opportunity to help others escape poverty and gain a measure of self-respect," Früm says. "As business and professional leaders, we have a duty to lead and encourage good ethics through vocation."

Through vocational service, Rotarians contribute their professional expertise and skills to address societal problems and needs, and to promote high ethical standards in the workplace.

"Rotary's focus on ethical practices as part of vocational service has been a central part of my success in my business, professional, civic, and personal life since I became a Rotarian," says Paul A. Netzel, vice chair of the Vocational Service Promotion Committee and past RI director.

Rotarians have two benchmarks for promoting professional integrity: The Four-Way Test and the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions.

"Rotary's Four-Way Test has served as an easy template for me in weighing the pros and cons of countless issues and decisions I've had to address over my career," Netzel says. "It has helped make me a better Rotarian."

Netzel says vocational service sets Rotary apart from other service and humanitarian organizations.

Rotarians can support vocational service by

• Strengthening the emphasis on professional diversity in member recruitment
• Identifying ways to emphasize professions in club activities
• Placing a stronger emphasis on business networking with integrity at the club and district level -- which also is a means of attracting and mentoring the next generation
• Emphasizing the connection between The Four-Way Test and the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions, and their importance to the values of Rotary

For more information:

• Review An Introduction to Vocational Service (PDF)
• See a powerpoint presentation on vocational service
• Download the Model Project Submission Form